Ironstone is a ceramic invented in the early 1800's. The recipe for making it was invented in 1800 as a new way to produce earthenware and porcelain. But the company went bankrupt and the patent was given to Spode. In 1813 another ceramacist, Charles Mason, registered the patent for what he called "Ironstone". He didn't invent the process or the ironstone recipe ... he's the one who came up with the great name for the material that was invented as a cheaper porcelain-like ceramic.
Also Ironstone doesn't contain iron. Mason, who was clearly an evil genius, named the product "Ironstone" to reinforce how strong the product was and also, rumour has it, to confuse competitors. Mason, made his recipe public to other competitors in the day, explaining the complicated process for preparing the iron slag components that went into his ironstone. Only his recipe was a lie and his product didn't contain any iron at all.
Evil Genius.
When I redid my kitchen last year one of the things I knew immediately was that I was going to start collecting Ironstone bowls. I already have a very real obsession with antique bowls so starting an all new, very specific collection, was all kinds of exciting.
My old collection of bowls is multi coloured which went with my eclectic 1940's kitchen. Red, green, blue and yellow. Great depression era bowls that weren't going to look good in my new kitchen at all. Well I'm sure they'd look good but it wasn't the look I was going for. I wanted more of that calm, Swedish country look. Ironstone it is I decided.
It's white/off white, inexpensive for the most part and relatively easy to find but not so easy that collecting wouldn't be fun. If you can find all the pieces you need or want in one trip to the flea market it kindda takes the challenge out of building a collection.
Since last year I've acquired several bowls, platters and a jug. But I wanted more bowls and in particular I needed a big bowl. Medium sized bowls seem to be easy to find, but the larger ironstone bowls are harder to come by.
So on my latest trip to Christie's Antique Sale I was able to ease the pain of not finding a classic midcentury modern chair by filling bags with Ironstone.
I got 2 gravy boats, a platter and a perfect bowl. Ironstone comes in a variety of whites from blue white to creamy white. I don't love the blueish white, and lean more towards the creamier ironstone. Ironstone also comes in transferware patterns, and yellowware, which are nice but not what I was looking for.
Also when I'm buying Ironstone I look for it to have some character, but not so much character you're afraid to eat out of it.
The gravy boat above (which cost $24) has some mild yellow staining (patina) on the base and body. That's the kind of character I look for.
Crazing is another patina I like to see. Crazing is the very fine cracks in the glaze on the pottery.
And then there's the bowl. The great, big, bowl. This is an unmarked piece of Ironstone, that was the deal of the day at $10. It's apple pie filling sized. Anyone who has ever made an apple pie knows what I'm talking about here.
If I'm going to be perfectly honest with you all I'll also say it's cereal bowl sized.
So my day at Christie's allowed me to add a few good pieces to my Ironstone collection. And french fries to my belly. Every year I eat fries at Christie's. Even when they started to cater to food trend lovers with healthy, organic food, I still eat my french fries and most years I'm only an ounce of embarrassment away from eating a giant turkey leg.
The other thing I do every year at Christie's is buy an egg basket. It's not like a goal of mine every year, but somehow it happens. I buy an antique egg basket. This year I got the mother of all egg baskets as you can see on my island below.
It's a wood egg crate that was used for transporting eggs. It holds almost 150 eggs. If you look at the shelves near the top of the photo you can see the rest of my ironstone collection by the way.
The crate came with the original cardboard separators. I've been looking at these crates for the past few years but they always seemed too big for my kitchen. But when I saw this one for $50 (I got it for $40) in perfect condition I caved and bought it.
So the massive thing is on the counter for now until I decide to switch it out for a different egg holder. Since apparently now I collect egg holders. Really it's one of the reasons I wanted chickens to begin with, because I liked the look of eggs on the counter.
I already know what I'm going to be looking for at Christie's this fall. I want a piece of ironstone that's been mended. They used to mend bowls and platters by stapleing them together. They're always stapled from the back so you can't see the mend, but my dream would be to have a bowl or platter that's mended from the right side so you can see it.
Dream large, Karen. Dream large.
I have no idea when I became this person. I mean I'm O.K. with being the girl who dreams of a perfectly imperfect ironstone bowl, I just don't know when it happened. Probably happened around the same time I gave up my dream of being an evil genius.
Have a good weekend!
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Connie S.
What a GORGEOUS Bowl! That certainly was a steal of a deal Karen . Luv it and your blog and really enjoy seeing your "collections" becuz it kinda validates my random collections and i think my next one might be ironstone... Hey, a girl's gotta have some fun ;)
Karen
Thanks Connie S.! ~ karen
Jody
Mmm, kitchen porn.
Linda
Love the gravy boat! But I especially love your kitchen!! :)
Karen
Thanks Linda. I pretty much love it too. :) ~ karen!
