Guest Blog: Souvenirs de la Reine: Shopping for Blue Onion Pottery in Berlin
to 10px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 302px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/TChV4kQRPHI/AAAAAAAAE7w/Pee5tNbHvmY/s400/blue2.jpg” border=”0″ />So it’s no surprise that many of my antiques are blue. The white shelves surrounding my fireplace are carefully arranged with my blue travel treasures:
- blue and white tulip vase from Delft, Holland
- cobalt blue vase studded with silver I found in a souk in Marrakesh
- petite blue oil painting of Paris
- blue and cream Dutch KLM house found in an antiques shop in Amsterdam
- blue swirl glass bowl from Kosta Boda I found at their outlet store in Sweden
- pale blue Limoges oyster plate I found in Savannah
- dark blue fleur de lys on white platter from Madrid
- blue and white taper candles from France
- cobalt blue and white cake plate from Royal Copenhagen I found in Copenhagen
to 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/TChV5U5PW8I/AAAAAAAAE8A/33YhuR8DHe0/s400/blue+3.jpg” border=”0″ />Are you seeing a pattern? So on a recent visit to The Antiques Diva in Berlin, I had a mission: a piece of my favorite German Blue Onion Zwiebelmuster pottery. I have pieces in both the German Meissen pattern and the Czech pattern, I’m all inclusive!
And not only did I want Zwiebelmuster, I wanted antique. And more specifically, I wanted a lidless Zwiebelmuster crock to put on my stove and hold cooking utensils. The Antiques Diva was on the case! Our first stop (after Starbucks for my daily addiction of a Tall Skim Chai Latte, extra hot bitte) was the Berliner Antik und Flohmarkt. And as we wandered the stalls, the Diva introduced me to a vendor specializing in blue & white. It was love at first site. And as I browsed the crowded shop, I found my newest treasure:
to 10px; WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/TChV5BVDleI/AAAAAAAAE74/zHPXAJimRjU/s400/blue4.jpg” border=”0″ />If you look at the two crocks I’m holding, you can see they both say the word cocoa in German: Cacao. and Kakao. As I had only seen cocoa spelled with a “k” auf Deutsch, we were treated to a little history of German grammar lesson by the proprietor. Herr explained, “In the early 1900s, the German government implemented the Deutsch Rightig Sprechen und Schreiben. These new grammar laws standardized the spelling, pronunciation and punctuation of the German language throughout the country. As a result,Cacao. became Kakao.”
Who knew?to 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/TChV5hQQLrI/AAAAAAAAE8I/UE3NA9O2ZvQ/s400/Picture1.jpg” border=”0″ />If you, too, love the Blue Onion pattern, you may be interested to know:
- it’s not an onion at all, in fact it’s a pomegranate!
- this pattern was copied by Meissen from Asian pottery in the mid-18th century, and soon copied by other pottery manufacturers, most famously Czech factories, who produced a much more affordable version
- Meissen Zwiebelmuster is treasured by traditional German housewives. In fact, when I travel Germany visiting my many family members, I’m always served kuchen und kaffee on their treasured Zwiebelmuster
- Blue Onion is readily available in the US online at ebay or Replacements
La Reine’s Shopping Tip:
You can find your own blue “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva by shopping her new online brocante. Recent blue treasures include vintage Delft pottery, tiles, and vases.
Happy Shopping!
La Reine
PS. Enjoyed today’s post? You can read more a La Reine’s great blogs at She’s Shopping Now!
Treasures on Tuesdays – 21 piece Vintage Blue & White Sea-Themed German Tea Set
Additional Photos:
tos/theantiquesdiva/4668060995/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquesdiva/4668060995/
tos/theantiquesdiva/4668058731/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquesdiva/4668058731/
tos/theantiquesdiva/4668058265/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquesdiva/4668058265/
tos/theantiquesdiva/4668680828/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquesdiva/4668680828/
tos/theantiquesdiva/4668053229/”>http://www.flickr.com/photos/theantiquesdiva/4668053229/
$149 (or 121 Euro) includes international shipping
BUY this tea set and other great tea time treasures at my online brocante:
An Invitation to an Online Brocante : “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva™
to 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S9XP0DdXQHI/AAAAAAAAEpE/2OtHCkneVvI/s400/Treasures+Online+Brocante.png” border=”0″ />Dear Diva Readers,
You’re cordially invited to the launch of my new Online Brocante:
When I launched The Antiques Diva™ blog I had no idea where it would take me. Since its creation the entire concept has exploded and The Antiques Diva Tours was born! Last year The Antiques Diva™ Tours landed on the pages of Travel+Leisure and Marie Claire and this summer we’ll appear in the Delta Airlines in-flight publication as well as Victoria magazine! Needless to say, it’s been very exciting to see The Antiques Diva™ blog grow up and turn into a business. But hold onto your hats, we’re expanding yet again! This time we’re dipping our toe into the world of online retail, bringing the European Flea Markets home to you which means that even when you are in-between trips around “the continent” you can still keep shopping “les puce” with the click of your mouse, regardless of locale!
to 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S9XPzkgBj4I/AAAAAAAAEo0/u68Ny24ighA/s400/copper+tea+kettle.jpg” border=”0″ />
to 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S9XSCMPpSOI/AAAAAAAAEpk/v-EWpP8YJm0/s400/delft+and+crystal.jpg” border=”0″ />You might have noticed the use of the word “we”…. Just as I work with locally based divas to help with my Antiques Diva Tours in Holland, Belgium, France and Germany, I’m not doing this new venture alone – I’ve got a partner! Enter stage right Jane Snyder, a retired bank executive voted as one of the most powerful women in banking turned full-time shopping goddess. Jane is a diva in motion and she’s devoting herself to juggling high-powered auctions, private estate sales and all our favorite brocantes from Paris to Amsterdam, London, Brussels and beyond! Hey, it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it!
to 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S9XP0rLP2cI/AAAAAAAAEpU/HUFtCdwYVv4/s400/jane.jpg” border=”0″ />At our Online Brocante you’ll find the type of inventory you’d find in a European market with the precious displayed precariously next to the pop. I’ve always been a fan of the old English Country house style of décor where decades are layered upon the centuries, achieving an irreverence in décor only possible in the old world. With “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva™ we’re bringing the old world to the new one. You’re as likely to find a Delft plate that’s been around longer than America has been a nation as you are to find a vintage Moët et Chandon champagne bucket perfect for plunking a bottle of bubbly at a picnic. From vintage Chanel bracelets and belts to antique copper tea kettles and sterling silver cutlery, our inventory consists of everything from antiques and art to vintage items with a few decor items and objects of curiosity thrown in for good measure!
to 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 361px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/S9XP0cu6aKI/AAAAAAAAEpM/nSTE7epdEX8/s400/vintage+moet+et+chandon+chandon.jpg” border=”0″ />To keep things simple all our pricing is inclusive of ALL shipping fees – in other words, the price listed at our online store is the total price you pay! And should you happen to be traveling in Holland, feel free to make an appointment to visit our private atelier. The entire collection of “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva™ is open ONLY BY APPOINTMENT in the charming Dutch village of Wassenaar just outside The Hague.
We invite you to join us at our new site “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva™. And while you’re there, why don’t you subscribe to receive updates via email? We’ll be adding inventory each week with special offers especially with you in mind. And should you be looking for something specific, do let us know. We’re happy to shop with you in mind!
Click here to shop my new online brocante: “Treasures” by The Antiques Diva™.
Bonne Shopping!
The Antiques Diva™
