Betty Lorna Vintage

Hey there! 

Georgia here from Betty Lorna Vintage and I am back to share some of this week’s fabulously unique antique and vintage finds. The focus of this week’s article is pottery, and some of the interesting information that I have learnt along the way. All these items are now available for sale on the Betty Lorna Vintage Etsy page if you’re interested in purchasing one of these items.

The Origin of Pottery

In pottery, form follows function. If we look at how pottery has evolved throughout the decades, we can see that the vessels created by potters were designed to serve the needs of the people. The saying that necessity proves to be the mother of invention rings true in the world of pottery. The pottery profession in many ways was born out of necessity. From the beginning, potters created items that were functional and designed to meet the needs of their communities as they evolved and continued to grow.

As civilisations have developed and the needs of people have changed, the style and function of pottery vessels has changed as well. From primitive clay vessls used to store food and water, pottery nowadays has moved towards more sculptural and stylish pieces. This week when thrifting, I found stunning pieces of pottery that had a focus on style. What was interesting though was the different styles of pottery that existed. After quite a bit of browsing it was apparent that pottery items from different countries had styles unique to them, which most likely reflected the traditions and styles local to the region. I have included a few items that peaked my interest this week.

Irish Pottery

This week when thrifting I found this beautiful Parian ware vase, produced by Donegal in Ireland, this Swilly bud vase is certainly a remarkable piece. I have to admit that before discovering this vase I didnt know that Ireland was a big producer of pottery. In fact, I was amazed to find out that Irish pottery was in fact steeped in rich history.

Pottery in Ireland first dates back to the Neolithic period (4,500 to 2,500BC) where primitive fire pits were used in place of kilns to create stunning handcrafted vessels. Whilst the style and functionality of the designs has evolved, pottery till this day has continued to play a significant role in Irish culture.

Most notably Ireland is known for its ‘Parian’ style of pottery, which is characterised by its subtle iridescent hue, thinness and body formulated with a large amount of frit. Pottery from Ireland also features a heavy Irish and Celtic theme – traditionally embellished with finely painted shamrocks or harps. All of which are featured prominently in the vase I found this week. This delicate porcelain vase with shamrocks painted on both sides is a classic example of Parian style of pottery.

Canadian Pottery

With vibrant green and blue hues this stunning sculptural vase produced by Blue Mountain Pottery (‘BMP’) in Canada (c. 1960s) is certainly remarkable.  In fact you rarely see pottery that is created with such a stunning glaze. But that may be due to Blue Mountain Potteries trademarked glazing process – ‘reflowing decorating’.

When researching this piece I was surprised to discover that the glazing process that BMP utilises is trademarked. The unique glaze formula in which the company developed contains ingredients that when exposed to the high temperatures of the kiln, produce a distinct mirror-like gloss. All of which which highlight the stunning colours utilised by the company. The vibrant green and blue hues that we see in a lot of BMP items, and in this vase in particular, are the colors that are prominently featured in the Blue Mountain region at certain times of the year. 

One of a Kind

Whilst I still love the more delicate and finer pieces of pottery – I always love finding quirky and one of a kind pieces. This floral planter pot is the perfect example of this. Standing proud and tall with its human-like feet, this quirky planter pot is such a unique piece of art pottery.

Unfortunately I don’t know much about this piece of art pottery as my search for the original creator has not been fruitful. This little guy though is now available for sale on my Etsy account, if you’re interested in purchasing it! 

End of the Journey

Well everyone that’s all for this week’s vintage finds. I hope you had as much fun reading about my favorite vintage finds as I had finding and researching them. Remember, the vintage shopping experience is all about the fun of discovering items from our past and their unique and wonderful history! Who knows what incredible vintage treasures the future holds? So stay tuned, and make sure you check out Betty Lorna Vintage’s awesome storefronts on Etsy and eBay. 

The best way to contact me is through email for all sewing, quilting and business enquires: georgia@bettylornavintage.com

Also, make sure you check out some of my sewing creations and vintage finds on Etsy.