CommonCents
White Ironstone: beautiful utilitarian pieces. I've collected since the 90's buying unique and useful pieces. Then Martha S. featured ironstone on shelves in her TV kitchen and my collection skyrocketed in value. That fact was nice but, I couldn't afford to add to my collection and dealers were buying up all they could find along with the new\antique pieces being made. White ironstone, black and white aesthetic transferware on ironstone look great sitting on beautiful cherry wood like your gravy boat pictured and on mahogany shelves or countertops.. I Love your egg basket. Thanks for a great article.
Ruth
How do you know Ironstone is Ironstone? Did they write on the base of these things back in the day? Enquiring minds would like to know....
Karen
You just get to know the look and the feel of it Ruth. Some pieces even have "ironstone" stamped on the bottom. The makers did this to prove it was genuine ironstone which all the manufacturers prided themselves on because it was supposed to be so strong. ~ karen!
Hailey~FurnishMyWay
Ironstone has such an interesting history! I thought the evil genius' little lie was a masterful trick. I love the egg crate on your island! Also, I like that it was actually filled with eggs!
Karen
Thanks Hailey. It's the first egg basket/crate I've owned that's big enough to fit all my eggs into. I can't imagine filling the whole thing, but the top layer is perfect. :) ~ karen!
Cathy
Wow, Karen... You have the best kitchen! The bowls-n-boats are so fabulous. Perfect for giant servings of ice cream and boats of chocolate syrup!
Karen
Thanks Cathy. I'm really happy with how it turned out. PLUS it's completely functional. ~ karen!
Elen @ Elen G
I love that white ironstone, especially that apple pie bowl. Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about.
As for the egg box... I can't even!
Nancy Blue Moon
Pretty Ironstone..I don't know how to tell the difference between that and a cheap white ceramic piece..The egg crate is awesome..and BIG!!
Karen
Yes, it's ridiculously large, lol. Like my toes. ~ karen!
Ann
I look forward to reading your blog. I'm wondering also, What stamp if any in on the bottom? Please? Thanks!!
Karen
HI Ann. The bowl has no stamp. But my other ironstone pieces often have "ironstone" stamped on them with the makers mark. ~ karen!
Connie
The big bowl may be terrific for apple pie making and cereal, but its real use is for ice cream!
KowboyK
I have to agree with the others, the island is awesome!! The cast iron pig is also very unique, it would go great with my charcuterie corner of my kitchen. About the ironstone, are there specific markings, or do you just have to know what you're looking at?? K
Karen
A bit of both KowboyK. The ironstone is sometimes marked with a makers mark, and sometimes it even is marked ironstone. Other times there's no markings at all. You get to know the look and the feel of it. ~ karen!
Liz
these photos show off your kitchen so beautifully! My house has also outgrown my 40's/50's collections, in part. I'm curious what you've done with yours... did you sell them, give them away? Or are you hoarding them needlessly in rubbermaids like myself?
Karen
They're sitting in a cupboard while I decide what to do with them. Or forget about them. Whichever comes first. ~ karen!
Melissa in NC
Great stories to go with great pieces!
Valerie
Ironstone is the best!
If you have an Ironstone large bowl with any type of food stuff in it and another identically sized 'patterned' piece of dish ware - what is contained in the Ironstone always looks more attractive because the food is not competing with the pattern design of the bowl. It is difficult to locate quality dish ware to pair with Ironstone pieces although Denby has some rather simple creamy coloured offerings without associated patterning.
Rondina
I like to know what is printed on the bottom of the pieces, if anything.
Karen
Sometimes the makers mark is on the bottom Rondina and sometimes it is even stamped "ironstone". Other times there's nothing there. It just depends on who made it. Most of my pieces are marked, but this bowl has nothing. You get to just learn what ironstone looks and feels like. ~ karen!
Robin
Love your collection Karen
Woule love to have a tour of your house perhaps one day when I am out visiting with Pam
Love your style.
Karin
I collect rolling pins and has always wanted to figure out a way to have them out in the open, on display. I've been looking on eBay and etsy for years for some kind of wall-hung rack. You just gave me a brilliant (but soooo simple!) idea. Now I am on the lookout for interesting wall hooks...
Also - I'm a big fan of creamy Ironstone and raised my girls eating off of it. Now that they're grown and starting their own kitchens guess what they are collecting for themselves? Makes me insanely happy to see how much of an effect that had on them.
Karen
Hi Karin! I've also seen people use wine racks for rolling pins. ~ karen!
Mike
Genius, yes. Evil, I don't think so. Looks like you had a great day. I love going out shopping and when I find those special items, well, that just makes it all the better. I'm home recovering from knee implant surgery so your post was a very welcome relief from the therapy (hurts, but in a good way) thanks again for enjoyable reading.
Karen
I'm a little bit evil. I'm pretty sure. Sorry about your knee. Work through the pain and heal away! ~ karen!
Ev Wilcox
The ironstone pieces you have are beautiful. The apple slices bowl is wonderful. Congrats on another example of you artiness! Collect on!