Hornsea Aphrodite

Vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

We picked up this gorgeous piece of Hornsea Pottery this week.

Detail view of a vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

Aphrodite is her name and she was created by the amazing designer, John Clappison. It’s cast earthenware with a matt glaze. We love the pure, simple form of the vase – combined with the more intricate, stylised girl. The soft creamy white colour is lovely, too – and the way the relief decoration catches light or casts shadows.

Vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison, lying no its side | H is for Home

It stands alone as a sculptural vase – or would also be perfect to display a small spray of pretty flowers.

Base view of a vintage Hornsea Aphrodite vase designed by John Clappison | H is for Home

It was originally produced by Hornsea in 1961 and came in 3 sizes. This one stands 10cm tall. The V&A museum actually have one in their collection and online archive. If you’d like your own example, this beautiful girl will appear in our web shop soon.

Hornsea horoscopes

Vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

We had a wonderful start to the week on the buying front – acquiring a small collection of these zodiac/horoscope mugs on Monday morning.

Stack of vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

They were designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery in the 1970s. His vintage pieces are becoming harder and harder to find – so getting hold of a few together was just great.

Vintage horoscope mugs designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

Each mug features the zodiac symbol – and character traits for that star sign incorporated into newsprint lettering. As with most of his designs, they’re fabulous. They look even better when grouped together, so it’s tempting to hunt down all twelve now that we have a few!

Vintage Aries mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home Vintage Virgo mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home
Vintage Scorpio mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home Vintage Pisces mug designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery | H is for Home

Justin has just read his Aries traits – positive, enthusiastic, energetic, impulsive, enterprising, lively, the pioneer… Is he sure his birthday’s in April?!

Forthcoming Attractions: Mid July 2017

Collection of vintage homewares

We put loads of new items in the web shop last week – one of our a ‘Forthcoming Attractions‘ posts would have been very much in order, but we didn’t get round to it – slapped wrists! We vowed to do one soon though – so here it is! It’s a much smaller selection this week, but some nice pieces all the same.

Collection of vintage art glass | H is for Home

For starters, a lovely selection of glass. Various sizes, shapes and colourways – and some famous designers such as Per Lutken and Otto Brauer.

Set of cream & green vintage spice tins with rack | H is for Home

Next up we have a very cute little spice rack. There’s a wall-mountable metal shelf with six labelled metal tin pots. It dates from the 1950s era and is in very good condition – the perfect vintage touch for any kitchen.

Vintage Mills Moore soup spoons and dessert spoons | H is for Home

We don’t normally pick up part sets of cutlery, but we had good reason this time. We had some of this walnut-handled Mills Moore cutlery in our web shop a couple of years ago – and so many people have enquired about it since it sold that we vowed to keep an eye out for more. Perhaps someone out there would like to add these soup and dessert spoons to their collection. It’s very stylish and beautifully made.

Vintage Hornsea Pottery witch birthday mug | H is for Home

One of last weeks item’s was a Hornsea ‘Birthday Mug’ by John Clappison. We’ve decided to add another example from our collection this week – a magnificent spooky witch design. The sweet verse underneath reads:

If I but had THREE WISHES
And only one came true,
I’d ride with these THREE WITCHES
Upon their broom to YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Orange vintage fondue set | H is for Home

From monochrome to eye-popping colour! This fab orange fondue set looks like the perfect thing for a cold winter’s evening. Log fire, glass of wine, melting cheese – bliss!

Vintage Esquire Drink Book | H is for Home

…and finally a late arrival (today in fact) – the Esquire Drink Book dating from the 1950s. It’s interesting, informative and funny… and is packed with the most gorgeous illustrations by renowned artist (and one of our personal favourites) Bill Charmatz. We already own a copy, so this one’s for sale.

Illustrations from the vintage Esquire Drink Book | H is for Home

As usual, these pieces will be split between web shop and physical shop, but blog readers will have first dibs – so let us know if anything catches your eye!

Have a Hornsea Halloween

'Have a Hornsea Halloween' blog post banner

Vintage Hornsea Halloween mug showing witch detail | H is for Home

What a perfect drinking vessel to toast the evening.

Vintage Hornsea Halloween mug | H is for Home

This fabulous vintage witches mug was designed by John Clappison for Hornsea Pottery in the 1970s and comes from their ‘Birthday’ range.

Hornsea Halloween mug showing cat details | H is for Home

We just love the old crones and cat flying on their broom.

Vintage Hornsea witches mug base with birthday greeting: 'If I but had THREE WISHES And only one came true, I'd ride with these THREE WITCHES Upon their broom to YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY'

Happy Halloween everyone!