I have been buying and selling vintage for some years now. I only buy what I ‘get’ because if I can’t sell it I should be happy to live with it. Mostly I am delighted to live with it because I love what I buy. And sometimes I buy it and it never makes it to sale!

I was in a charity shop a couple of years ago when I saw a big pot on the shelf. I picked it up and had a good look at it. It was in great condition, no chips or cracks. I didn’t recognise the pottery mark. I have to say I wasn’t convinced it was old, I just wasn’t sure about it. It looked like it was missing a lid that was for sure. But I liked it. I liked it a lot. So I bought it.

The pot I bought that I now use as a utensil pot 

The mark on the bottom of the pot I bought

I took it home and had a look on line about it. Turned out it was old. In fact the factory that made it had closed in 1969. I was quite surprised because I genuinely found the pattern really fresh. It looked like it could be a range in John Lewis.

As I researched it I saw other pieces. The missing lid from this piece looked like it should have been a really bright colour. That only served to make me love the piece even more.

Thus began my collection.

The History:-

Pottery was an important part of life in Bristol and it appears that ceramics were being made in the area since around the 1650’s. Initially they just made Delft. But things were progressing across the Country with firms like Wedgwood leading the way in now producing Queen’s Ware. By the early 1800’s the factory in Bristol became known as The Bristol Factory and it was making both Delft and Queen’s Ware. John Pountney was involved with the company in the first quarter of the 1800’s and it was at a standard comparable to the great potteries of the country. When he died his widow carried on the business and when it was taken over the Pountney name was maintained and the company went from strength to strength, introducing lithographc transfers in 1938.

The Longline pattern was part of the range from 1961-9 – I love this blog about meeting one of the designers…http://jocorbettceramics.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/honor-elliot.html

Bristol Longline has, in my mind, become massively collectable. It rarely comes up on eBay and when it does I snap it up! My little collection is growing. I aspire to the rolling pin if you see one! But if you want to start collecting it be prepared that you will be bidding against me.  And when you do buy it make sure you speak to the previous owner and find out if there is a history.  The joy of collecting is that you probably acquire parts of your collection from other collectors.  Let me know if any of your china has a history!  I’ll be sharing some of my other collections over the coming weeks and letting you know they’re story.

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https://instagram.com/wishvintage/