I'm At it Again. There is no treatment, good!

I had these all packed away for safe keeping.

   I have two much time on my hands. I need to get a different hobby. I just can't help myself. What am I supposed to do? These are the statements that I make over and over, when it comes to my antique addiction. And they are all so true.
  Actually most of this newest collection, must have, addiction, has been always setting around. I have just now thought I should man up, build onto and move forward with it.

This one is called,"Luster." Very  had to get the picture right.

   What the HELL am I talking about? My newest collection in the antique world. Hand painted china fruit bowls.These bowls were very popular in Victorian society as wedding gifts. They could be purchased for a small amount and made a very beautiful gift. All homes had a list one. And most of the home makers never used them. They are too nice!!!! They were usually in a prime spot in a china cabinet and there owners were very proud of them. Some home owners kept them locked away, packed to the gills, hoping to keep them from getting chipped or broken. I am glad they felt that way about them as it has preserved them for my generation.
   These bowls are really not, for the most part, hand painted. Most of them are DECALS or TRANSFERS. The trim of the bowl was usually hand painted and some times dew drops and shadows were added by hand after the decal was applied. Gold trim was always done by hand. There were many styles of what you would call blanks. These were made by different companies and each company had there own patterns and trademarks. Decals were designed by artist and sold to companies who transferred them to decals. These bowls were made in many countries, such as, Germany, France, Austria and Prussia . Some were marked on the back,  but many were not. Some of the decals had the artist name on them and that makes them a little more desirable. The RS Prussia ones are usually the most sought after and can be the most pricey. Many years ago when I was a youngin, these bowls could bring a pretty penny. Today they are not thought of as being that valuable and most young people today could care less. I have never bought a bowl because of it's  marking, as much as I have because of it's beauty. There are other collectors that buy only because of the maker.

This one was my Daddy's favorite. It is pretty special.

Another one of my Daddy's. It is so delicate.

One of my favorites. My Daddy found this one also.

   My father had an antique shop many years ago. It was a shock to all of my family. None of knew he even liked dusty old things. One thing he really liked was these hand painted bowls. He used to go to farm auctions and search them out and fight over them with the next bidder. My father never liked to loose, so sometimes he would go overboard to win. I remember when he closed the shop he brought a few of these bowls home with them. They were placed into the china cabinet, for safe keeping, just like most others did. I kept my eyes on them for years. My mother and father divorced after 50 years of marriage. The bowls stayed behind when he left. When my mother died, I asked for them and no one else cared, so they came home with me.

This is one of Ora Bell's, RS Prussia.

Another of Ora Bells. I bought these two for the color, thinking they would go in the dining room. But there is no place to display them.

   I had a dear lady friend. I grew up around her and her children were my age. We went to school together. Ora Bell loved antiques. Maybe that is where some of my collecting comes from. She loved hand painted bowls, especially the RS Prussia ones. She had many, many, many. She also like  white marble top furniture. We used to race to see who had more marble top tables. Ora  Bell never won, really, but I told her a few days before she died that she had passed me up. When she died her two sons asked me to help sale her things. I was thrilled and had a very successful estate sale. I had sold many of these items to Ora Bell from my antique shop. I wanted something to remember her by, sold I bought two of the bowls. Like every body else I took them home and put them in a safe place in the china cabinet.

This beauty has been in the shop for weeks. When I got this latest craz, I brought it home. Glad it was just hanging around.

This beauty was also in the shop. I brought it home last Christmas. Needed something to put strawberries in for a party. It some how never made it's way back into inventory. I guess that is OK, I know the owner!!!!

  When I go to auctions or antique shops today I can not help but be drawn to the hand painted china. Especially the big fruit bowls. If the price is reasonable I usually have to buy it. I put them in the shop and sometimes they even sale. Usually, however, I end up bringing them home. I love them if no one else does.

  These bowls are getting harder and harder to find. I looked on EBAY yesterday and only found a few. The price ranged from $25.00 to $125.00. I was just looking. I usually only strike if the price is really right. The last one I bought at auction sold for $15.00. It seems that the lovers of beautiful old things grows smaller every year.

Don't ya just love these sweet little cabbage roses??

Goose Berries, very rare.No body can have it now.

   I have a plan for my bowl collection. I pulled  these all out the other night. There is a built in shelf in my bed room that could hold something. Who's to say, you can't put hand painted bowls in a bed room? Not me. I need 15, I found 7 just setting around. What will the next one be? Where will it come from? That is the rest of this story. Stay turned for chapter two.

Look at the detail, peach seed and blackberry.

Come by any time for a tour. I always have lights on and Sissy is always at the door with a jump and a kiss. Richard

   PS, Don't tell the rest of my family. They don't understand, but my Daddy did!

Somebody is trying to help me with my habit. They just walked in the door and wanted to sell these. Maybe the add I posted yesterday on Buy Sale and Trade on Facebook had nothing to do with it. make that 9, 6 more to go. Then what????

And your little dog too!