Pilgrims Antiques centre Number 9. Sparkle and light at Christmas.

Christmas Day is almost upon us. Homes are now filled with colour, sparkle and light to celebrate this special time of year.
Whatever your religious beliefs you will almost certainly feel something about reaching the Winter Solstice and the deepest darkest day of winter.
That was yesterday - and the weather in Dorking was just awful; there was a snow storm.
Today we can begin to look forward to Spring.
But first let us enjoy Christmas time and The New Year festivities - a time of hope for the future.

I wandered around Pilgrims Antiques centre yesterday enjoying finding many things to share with you that reflect the sparkle and light that we decorate our homes with at this time of year.
Once again I found items from almost everybody who sells in the shop.

As always I cannot guarantee that what you see here will still be in the shop when you visit.
I can always look back at the previous week's posting to see that some things have already moved on to new homes.
If you are in the shop then please ask about anything you might be interested in. Each of us loves to look for special items with you.
Opening a cabinet is always a pleasure - it gives the person on duty that day more opportunity to explore the new stock that has come in.
And of course many things are not in cabinets and you are able to explore and wonder about things for yourself.


For new readers I must explain that each picture can be enlarged by clicking on it and then using your back arrow to return to the main page.


Now enjoy some Christmas time sparkle and light.......



Sparkly jewellery and little silver candle holders from AG's cabinet.

JS has this candle holder with its lovely crystal lustres.

Crystal glass always sparkles and a bowl like this is so useful too - from JS's extensive range of glass ware.


More from JS - a crystal vase and an elegant cruet to enhance any table.

JS also has this boxed necklace - just time to buy a beautiful present for somebody special.

There are lovely decanters of all shapes and sizes in various areas of the shop.

These 2 are amongst JN's stock.

The crystal item on the right is a candle holder - just imagine how the candle light will be picked up by the cut glass and sparkle light all round the room.

In the background is one of JC's beautiful cushion. The candelabra is from TJ. The little paperweight is from the cabinet of JSB and MAB. The bonbon pot and lid is from JN.

SBG sell a lot of brass - brass with age and quality. This husband and wife team work hard to ensure that the brass is looking at its best when it comes into the shop.

I love the brass candleholder to take your light to bed. It says "Good Night" round the rim.

I added some lovely red glass from JS to contrast with the brass.

In the foreground is a silver candle holder and snuffer.

There is a double dish, perhaps for sauces, also in silver.

The bud vase is another silver item in one of SBG's cabinets.

The delicate green glasses are from JS.

Crystal glass ware from GR. It is mostly Stewart crystal, which is her passion.

She has some lovely individual lustres selling for £1 or £2. I know of one Christmas tree in the Dorking area which is adorned with these crystal lustres.

And now a reminder that light is a very basic need and is not always made special for Christmas.

JW has the heavy ship's lantern on the right.

WGM has the old road mender's lamp - just right for a funky young person's bed-sit!

HC has a cabinet crammed full of sparkle!

She sells jewellery from a number of different eras.

Here is a small selection of HC's sparkly jewellery.

The bracelets are quite stunning, I think.

Barbola mirrors are always popular. And mirrors have always been used to intensify light.

This is from JW's stock.

She also has the Webb Corbett brandy glasses and a corkscrew and bottle opener with millefiore glass handles.

The Whitby jet brooch is not showing up very well - but even black items have their sparkle.

Try enlarging the picture - it looks rather better.

Use your back arrow to return to the main page.

Evenings bags with some sparkle.

JW has the one with flowers and JS offers the one covered with beaded fringing.

These two necklaces of blue beads can be found in MC's cabinet.

The cut glass blue sparkles in the light.

The large lizard brooch is lovely diamante.

MC also has this 18th century set of buttons.

This picture needs enlarging.

The dress is being sold by TJ. Vintage fashion is big business right now.

It is a beautiful black dress with sparkly beads.

What a shame it won't fit me!

She also has the floor standing wooden candle holder.

This jewellery is from TJ's cabinet.

This candle holder is designed to be hung on a wall.

The carved church window image is over a mirrored back.

It is being sold by PM.

This candle holder, also from PM, is a wonderful piece of wood.

There are 2 beaded and sequined cushion covers too.

I hope you have enjoyed a little tour of our antiques centre and will continue to look throughout 2010.

