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My china collection
This week I made a fun video over on my Youtube channel sharing my tea set and trinket collection, I have such fun collecting tea cups and growing my china collection. We all have our vices and mine is most definitely being addicted to buying too many tea sets and trinkets! There could be worse habits? Right?. I wanted to share a few tips for buying china, growing your collection and saving a few pennies whilst doing it too. Collecting china can be costly, especially if you are like me and a fan of collecting Royal Albert, but I have been able to save a few pennies.
I collect Royal Albert new country rose collection. I always try and buy them when they are on offer and Arnotts and House of Fraser and Selfridges regularly have 20% off home events and I try and buy them when they are on offer. Also, keep an eye on Marks and Spencer too as they can have some really nice sets and that is where I got the set in the picture above. Make sure to sign up to their mailing lists so you will get notified of any discounts.
The Royal Albert website rarely has offers and the shipping is dearer to Ireland so you don’t save as much.
Also if you are ever in London there is a Harrods in Gatwick airport and this is where I pick up some bits to add to the collection as they also have the discount on them. The sterling is really good at the moment so if you are travelling to the UK it’s worth picking them up there.
Second-hand sites
I am a massive fan of adverts.ie and donedeal.ie to get some bargains on second-hand china. You can set up a search alert so when a china set or a particular brand is listed you will get a notification. Be quick! They get snapped up especially the Royal Albert, I have gotten my hands on a fab teapot trio that was an unwanted wedding present.
Set a search alert for keywords on these sites apps, I have a search alert for ‘Royal Albert’ and ‘tea set’ so when these are listed I get a notification.
Markets and antique shops
I remember going to Portobello market in London and thinking I was going to get a full tea set for £50 and nearly died when I asked how much? and the lady replied £650!!! That’s when I realised that old meant valuable! Now, you can get lucky at markets but I would stick more to car boot sales where people sell stuff from house clearances, this is where you will get bargains.
Antique shops again can be dear, especially as collecting china is quite popular at the moment but they are always worth a look!Also, don’t forget the charity shops! These can be a treasure trove for trinkets and China.
Vintage and Antique china sets have a history and a story to tell and they deserve to be valuable, you can get lots of info from the stamp on a teacup, some might have a year on it but they will have a logo and a location of where they were made. Some brands get really valuable if the brand is now gone, always check before throwing out any sets if doing a house clearance as you might be throwing out a valuable set.
Friends and Family
This is where you get the freebies! once the word is out that you collect china, you will be so surprised by people who will keep you in mind when they are clearing out their house or a relatives house. I have been gifted loads of China from people who were clearing out a relatives house and they found China and they were just going to throw out and passed them on to me.
Don’t snub the mismatched sets! I love odd china, this can look funky at a tea party or for weddings. Keep a box of odd china and keep adding to it and you can have fun matching it all up.
Vintage china can be expensive. I hope these tips help you grow your collection.
I get a lot of questions about people wanting them much cheaper but unfortunately, they are stunning and in demand but I honestly have so much fun adding to a collection. Whether it’s a birthday or Christmas I love adding a cup or a teapot to the collection.
If you want to see my collection then click the play button in the video below. Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button too.
I hope you have fun collecting, I love seeing peoples sets so always tag me in your cute china pics.
Thanks for reading.
Chat soon,
Catherine.
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