Car Boots or Antique Shops?

Sourcing new items to fill our Pantry shelves is one of loveliest but most challenging parts of running a vintage china hire business. Our gorgeous stock has come from family, friends, vintage markets, antique shops, junk shops, charity shops and car boot sales. Once you’ve caught the bug it becomes impossible to walk past anyone of these places without sneaking a peek. Your family soon get a little tired of standing around whilst you rummage amongst old books and clothes for teapots, linens and cake stands. Getting up before the sun comes up to scour car boot sales isn’t easy, you need to wrap up warm and be prepared to search amongst all kinds of household objects and all kinds of people (and I mean all kinds!), but it’s well worth it when you find vintage china you just love. There are of course specialist markets and shops that sell the vintage china you might be looking for, but be prepared to pay a higher price – you will be lucky to get just one trio for less than £4, and you can pay as much as £25. So is it rummage at the car boot or pop to your local antique shop – the two items pictured below are two of my personal favourites, very different in style and very different prices, one bought for 25p at a car boot, one for £20 at an antique shop – which do you prefer?!

Midwinter Cake Stand

Our collection of vintage china comes from all sorts of places – it’s normally down to our keen eyes searching shops and car boot sales. Our lovely friends and family have also donated some of our most treasured pieces. The ‘Midwinter’ cake stand pictured here was donated to us by a very kind lady we have never had the chance to meet. Keen for it to be loved and used, she has added it to our Pantry shelves – what a star! Thank you!

Cake Forks and Sugar Tongs

Another early start on Sunday morning, far too little sleep again, but worth it for these cake forks and sugar tongs. They include a set of four to commemorate the coronation of King George VI in 1937. A bit of silver polish and they look so pretty. Definitely going to be making an appearance at our next booking. What a lovely find.