Antique Children's China Tea Sets -

Days long ago children actually had their tea parties with real china tea sets. It is not surprising that it is a rarity to find one in good condition today. This is the first I have seen made by Haviland Limoges France. The stamp dates it to the late 1800’s.

At the turn of the century children learned social behavior at a tea party with their dolls. Antique Children’s China Tea Sets were similar to those used by the adults and scaled to fit child sized hands.

Charles Allerton & Sons Staffordshire England were well known for their large variety of transferware type children’s china in the late 1800’s.

Children’s China Tea Sets were also made by many of the early English White Ironstone potters in their well known shapes. These potters were just as detailed in the potting of their miniature sets as they were in the normal sized ironstone pieces.

Antique Children's China Tea Sets are highly collectible and tend to be quite costly.

Haviland China Children's Tea Set Available At Holly Lane Antiques -
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California Country Antiques Show -

Holly Lane Antiques spent last weekend participating in the
California Country Antiques Show in Costa Mesa California.



As always our English White Ironstone collection was the anchor of our booth. Seeing early White Ironstone pieces displayed together is simply stunning! Each pitcher / ewer has its own personality - appealing to a wide variety of personal tastes.



Since this was primarily a Country Antiques Show we brought our quilts, baskets, English transferware, pantry boxes and early American furniture.



































We also included some of our Antique Haviland Limoges China and other collectible china, vintage glass and silver, and our beautiful table linens from England.




It was a special weekend and we enjoyed meeting and visiting with our customers who have a true appreciation of things from long ago.




Many of the pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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Celebrate Spring!

Celebrate Spring With Springtime On Your China!

Garden floral patterns are a favorite among china makers and collectors.

I am told that Royal Crown Derby Pattern Derby Posies was
Princess Diana's china.

Just Beautiful!



Minton's English Bone China Dainty Sprays Pattern puts a garden on your table with its multicolored floral sprays.



This Minton Plate combines flowers and birds for a very special Spring effect.



Haviland Limoges France China has hundreds of patterns featuring roses and other flowers.

Among them those with pink flowers are always the favorites.


And very special pieces like these just sing Spring!





This type of china cannot help but lift your spirits after a long, cold winter and Welcome Spring!

Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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A Special Quilt -

Being a frustrated quilter myself, I am in awe of the quilts made long ago by those who were not so easily frustrated.

This is an especially lovely Antique Quilt! The pieced pattern is quite simple - triangles in a variety of small print red fabrics. I have been told that these fabrics date to the late 1800's dating this quilt to the early 1900's

It is the hand quilting that makes this Antique Quilt outstanding. All of those tiny stitches sewn in parallel curved lines. This quilting pattern is called The Baptist Fan. It is stunning!

- And also inspirational - Perhaps it is time I overcame my frustration and faced the challenge of quilting again.


This quilt is available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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Haviland Butter Pats -

In days gone by dining was indeed an experience with elaborate table settings. A special small plate used for an individual serving of butter - most definitely!

Antique Haviland Limoges France Butter Pats , measuring a mere 3 inches in diameter, were made to match the many hundreds of Haviland's China patterns.

These small beauties are very popular among collectors today since they provide a sampling of the lovely Antique Haviland China patterns and take minimal space. They are as varied in both pattern design and blank as Antique Haviland China making for a stunning collection.

Modern day uses for these Butter Pats, aside from the pure joy of adding to ones collection, vary from a tea bag holder at the table to a place to put ones rings and earrings on a night side table.

Whatever your use, these delightful little pieces of Antique Haviland Limoges France China are sure to charm you!


Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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A Fork For -

In the Victorian era it seems there was a piece of silverware for every use imaginable.

Recently we acquired a set of small forks and have been told they are Eclair Forks. How specific is that? These little forks are shaped like Pastry Forks but are only 5 inches long.

Thinking of some of the other forks in our inventory I cannot help but be amazed at their unique purposes.

Strawberry Forks have extremely long tines to easily pierce the berries.

Ice Cream Forks appear more like a combination of a spoon and a fork.

Oyster or Seafood Forks have a longer handle and short tines.

Take a moment and imagine dining long ago.

How Special!


Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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Another Common Question -

At the Antiques Shows we participate in we are often asked - What are these? They are referring to Drainers.

When Drainers were originally produced in the mid 1800’s they were partnered with a platter. The most beautiful were made by the English potters in their transferware designs. However, they are also found in the undecorated white ironstone.

These Drainers have become highly collectible - both in the charming transferware designs or in the simplicity of white ironstone.

A wall display of a collection of Drainers can be quite stunning - as well as a very special way to enjoy living with wonderful pieces of the past!!


Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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What Are These Little Things? Are They Finger Bowls? Children's China?

That is the question we are most often asked when we participate in Antiques Shows with our Antique Haviland Limoges China. They are asking about Ramekins and their Underplates.

When Haviland made their Ramekins in the late 1800’s - early 1900’s they left the bottoms unglazed. These were actually used to bake puddings and custards, etc in a water bath in their ovens. This is not recommended with our more powerful present day ovens.

Antique Haviland Limoges Ramekins are quite charming both in their small size and wonderful shapes and make a very special presentation with their underplates. They usually measure about 3 1/2 inches across at the top. Today they are often used to serve a small dessert or appetizer.

Haviland Ramekin Sets are highly collectible. Many do not buy them to be used but rather as part of a collection. They are stunning when a large number in a variety of patterns and shapes are collected together in one place.

Whether you are trying to complete Grandmother’s china set or add to your collection you cannot help but be captivated by these precious little ramekin sets.

Most pictured items are still available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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Antique Linens ~ Lavender Sachets

New Heirlooms Hand Made From Antique And Vintage Linens.

I have been collecting Antique and Vintage Linens for many years. There is nothing quite like the linens of the past with their lovely hand work - embroidery and lace and crochet edges.

One has to admire the talented ladies who found time to do such handwork - most often learned as a child as the skills were passed down through the generations. Most spent many hours creating items for their hope chests - items of all sizes from the smallest of doilies to the large table coverings and bed linens.

All those small doilies - seemingly useless in our modern day life - have been reborn into beautiful Lavender Sachets. Each is hand made and unique to the antique piece taking on its own shape and personality and filled with dried Lavender flower buds.

Lavender is a wonderful fragrance!

Inhale the scent slowly and deeply and the combination of breathing deeply and inhaling the Lavender scent will calm nervous tension, anxiety and panicky feelings.

Lavender also helps for more restful sleep - hang one of these charming sachets on your bedpost.

The wonderful scent and calming effects of Lavender are well known but most are not aware that Lavender is a natural repellent for moths and fleas. Hang a Lavender sachet in your closet or tuck one in your drawers or linen cabinet - so much more pleasing than common repellants.

A Lovely Use For An Antique Item!


Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
(Click on the banner to visit Holly Lane Antiques Internet Store)