Blue And White - A Collector's Delight -

Drainer Willow Pattern

"A beautiful sale filled to the brim with antiques, every wall and surface covered...beautifully and artfully displayed by this avid collector ...so many different collections...transfer ware in many colors...and loads of flow blue...A treasure trove of items rarely seen in such groupings and collections" from an email I received last week.


Antique Flow Blue Large Plate Sciro Challinor

How could I resist this estate sale? We were flying into California for our grand daughter's wedding and arriving late Thursday night. Friday morning after a scheduled doctor's appointment - could we / should we - drive the hour and a half to attend this estate sale? Would it really be as special as promised in this email? We did and it was! It was unbelievable!


Antique Blue Transfer Ware Plate Medina Pattern

This lovely lady was a true lover of blue and white. Even arriving a good two hours after the opening we found the walls of this small house still covered with blue transfer ware and flow blue pieces. Every wall was covered with a collection of some sort and most of it was blue and white. I was indeed like the proverbial "kid in a candy store". As much as I looked I just could not see it all - more than a bit overwhelming! We left the sale with over 20 pieces of antique flow blue and blue transfer ware. Most of these are being listed in our stores on Ruby Lane and Tias Antique Arts and of course, will be available for sale at the Antiques Shows we will be participating in for the rest of the summer season.


Antique Flow Blue Oval Platter Watteau Pattern

There is nothing quite like a collection of blue and white. It works well in a cottage setting or in a more formal one. It is cool and soothing ... tranquil and refreshing ... peaceful and relaxing... restful and calm ... and just makes you want to smile. And how lovely it works along with Antique Early English White Ironstone - my true passion. "The classic colors of sea and sky have long inspired collectors and captured the hearts of many around the world. Sophisticated hues of blue—from delicate pastel to deep, bold navy—evoke a tranquil yet often vibrant mood, while soft white tones remind us of peaceful summer days." Victoria Magazine


Antique Flow Blue Plate Chinese Plant A S Knight

A bit of history - Blue and white chinaware has been with us for centuries with its beginnings in China. When we speak of its production in terms of England, we may go back as far as 1790s. TRANSITIONAL STAGES OF BLUE AND WHITE TRANSFERWARE CHINA



Drainers were originally paired with platters - also called mezzanines. Most have become separated from their platters through the years. They have now become popular as decorator items. These are in the classic Willow pattern. Drainers are usually quite difficult to find and we were delighted to find the three pictured in this collection.




Antique Blue Transfer Ware Tooth Brush Holder Oriental

Many of the items pictured are available for purchase at our internet stores. Click on the pictures to be taken directly to Ruby Lane for more pictures and complete information about each piece.

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Antique Flow Blue Plate Marie Pattern

New Treasures From This Estate Collection Continue To Be Added Daily


Antique Flow Blue Plate Floral Design


Antique Flow Blue Large Plate Salem John Edwards



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Open Market At Tiverton 4 Corners -

"Located within a one hour drive of Boston, Providence, Newport, and the towns of Southeastern Massachusetts, Tiverton Four Corners has become an important center for antiques, fine art, decorative crafts, and cozy shops nestled into a quaint New England Village of 18th century buildings. Enjoy the fresh air as you walk the few steps between shops to peek in windows, sample gourmet treats and purchase quality goods of all kinds in an unhurried, friendly and charming atmosphere." (from their own website) Tiverton 4 Corners is in Tiverton Rhode Island.

This summer the local Farmer's Market has moved to Tiverton 4 Corners and across the street from it on the lawn under beautiful shade trees - something new is happening. On selected Saturdays an Open Market is taking place - offering quality antiques & collectibles - china, glassware, silver, rugs, furniture, vintage clothing, garden items and much more. On some Open Market Saturdays craft and art venders join the festivities.



Yesterday Holly Lane Antiques participated in this wonderful new event at Tiverton 4 Corners. This Open Market concept reminded us of when we participated in the SOWA Sundays in Boston. Much closer to home for us this market - still in its infancy - has such potential beginning with a perfect location and a dedicated promoter.



We decided to feature our Early English White Ironstone with a blue and white themed booth. Our beautiful blue hydrangeas provided our inspiration. Adding a large selection of antique blue transfer ware carried out the blue theme.





Holly Lane Antiques will be at the Open Market whenever our busy summer schedule of Antiques Shows allows. Future Open Markets are scheduled for August 6 & 20, September 3rd and October 8th.



Just look at these beautiful peppers I found at the Farmer's Market - they almost do not even look real!





Many of the items pictured are available for purchase at our internet stores.

Click on the banner below to visit our internet store at Tias Antique Arts -


And visit our internet store at Ruby Lane -

Become a Fan of Holly Lane Antiques on FaceBook
And Follow Holly Lane Antiques on Twitter

What A Treat! Holly Lane Antiques In Print -

"Why do we love antiques? Perhaps it is because they are works of art with a past, or because they remind us of years gone by, or maybe it is the way they surprise and charm us?"

Last month Holly Lane Antiques participated in the Antiques At Elm Bank Show in Wellesley Ma. This is a favorite show of our summer schedule since it is set on the grounds of the historic Elm Bank Estate in tents amidst beautiful gardens.

