Try to look at a number of patterns and shapes and makers before you make your
first chintz purchase. You will find that you like some patterns and some shapes more than
others. If you like the look of chintz and don’t have an unlimited budget, buy
different shapes and patterns which go well together and create a small chintz vignette.
Now that chintz ware is selling for hundreds of dollars, more and more people
are taking chipped and hair-lined pieces to restorers. A Florida collector called the
other day and said that she had recently looked at a number of the pieces she bought a
year ago and she could see the restoration now that the color had changed. Be sure to buy
from a reputable dealer and find out exactly what the return policy is before you buy.
Look very carefully at the spouts on coffee and tea pots since these often
chipped and are probably the most frequently repaired. Look to see if finials have been
reattached. If there is a spot on the bottom where the crazing suddenly stops and it is
smooth, look at this area very closely. If possible take the piece out into direct
sunlight since repairs are much more visible in strong light. I went to a science shop
(you can also try a jewelry supply store) and bought a small plastic magnifying glass and
it has saved me from several costly errors. Even if the piece is restored, if it is rare,
you want it, and the price reflects the condition, buy it by all means.
Royal Winton Julia, Welbeck, Stratford and Evesham and Lord Nelson Black Beauty
and Green Tulip and James Kent Hydrangea and Crown Ducal Florida are probably the most
sought after patterns in the United States. If you see an inexpensive piece in one of
these patterns, you should probably buy it.
Patterns seem to go through cycles. At the moment, Royal Winton Beeston,
Somerset, June Roses and English Rose are hot and the prices have gone up accordingly.
Some patterns usually sell for less. Do not pay high prices for everything marked chintz;
do some research first or you may find you have paid more than necessary.
Teapots and coffeepots are priced according to pattern, shape and size. Rarer
shapes like Royal Winton ‘Perth’ and James Kent ‘Melrose’ command a
higher dollar. The general rule used to be ‘the bigger the pot, the bigger the
price’, but new collectors seem to like the little teapots off breakfast trays and
they are going for a premium. Sometimes the teapot ordered over the telephone turns out to
be smaller than expected. A four-cup teapot may mean four six-ounce cups of tea or it may
mean four eight-ounce measuring cups. If you are unsure ask the dealer to get a cup
measure and fill the pot to determine the exact size.
Chintz buying is now an international business with collectors buying on the
telephone and the Internet from as far away as South Africa and Australia. Always be sure
that you know what you are buying especially if you are paying a large shipping bill since
you may not find it worthwhile to return a disappointing piece. If you are buying on eBay,
be sure to ask about return policies in advance. Most sellers are more than willing to
take back unsatisfactory merchandise, but I have heard several tales of woe from unhappy
buyers.
Remember that there are not only shipping charges and insurance but sometimes
duty. I had an Email from someone in England the other day; he had bought six things for
$700. When they arrived from the States, they were exactly what he had ordered but his
shipping, insurance, duty and VAT added another $330 to his total!
Buy a tiny tape measure and keep it with you. Jugs and vases can be as tiny as
3" or as big as 12" and it may be difficult to be sure without measuring. Plates
range in size from 3" to 12" and come in a variety of shapes. Different shapes
of cups usually have an appropriate saucer. Try to make sure that you are not buying a
mismatched pair.
If you are buying something like a breakfast set make sure that all the pieces
are correct and that they really do match. I bought an egg cup and salt and pepper on a
tray some years ago and when I got it home the salt and pepper were Summertime and the egg
cups and tray were Kinver. I had a call from someone who was offered a complete breakfast
set and discovered that in place of the cream and sugar, there was a salt and pepper.
If you are buying a stacking teapot sight unseen, do ask if the pieces fit
together properly when they are stacked. Because people don’t always realize how the
stackers are assembled, the cream and sugar are sometimes sold separately and more and
more ‘married’ sets have appeared over the past couple of years and some do not
fit.
If you are trying to assemble a set of Summertime or Old Cottage Chintz it is
very important to know roughly when it was made. Both patterns were produced from the
early 1930s into the 1960s and the color variations can be very striking especially the
pinks and the blues.
Ask about the color. Sweet Pea and Julia are patterns where the color is
sometimes deep and rich and sometimes pale and faded if the pieces didn’t fire
properly, so it is worthwhile asking how strong the colors are if this matters to you. The
pattern Sunshine sometimes appears orange in tone and sometimes pink. Most chintz
collectors prefer the pink and will pay more for it.
Blue is the most fragile of the colors and if a relish dish or a fruit bowl was
used for something acidic like pickles or pineapple, the color went quickly. Look
carefully at the center of bowls. I often see pieces where only the rim is the original
color. If you intend to use your pieces, it would be wise to remember how easily the color
can be lost.
When you are buying something you have never seen before, try to use common
sense. In the past month I have seen a Julia pot with metal surround described as a
possible bud vase rather than a salt/pepper pot missing its lid. Rare is a highly overused
word in the chintz world of buy and sell; even if the item is rare, it may not be desired
by all collectors.
Collectors often ask about crazing. Chintz was usually applied to earthenware or
semi porcelain and over the years many of the pieces have developed crazing. Unless there
is a hairline crack this should not be too much of a concern. Because of the crazing,
however, it is often difficult to spot small hairlines. If possible place the piece on the
palm of your hand and give the edge a flick with your finger. Usually hair-lined pieces
will have a dull thud kind of sound rather than ringing.
I rather like the pieces which look as though someone had a bad day and cut out
the transfers and put them on any which way. Most collectors, however, want the joins to
be as invisible as possible and they always look carefully at toast racks and other
awkward shapes to make sure the transfer is perfect.
Try to remember that this china was cheap and cheerful when it was produced. In
1951 a chintz stacking teapot was advertised for sale in Canada for $2.50. Today the same
‘stacker’ might sell for anywhere up to $2000. You cannot expect the piece to be
made with the same care as a fine piece of Royal Crown Derby or Meissen.
