3 Best Places to Find Blue and White Chinoiserie

 

Y'all know that I love blue and white porcelain, but I have to tell you that my best pieces did not come from a retail store. Shocked?

I'm not saying that you can't find good pieces at retail stores. I'm saying that you can find REALLY NICE pieces at other places. Let me tell you about three places where you can find the best blue and white porcelain.

#1 The Thrift Store

If you know anything about me, you should have known that I was going to say that the thrift store was one of the best places to find blue and white porcelain. I've found so many great pieces at Goodwill and other out of the way thrift stores. When I see a blue and white ginger jar at a thrift store, I'm in disbelief at how it ended up there. Who would give that away? What's going on in their life that they no longer have love for this ginger jar? Earth to Caron! Come in, Caron!

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Ginger jar at thrift store. Yes. I spy with my little eye something blue and white on a shelf. I slide over to the ginger jar or lamp or whatever blue and white piece it is, and snatch it off the shelf!  

A few weeks ago, this very same scenario played out in my local Goodwill. This time it was a blue and white floral lamp in the shape of a large ginger jar. I saw it up ahead in the aisle and I left my cart unattended and literally ran up the aisle to grab it. I apologize if you were the woman that I startled as I made the grab, but I was on a mission!

I think I paid $8 for it. Good prices. Unique finds. That's what I like about the thrift store. 

#2 Consignment Shop

Let me tell you a little about consignment shops. Consignment shops are similar to thrift stores, except they are usually not charity-based. In fact, the inventory at consignment shops belongs to sellers who agree to pay the shop owner a fee or percentage of the sale price. Inventory is usually more upscale and in better shape than at a thrift store. Usually. 

Prices are much higher than at a thrift store. But, like a thrift store, you can find really unique pieces. People bring in unwanted family heirlooms hoping to get a good deal. I've shopped at consignment stores over the years and I like the experience. 

One thing that I've done at a consignment store that I've never tried at a thrift store is haggle. You don't usually haggle at the thrift store. The price is the price. I understand that and know that most of the proceeds will go back into the community, so I'm okay with that. 

On the other hand, the whole premise of the consignment arrangement is to get the best deal for the seller, so in my mind, that means that there is room for negotiation. Never be afraid to ask for a price break.

I found a consignment store listing on Craigslist that turned out to be goldmine of blue and white chinoiserie. I located the place on a map and grabbed my coffee. It was a few towns over. Apparently, someone was consolidating a relative's home and they had a boatload of blue and white decor. Everything was turned over to the consignment shop. I haggled a little and ended up buying a beautiful blue and white chinoiserie bird cage. 

#3 Yard Sale, Flea Market

Going to yard sales is one of my favorite pastimes. You are bound to find almost anything at a yard sale.  Sometimes the stuff is free. People just want to get rid of stuff, so there is always room to haggle. 

I remember driving through New Haven, CT and stopping at a light. While sitting in traffic, hubby spotted a yard sale. No, what he really spotted was a table full of blue and white. We pulled over and I think I jumped out before the car had even come to a full stop! Then I chilled. I didn't want the seller to see how excited I was.

What was before me was a bucket of blue and white ceramic orbs. Various sizes. I struck up a deal with the seller to buy them all. I think there was 18 in total. We hit a snag when I realized that hubby and I had no cash on us. This was critical! I quickly sent hubby on a ATM run. I couldn't let this deal fall apart!

Cash is king when it comes to yard sales and flea markets. I could have easily lost my blue and white orbs if we had not found an ATM. There's no "please hold this for me until tomorrow" going on a yard sale. Had this been a planned yard sale trip, believe me, I would have made sure to have cash on hand. 

Recently a rare Ming dynasty cobalt blue and white floral bowl was found at a yard sale in New Haven. The buyer snagged it for $35 and it later sold at auction for over $722,000. What an awesome find! 

Check out my Youtube video where I talk more about finding awesome blue and white pieces.

Now, I can't guarantee that you will find any rare pieces at your local thrift store, consignment store or yard sale. But you can find unique designs, great pieces at great prices. If by chance, you happen on a Ming-dynasty era bowl, that's icing on your blue and white cake! 

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Decorating a Table With Blue and White Porcelain / Blue Willow Tea Party

 

I accepted a challenge from a fellow YouTuber who asked that I pull out some of my blue and white chinoiserie and decorate a tablescape.

I'm a big collector of blue and white porcelain, so I was definitely up for this challenge!

What Is A Vignette?

I decided to create a vignette on my kitchen counter. What's a vignette? 

In home decor, a vignette refers to a small area staged to create a theme. That's the best way I can describe it. It could be in the corner of a room, in the entryway, on a table. You get the picture.

I knew exactly which blue and white pieces I was going to use. Well, I knew that I was going to incorporate one piece in particular--my Blue Willow teapot. From there, I would have to search my stash to see what I could find.

I envisioned a Blue Willow tea party theme.

What You Need For A Blue Willow Tea Party

Here's what I used:

Blue Willow tea pot - thrifted

Blue Willow mug - thrifted

Blue Willow saucers - thrifted

White wooden tray - thrifted and upcycled

Pink and white gingham napkins

Faux tulips and bud vase

The tray that I used had previously been brown. I painted it white and spray painted the handles gold. Made a world of difference!

The Blue Willow teapot is so adorable!  I thrifted it a couple of weeks ago for four bucks. It's electric, but the detachable cord is missing. I gave it a really good scrubbing with a soapy steel wool pad because it had a lot of caffeine stains. But it's so cute! I absolutely love it!

Here is a similar teapot (not electric) that I found online:

I found a mug from the Blue Willow family that I forgot I had thrifted. This was a nice surprise!

Then I remembered that I had a few Blue Willow saucers from a previous thrift haul. Bonus!  

I threw in some pink and white gingham napkins that I used for my Easter table. There is

little bunny on one side, so I just flipped them over to hide the bunny.

A few pink tulips in a bud vase, and that's that!

Tea is served!

I love that I was able to use so many of my thrifted Blue Willow pieces!

 

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How to Decorate With Blue and White Decor

I don't know when my obsession with blue and white porcelain began, but let me tell you, I got it bad! 

I think that a large blue and white ginger jar can brighten any decor. My eyes are immediately drawn to blue and white home accessories whenever I enter a thrift shop or regular retail store. 

I will admit that there are periods when I will put myself on time-out and just abstain from making any purchases. I have to. Otherwise, I'd be broke! 

Best Place to Find Blue and White Pieces

But I've had a few good runs. First of all, the thrift store is the best place to score quality pieces at really good prices. But it's hit or miss. You might not find anything on your first trip, so you will have to constantly be on the lookout!

The teapot below was a thrift find which I used in a recent kitchen counter vignette.

Other Places to Shop 

Of course, you can always find blue and white porcelain pieces at retail stores, like Marshall's, Ross, and Hobby Lobby. I found several beautiful planters in various sizes at Ocean State Job Lot. 

I don't have a green thumb when it comes to indoor plants, so I didn't go overboard and buy too many planters. This time, I added only two to my existing planter collection. 

Can these planters be used for other purposes? I wonder.

Here are a few more thrifted blue and white pieces. I staged this little area in my home office. I just love this clock! I think I paid $4 for it!

Last winter, I used thrifted ginger jars and a few blue and white orbs around my fireplace. It was so pretty!

Conclusion

So, I hope that this was inspirational. Remember to check your local thrift stores FIRST, before heading to a retail store to find blue and white porcelain. You might save a few dollars and find a really unique piece!

Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content.