It is my intention to add something each week.

But there will now be a gap of 2 weeks as we all enjoy our festivities.

All of the people selling at Pilgrims wish you a happy Christmas tide and all the best for 2010 - much peace, contentment and good health.

And I would like to wish all my fellow Pilgrims People a very special time too over Christmas and the New Year and may we all find wonderful treasures to sell on during next year.

Pilgrims Antiques Number 8 - for children and about children

Christmas is a time for children..... and it must be Christmas time because a Christmas tree has appeared in my house today.

So, I welcome you to a children's Christmas look at Pilgrims Antiques Centre.
I found that almost everybody in the shop had something on offer that a child could use, collect, play with - or in some way depicted children.

As always I cannot guarantee that what you see here will still be in the shop when you visit. Indeed one item in a picture was sold before the day was out.

I know of at least 4 things from last week's kitchenalia display that have gone to new homes - or are awaiting December 25th to move to their final destination.

For new readers I must explain that each picture can be enlarged by clicking on it and then using your back arrow to return to the main page.

Now wallow in nostalgia, perhaps for your own childhood.

I think we would all accept that many of the juvenile items shown here will not now be owned by children.

So many adults of all ages love memories of childhood for themselves.

The Steiff fox has not tremendous age - but how admired he has been since coming into the shop. He needs a special friend to love him. He is in JD's cabinet.

The china teddy and clown are from AG, amongst her lovely 2oth century Crown Derby ornaments.

A silver plated christening mug from JAS.

JC has the heavy metal (iron?) Humpty Dumpty and the china children ornaments.

There are 2 brooches in the picture - I took a picture of them on their own - see below.


So many little girls would love to own these butterfly brooches.

A girl could dream of starting a collection of special brooches. As you can see from the label one is silver, dated 1919.

The brooches are amongst HC's fine jewellery.

Royal Doulton are famed for their figurines.

Here are 3 pretty in pink girls from Royal Doulton.

The angelic girl and boy are not Royal Doulton - they are from a famous maker, but I forgot to write it down. I'll add it in after I have next been in the shop.

JN is selling these figurines - and the child's spoon and fork set, which you can hardly see.

So far, maybe the toys have reflected a more feminine side.

There are also toys to please boys of all ages - from 9 to 90.

A real microscope might be more pleasing than a toy one. This one is from SK.

Perhaps this Christmas a boy could start to collect model boats - some to be sailed perhaps and others to make a display on a bedroom shelf. The 2 here are from JN and MAB.

There is a brass horse here from JSB.

JN also has a bank money box. These often bewilder people who have never met them before - there is no key. The bank or the post office held the keys. The child would have saved money; the bank money box could then be opened for an amount to be put into his/her account.


There are pictures for the wall (JN), postcards and a greetings card (GR) and copper little boots from SBG.

WGM specialises in boy's toys - and has built up a good relationship with lots of the men who are interested in these things.

He has just bought a lot more model railway items - which he will enjoy playing with on Christmas day; after all he has to check that it all works well!

A boxed die cast Russian tank and a clockwork stagecoach.

See those horses gallop! It makes a good noise! These items are more from WGM.

Quite a variety here.

The boxed French bus from WGM. The china tractor with the rabbit family is from PM.
The ring game is lovely.

That game was so much part of my childhood Christmases with the whole family either trying to make the highest score or playing "round the board"

These ornaments and the Margaret Tarrant picture are from JW.

Sorry JW - this picture is not quite focussed!

She has a number of Hummels at varying prices according to age and rarity.

The ballet dancer is by Shelley.

The girl is Lladro.

JW has a number of beautiful christening gowns amongst the linens and lace that she loves.

The BND 1950s doll is being sold by PM.

Children's china from JW - the tiny art deco tea set has a lot more pieces than shown here.

The infant's feeding dish has a Mabel Lucie Attwell print.

Flower fairies and Peter Rabbit are eternally loved and popular.

Hopping Timothy has such delightful 1950s illustrations. The book and the knitted golly are from TJ.

People are beginning to accept gollies again - just be careful not to add the second part of the word that we used to use.

The dog could be a Merrythought.

The little doll is from Poland.

Each doll is unique because they are painted and dressed by home workers and each has their style and creativity.

PM has abandoned her own collection of these Polish dolls and more keep appearing in the shop.

