Collecting Vintage Stoneware and Spring Decorating Ideas
Get Tips for Collecting vintage stoneware, along with fresh spring decorating ideas to display your rustic collection.
Decorating with vintage collections is one of my favorite ways to adorn our home for the seasons. And if you’ve been here before, you know I have plenty of old things to choose from! But cool, old things still call to me and just like fashion, my tastes change through the years. Today I’m sharing a vintage collection that’s been expanding at my house, and tips for decorating with it for Spring. Enjoy Collecting Vintage Stoneware and Spring Decorating Ideas.
Joining the Thrifting with the Gals Ladies
Today I’m joining a fun group of vintage-loving friends for their monthly Thrifting with the Gals series. Everyone lives in a different part of the country, and it’s so fun to see what they’re finding on their thrifting adventures! I’ll have the links to their posts below.
Ann, from Dabbling and Decorating decorates her homes in both Vermont and Maine. She loves everything blue and white and has an amazing collection of family antiques. She recently started selling in a vintage booth.
Rachel, from The Ponds Farmhouse lives in an amazing industrial farmhouse home in North Carolina and has a beach cottage, too. She is a talented DIYer and decorates her home with budget-friendly, creative style.
Kristin, from White Arrows Home lives in an amazing log home in my neighboring state of Wisconsin. She owns a wonderful shop in a vacation-town destination and decorates her home with rustic vintage style.
Robyn, from Robyn’s French Nest lives in sunny Florida. She decorates her home with thrifty vintage finds in elegant, French style. It’s so fun to see how she decorates through the seasons.
If you’re new here, I’m Lora, and I live in Minnesota! I’ve been thrifting for vintage my whole life; my favorite being free roadside treasures. I love to revive old things and give them new life. For many years I sold vintage at other shops and my own. I love to seasonally switch up our home’s decor with my latest vintage finds!
If you enjoy your visit today, be sure to become an Insider to keep the ideas coming!
Collecting Vintage Stoneware and Spring Decorating Ideas
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What is Stoneware?
Stoneware is a dense pottery made from clay. It’s fired at high temperatures to make it non-porous so it can hold liquids and food. It is stronger than earthenware and clay. It has a shiny surface from the salt glazing process and is found in many colors and textures.
Collecting vintage stoneware is fun because it comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors. These old vessels were once used to store (and sell) foods, beverages and liquids. They are handcrafted and have a roughhewn quality. Many are stamped with graphics or art to further their appeal.
Vintage and antique stoneware can be valuable, but it is readily available and inexpensive enough to find when thrifting at secondhand shops, estate sales and vintage shops (and of course, Etsy. See my shopping info at the end)
To read more about vintage and antique stoneware, read THIS helpful article.
Finding and Collecting Vintage Stoneware
If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll be able to find vintage stoneware when you’re thrifting. On a recent thrift store visit, I picked up several pieces with handles that probably all came from the same home. Each piece was no more than $10, and I even got a super cheap piece for an “as-is” price because of chips in the lid.
I love seeing the surface imperfections like drips and other handcrafted details. The bottoms are usually unglazed which adds even more rustic texture.
Last Christmas I picked up a couple crocks at a vintage shop to hold small trees. I love their soft gray color; they can be used to decorate throughout the seasons.
Years ago I bought 2 tall clay-colored vessels from a local picker. He remembers picking one out of a garbage pile and the other he used to pour ink as a schoolboy. Luckily they both have imprinted labels so I was able to learn more about them online. The taller vessel held alcohol and the one with the spout was indeed for ink.
New and Thrifted Pottery for Spring Decor
As I was gathering the stoneware to decorate for Spring, I found some additional pieces to add to the vignette. A fun variegated vase my son made for me in high school pottery class and a pretty bowl a talented friend handcrafted. The soft blue scalloped plate was found thrifting, along with the graphic labeled mini whiskey jugs. I always love anything with old typefaces, even if I don’t drink whiskey!
Spring Decorating with Vintage Stoneware
The last of the winter decor has gone to hibernation and I’m excited to bring out the Spring decorations. I usually begin with a subtle nod to Spring with blues and greens, nests, birds and branches. The rustic texture of vintage stoneware is the perfect foundation for early Spring decor.
The handled stoneware jugs look beautiful styled with a Spring flowering branch coming out the top. The chubby crocks were the perfect landing spot for a sweet nest and some eggs. I added additional heights and textures with old books, bundled twigs, birdhouses and vintage flower frogs.
So happy to have the first spot of Spring decorated!
You may also enjoy:
“10 Styling Ideas That Make Glass Front Cabinet Displays Beautiful”
“Decorating the Spring Mantel (with vintage and birds)”
“Decorating with Books: 21 Creative Ways to Use Old Books as Decoration”
Do you collect stoneware? Which types are you drawn to? How do you use it in your decor? It’s always fun to hear how others use their vintage collections!
Today I’m joining my Thrifting with the Gals friends to send vintage inspiration your way! Make sure to enjoy all the great ideas from Ann, Robyn, Kristin and Rachel below; such talented fellow vintage lovers:)
Thanks for reading Collecting Vintage Stoneware and Spring Decorating Ideas. If you enjoyed your visit, be sure to become an Insider to keep the ideas coming!
enjoy the rest of the inspiration!
Pin and shop the look below
Dabbling and Decorating, “6 Thrifty Finds and a Lobster Biscuit”
Robyn’s French Nest, ” How to Use 10 Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor”
The Ponds Farmhouse, “Vintage Thrifting in Downtown Asheboro, NC”
White Arrows Home, “12 Favorite Vintage Finds for Winter Decorating”
Sharing at these lovely parties:
I don’t have much stoneware in my collection but you inspired me to look for some while I’m out! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy treasure hunting!
I loved seeing all your stoneware. I REALLY loved seeing how you displayed it all in your cupboard–it is a talent that I haven’t fully grasped yet! Stoneware hasn’t moved me as much as colored glass and milk glass and china dishes, but I have several pieces that you have inspired me to do more with!
Glad you got inspired, Kathy! Yes…I love all those things too;)
I love vintage stoneware! These are all such amazing ideas. Thanks for sharing and for joining us for #thriftingwiththegals this month!
It is a fun accessory to decorate with! Thanks, Robyn.
I love stoneware, I have a large piece that was my mom’s she used it to make sauerkraut in. I have a collection of 10 other smaller pieces. Thanks for these inspiring ideas.
What a treasure, Marlene! Glad you enjoyed it.
So pretty, Lora!! I love the stoneware mixed with florals and stems. The jugs that you have laying down on some of the shelves is super cute…such a great idea!!
That one’s laying because it was too tall to fit, Rachel;) Do what ya gotta do!
I love old stoneware crocks and have just noticed a couple that were stored in the garage late last summer. So this inspiration is timed just right for me. Your spring cupboard is SO sweet. Good ideas to jump start the season change. I always incorporate birds and nests too but will limit my color palette to blues and greens like yours this year.
Lucky you, Pamela! Have fun decorating!
Lora, I love all your stoneware and it’s all styled so beautifully. Great having you with us again this month!
Always enjoy joining in with you ladies; thanks, Ann!
Lora
I’m so glad you joined us today.
You would love visiting Seagrove, the pottery capital of the US, that I talk about on todays post! It’s funny how we take things in our back door for granted. I loved seeing all your treasures.
What great timing, Rachel! Red Wing pottery is from here, so we have quite a bit of pottery history, too. Love it’s rustic vibe.