Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Johnson Bros. Olde English Countryside

I am linking up with Treasures and Trinkets Thursday and Vintage Thingies Thursday where you can see a lot of other interesting treasures and vintage thingies!
I found some treasures -in the garage of a house DH bought for rehabbing. I have a couple of other nice things that I'll show maybe next week, odd the things people leave behind.........


A set[almost complete] of Johnson Bros. Olde English Countryside. As soon as I spotted it my eyes were drawn to it because of the resemblance to my Grandma's china, though hers was probably 20's vintage and came with her from England to Australia in the late 1920's. I have no idea who the maker may have been- I have a couple of her old pieces but none of the brown patterned china like this.


Olde English Countryside was produced by Johnson Bros. from 1974-1983, then I guess discontinued.
I had a feeling even before I knew this that it was worth a bit, but was shocked when I went to eBay to see a setting similar to this for almost $500!



I have nine of most pieces, but I am short a few bowls and bread plates, the creamer and the lid to the sugar bowl. This is the platter and there is also a vegetable bowl.
My family think I should sell it, and honestly I don't need it but I like it and it does bring back memories of meals at Grandma's and her wonderful fluffy bread pudding. I plan to use it soon and I will post to the blog when I do.
I just don't know where to put it!

22 comments:

Ruby said...

What a find! Do enjoy them with your memories of Grandma at least for a time. Pretty pattern but not something I see outside an antique store.

My Cottage Charm said...

Hi Ros, thanks for linking up to my treasures and trinkets thursday. I'm still in bed sick, but I had to come comment on your find! OMGoodness, who leaves such beautiful dishes in a house?! You're a very blessed girl and I don't think I could part with them if I were you. :) They're lovely, especially that platter!
Thanks again for linking up and come back next week..hopefully I'll have something posted then and not be sick anymore!
Blessings & Hugs
Missy

Miri said...

Lovely! I agree with Ruby-use them for a time and then you can always decide to sell them.

Susan Freeman said...

I would use them! Love that cottage pattern. It's just too charming not to enjoy!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

What a beautiful set of dishes. You made a great find. Thanks for sharing, Sherry

LV said...

That is an old pattern of Johnson Bros. dishes. I cannot imagine anyone leaving them behind.

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

This is a lovely set! I have the more common Friendly Village Set and use it as my Thanksgiving and Christmas dishes!

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Wow! Great find and I adore them too. I hope you get to keep them.

Sally Annie Magundy said...

You lucky! Great find, love those!

Happy VTT,
Sally

Coloradolady said...

CRAZY what someone will leave behind...lucky you, these are beautiful!! Have a great VTT!

Ann said...

Oh my heavens!!!! This is the same pattern I have. LOVE IT. Lucky you to find so many pieces. Happy VTT (I look everywhere I go, for more pieces).

Postcardy said...

I like the china but I wouldn't know where to put it either.

Jocelyn said...

Beautiful pieces! I love them!!

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

I've always liked Olde English Village. We used to have a set that we used on a daily basis. I like the scenes with its cottages and the Mother and daughter by the well. So pretty! It comes in other colors too. Amazing people leave these things behind.

Anonymous said...

Oh, wow. Those are beautiful. What a lucky find. I sure wouldn't part with them.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE it Ros! and wouldn't be able to part with it either.

btw the recipe for reviving old timber furniture is equal parts of linseed oil, vinegar & turpentine. I use an old glass jar with a screwtop lid so that i can give it all a good shake. Apply it directly to the timber and work it in with a fine grade steel wool then wipe over firmly with a clean cloth until it shines. The ingredients feed & preserve the timber which is why i like to use it.

Pam Kessler said...

Great find. I can't believe anyone would leave those behind. Are they nuts? Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous find, very interesting china. I know about the space dilemma only too well, but if you love it, you'll make or find a space somehow.

DMWhitlock said...

I have a complete set of this Olde English Countryside china,12 settings of dinner plates, salad plates, saucers, cups, gravy bowl, serving bowl, cups, bowls, platter, and sugar bowl with lid. There are no chips or cracks. Can anyone tell me what a set this size is worth?

Anonymous said...

I've been eating from these china during all my childhood through the 70ies/80ies and even well into the 90ies. There are still some plates around at my parent's home. I always loved the design, and in my imagination, I've been wandering through that village quite often ,-)

Greetings from Switzerland
Dagmar

LeticiaMatthews said...

I have the whole set they used to belong to my grandma. To me the value is priceless. She saved green stamps in order to get the china.

Anonymous said...

Sadly value wise the set is worth a lot more if broken up and sold as individual pieces. A set that size would usually sell for around $400-$500 on ebay you would probably get 3 times that if sold as individual pieces. I have amassed a set of around 600 pieces some of which aren't even in the official catalogue. It's a great design although not sure what the value will do as time goes by as the next generation doesn't seem to care much for heritage.