English Toy China [Hardcover]

Doris Anderson Lechler (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Antique Pubns (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915410605
• ISBN-13: 978-0915410606
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,677,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Considering collecting child's Staffordshire set? This book a big help, January 16, 2011

By 

Deborah Bowers (Street, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: English Toy China (Paperback)

I purchased this book after many years of collecting antique Staffordshire, ie, china made in Staffordshire, England, in whatever period interests you - for me, it was pre-1860s. At some point, after examining many examples of children's play sets - tiny teapots, sugar bowls, cups and saucers - I grew very fond of them and wanted to know more and to see what patterns were available on the market. I found this book to be very helpful.

First, the 112 pages of photographs - with the pieces and sets on a black background, numbered and named, all on glossy stock - are superb. I appreciated the care with which this book was created. All the photos make up one section of the book, and the second section describes each pattern/set, providing pattern name (whether actual or made up by dealers), point of origin and date made, if known, measurement,classification (rare, very rare, common, available, etc.) and price range (as of publication of this book, in 1989).

If you have developed a fondness for these extremely cute 19th century (and early 20th century) children's playsets, you will love this book, and it will help you decide what you like, and what might be available in the antiques market. I have found quite a few of these pieces in my antique shopping over the last decade, and today there are a number of pieces available on Ebay. A search of "child's Staffordshire" should give you a fair selection. A few Ebay dealers specialize in children's Staffordshire. You will soon figure out which patterns you may be able to collect. Or, you may decide to collect certain pieces, such as the teapots in many different patterns. Whatever you decide, this book is a lot of fun to look at and to keep as a reference.