I wouldn’t say that I am a collector of pitchers. I came upon my pitcher collection by complete accident. I wasn’t looking to start one. Like with most, one leads to another, and pretty soon you have that collection.

My very first pitcher I brought home was a sweet little cream pitcher that was blue and white transferware. I will never forget how much I paid for it. A whopping 3.50. It has a crack in the bottom and some stains on it but I was thrilled. As a shelf piece it would work just fine. This little guy I bought, to enhance my budding transferware collection. At the time I had one small platter and a few plates. Not really enough to do much with, but I loved the shape of this little guy, and had to have it.

When I started putting my focus to this collection it quickly grew and where I never really noticed these pieces before they were now coming out of the woodwork. This was in the 80’s. I wanted to collect enough to do a plate wall over my bed. Well you know what happened. I had to have another pitcher for that plate wall and one lead to two. Unfortunately I can’t find a picture. I used to have two brackets where the sconces are. On the brackets I had the two pitchers. I loved the look and don’t really know why I changed it.

As I said I have never deliberately set out to create a collection. Always charmed by there shape and sometimes there graphics, whenever I would see one that peaked my fancy I would grab it. Not always sure what I was going to do with it, but knowing eventually it would find a home.

This is actually an earthenware Cutty Sark pitcher picked up In Lincoln NE a few years ago. I guess this is the one that started my interest in things with graphic advertising. Of course I had to have it because it has a ship on it.

Some of my pitchers I use to corall things like wooden spoons, makeup brushes, pens and pencils. Of course they are fantastic for floral arrangements. Who needs a vase when you can just grab a pitcher! But mostly they are just decorative, and were purchased because the price was right, and they spoke to me. I use them for styling and have found over the years that they can act as a good way to direct the eye, to move your eye across a vignette, with its spout and handle. Or as a punctuation mark. ME, ME come, look at me and see what I am all about. They can shout or be subtle.

Doulton Lambeth Antique Pitcher caught my eye at the Lauritzen Gardens Antique Show. Yes, I paid a premium for this piece. I had never seen one like it. It has 4 “cameos” with fun sayings on it. Pub ware, this one is beautifully executed. The Royal Dolton Character Jug is a nod to my childhood. This is Henry the Eighth. My mom collected them, and had many. All hand painted they are nicely done and are not only decorative but useful as well. My client has Old King Cole and I put her kitchen utensils in it.

Another piece of Doulton Lambeth Pubware, once popular in English pubs, these were utilitarian pieces. They were used to fill your mug, salt your chips, or bring your whiskey to the table. This one has a pewter lid which adds another layer of texture.

None of my pitchers GO with anything. I don’t have a collection of ironstone pitchers, which are so popular right now, those large showy pitchers that were used with a big bowls for washing. No mine are a bit quieter. I don’t group them together really. Yes, right now I do have a few on the Welsh Cupboard but, I don’t necessarily feel that lining them up or placing them all in one place is the most effective way of using these little jewels. Mine are mostly scattered and used in vignettes.

The two embossed pitchers on the top shelves each are vintage Wedgewood earthenware. I liked the images on both. One bought at the antique mall holds a bundle of yellow weeds, and one bought at an estate sale, holds some hand made skewers.

Creating vignettes is a great way to showcase stuff. I don’t even know how many vignettes I have in this house, but many. A pitcher can be the tall thing sitting next to a stack of books, with a candlestick, or a bowl. Use your imagination. You might just find these useful pieces can bring a bit of whimsy to your own home. How many pitchers are in your “collection”?

Thanks for stopping

Shelley