Antique Johnson Bros. Royal Ironstone China Chamber Pot available at Sea Witch Antiques for $179

At sales I attended in years past, I've seen stark white pitchers, platters and plates that I'd passed right by without thinking twice about them. Some of us have poured buttermilk from these pitchers at out grandmother’s house. I know I did. I don't pass these by anymore because I learned that those plain items can sell for some good prices. And when I buy them from garage sales or house sales, I can make a really good profit. These items were used by farm families, and certainly not the upper class. But, you might be surprised at what the fetch in price today.

These are Ironstone pieces, and were common everday wares used by farm families, and certainly not the upper class. If you see Ironstone at the next sale you attend, it might be worth you while to take a look at them before you walk on by. Jug, Pitchers, Chamber Pots, (I doubt many people under the age of 30 know what one of these is] and Pitcher and Bowl sets are bringing fair money in today’s market. As I researched for this blog, I was amazed to find many pieces bringing $200 to $400. Some Ironstone is unmarked, but a lot of the pieces do have the word “Ironstone” on them. You’ll know it when you see it, so I wouldn't worry about whether it says "Ironstone" on the bottom.

A great number of companies produced ironstone in the early days, because these wares were needed for everday living. These companies started in America and in England about 1813. Companies such as Johnson Bros., Mason's, and Meaken Bros. were common household names to most people back then. Back when I was a youngster living on the farm, broken pieces of ironstone were thrown into the gully, used to help stop erosion.

What’s interesting to note about Ironstone, is that somewhere along the line, a decision was made to decorate it to help fancy up the average household. When this happened, transferware was created to imitate the expensive painted pieces that most people couldn’t afford. Soon, these companies were making Chinese reproduction patterns in the famous Blue Willow and Flow Blue decorations.

If you think back, I said I would offer you examples that would help you in the early stages of buying, selling and reinvesting in antiques & collectibles. These are items that you can be used in the early stages of that process. The profits can then be used to fund larger purchases of more rare and valuable items. These white pieces are still fairly and reasonably priced, so you can still turn them for the percentage profit we want to maintain. But, let me assure you, there are decorated items in the Ironstone that will bring well in excess of a $1,000. I've seen sets of plates in the Chinese patterns sell for as much as $125 a plate. When you buy 12 plates for $20 each, you’ll feel like you’re walking on air as you walk out the door of that house sale.

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