I always strive to have my booth looking perfect to best showcase my antique treasures. On Sunday we were visited by two ladies who asked if they could take pictures for a magazine article they were working on - commenting that our booth was magazine ready. What a lovely compliment! The article would be featuring Antiques in New England.



What a surprise and treat it was to receive the link to the completed issue late last week! To see such beautiful pictures of our booth being featured was an amazing feeling.

Thank you to Yvonne Blacker and Rosanne Palazola and New England Finery Magazine!

"I love incorporating antiques into my design work. It gives a new design some history - some "ghosts"! With each piece I try to imagine what life was like when it was first brought into a home - how the owners lived, how the piece was used. And now it gets a chance at rebirth bringing the past into the present. Antiques also fit into my ethic of "Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose!" Antiques are the ultimate in green design."
Rosanne Palazola
Focus on Design



New England Finery Summer 2011

Many of the items pictured are available for purchase at our internet stores.

Click on the banner below to visit our internet store at Tias Antique Arts -


And visit our internet store at Ruby Lane -
Holly Lane Antiques at Ruby Lane

Become a Fan of Holly Lane Antiques on FaceBook
And Follow Holly Lane Antiques on Twitter

June - A Busy Month Of Antiques Shows -

Holly Lane Antiques began this June at a new antiques show for us - the Cape Cod Antique Dealers Association Annual Spring Antiques Show at the Heritage Museum at Sandwich Ma on Cape Cod.

This was a beautiful show on a beautiful day in a beautiful place. I felt like I was on a wonderful vacation!

The show was well attended and we were happily surprised to be reacquainted with a former customer who is an early English White Ironstone collector.



We stock hundreds of items and there are always favorites. At this show - one of our favorites - this very special flow blue platter found a new home. It is always bittersweet to part with "the favorites" but knowing it will have a special place with its new owner eases that a bit. This piece will proudly take its place over the fireplace to replace one that was broken.



We look forward to participating in this show again next year and returning to the Heritage Museum to explore its wonderful gardens very soon.





Living in New England we realize the weather is not always our friend. Antiques At Elm Bank is a unique Antiques Show in that it takes place on the grounds of Massachusetts Horticultural Society at the Elm Bank Estate in Wellesley Ma. This is a most outstanding venue for an antiques show. The white tents full of antiques set amongst the beautiful gardens is a magical setting - even in the rain ?!?!



This is a two day show with a day of set up before. It was quite hot and humid for the set up and then rainy and cold for the show days. The weather did improve a bit on Sunday with just heavy drippy mist instead of real rain. The gardens were still beautiful and the tents were still full of antiques - though a bit damp - as were the dealers. Many of the people still came not wanting to miss this special event and it was enjoyable as always to share our treasures with those who visited our booth.







There was a new garden across from our booth that was amazing to look at - remembering that last year it was just piles of dirt in process and the previous year a parking lot. If anything can make up for a rainy antiques show for me it is being in beautiful gardens.





















On the third weekend in June we participated in the Grafton Historical Society Antiques Show on the town green in Grafton Ma. Again we spent the week previewing the weather forecast. Thunderstorms were predicted but it was a perfect day without a raindrop to fall. This was a true community event - for along with the antiques - there were the local church women with their most special pies for sale and the boy scouts ready to lift and carry and help in every way.



A most enjoyable day spent in the midst of great community spirit!



Last Saturday we were scheduled to be at a show at Brewster on Cape Cod. When we checked the weather forecast at 4 am we found severe caution warnings with dense fog and zero visibility followed by thunderstorms. We decided against driving for a hour and a half in such weather to participate in that outside show.



We are now preparing for our close to home show this weekend in Tiverton Rhode Island at Tiverton Four Corners on Saturday July 2nd. This is always a wonderful well attended show with everyone in high spirits for the holiday weekend.

And then we will be back at Brimfield - July 15 and 16 - at J & J Field.

Many of the items pictured are available for purchase at our internet stores.

Click on the banner below to visit our internet store at Tias Antique Arts -


And visit our internet store at Ruby Lane -
Holly Lane Antiques at Ruby Lane

Become a Fan of Holly Lane Antiques on FaceBook

Taking Time To Enjoy ---

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Afternoon on a Hill"


A Tour Of Garden Club Members Gardens - A Special Day!

The weather continued to be foggy - drippy - rainy - but as one commented - the flowers look their best in this type of weather. And they did!

Four beautiful gardens hidden away down a lane way - behind a stone wall - on the edge of a meadow - behind a cottage. So much inspiration - so much joy!










If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Terri Guillemets
























Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity. ~John Ruskin










Summer set lip to earth's bosom bare,
And left the flushed print in a poppy there.
~Francis Thompson, "The Poppy," 1891














Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

This was indeed a special day spent with good friends in beautiful gardens!

Now it is time to return to working in my gardens of both flowers and antiques.

Searching for new antique treasures and participating in a full schedule of summer Antiques Shows take me away but it is always comforting to return to my special place in my gardens with my flowers.