More juvenile items from PM.
Bunnykins clock and jug, Peggy Nisbet school girl, Bessie Marchant book.

A child's school chair from MC and a hand made child's dress from the 1940s.

The plate has children floating on clouds.

MC also has this Victorian teething stick.

Lovely teddy bear from PM and an infant's feeding dish featuring Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday.

PM has almost all the Beatrix Potter books in mint condition for £1.50 each - cheaper than a birthday card!

MC is selling this Mabel Lucie Attwell bathroom plaque - I expect you know the rhyme, but do enlarge the picture to remind yourself.

It is in mint condition.

The cards and the Flower fairy book are from PM.

I hope you have enjoyed a look at this selection of juvenile items to be found in Pilgrims Antiques Centre.

And more than that, if you are sharing Christmas with children then I really hope it is a very special time.

Next week I shall find all the sparkle and light I can in the shop and create a festive end to the year.

Pilgrims Antiques Number 7 - Kitchenalia.

Welcome again to Pilgrim's Antiques Centre.

This week I enjoyed looking round the shop to find the best of our kitchenalia - useful, decorative and very collectable.
Of course some people have more than others for sale.

I expect that people who make their Christmas cakes and puddings have already been busy - they need time to mature.
But soon pastry will be rolled out to make the mince pies.
Ingredients will be gathered for special yuletide items to accompany the dinner and for things to offer guests.
Below you will find some of the utensils, bowls, jars, tins etc to be found at the moment in the shop.
I can never guarantee that an item will still be at the shop for things sell well.
I know of 3 things from last week's selection of pictures that are no longer with us. One of these, for sure, was as a direct result of this blog.

I must explain to new followers of the blog that pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them and then using your back arrow to return to the main page.


Firstly I will share with you 2 general views of kitchen items from the 2 of us who probably have the most of this sort of thing.
Some of the things you can see on the shelves you will see again as you scroll down.



This shows some of PM's kitchen items.
These shelves back onto the shelves where JW has her kitchenalia.
These can be found in the back room - in what was once a cafe.

Some of JW's kitchen shelves.

Oh and you should see the quite wonderful art deco trolley she has which will make your guests gasp with pleasure as you wheel in the mince pies and cakes!

These items were found amongst four people's shelves.

Tins are always popular and HC has this one with a cute dog and cat for some home made biscuits.

Jelly moulds decorate many modern kitchens in the farmhouse style. The glass one is from JS and the ceramic one is from JC who also has this copper kettle.

The serving cutlery is from JAS.


Ready to make your cakes?

Reach for your eggs from this Portmeirion chicken.

SBG is selling this along with the cut glass and silver plate sugar sifter.

The delicate little sugar sifting spoon is from AG.

Pound your spices with this Wedgwood pestle and mortar.

You can find it amongst JN's mostly Victorian items.

He also has a selection of cutlery for various purposes.

JN has these French storage containers.

The Hornsea storage containers are from JSB.

Measure out your flour and sugar into the mixing bowl from PM and roll out the pastry with PM's rolling pin.

MC has a lovely little kitchen table - the base is wicker work, like Lloyd Loom. The top has pink check under glass.

MC also has the butter pats.

The scales with all weights are from PM's shelves.

A collection from TJ's shelves.

Wooden sieves look good on kitchen shelves.

The little grater is very old. The utensils may have come from the 1950s or 1960s.

The sweet jelly mould would appear to be quite modern - both decorative and useful.

JW has several interesting Portmeirion items at the moment.
Here we have a Portmeirion rolling pin and an old glass one.

There is a shortbread mould - put a thistle on yours.

The flat iron is from the kitchen of course - ready to iron your apron after getting flour all down it!

She has the large old enamel coffee pot and a lovely Japanese honey pot.

More from JW.

More jelly moulds of course. The white one is enamelled metal.

JW likes to find the very collectable T G Green kitchen ware - becoming increasingly scarce and more valuable.

PM has this modern stand for books, and some older recipe books.

At the moment you can also find a Marmite cook book and an OXO cookbook in her area.

The game casserole is another Portmeirion item.

Fred Homepride became an instant success for Homepride.

People collected all manner of useful items using this form.

PM has the tin and the shakers.

The tin is rare - not often seen.

It would be ideal for storing your flour or your finished cake.

Next week, I aim to feature children - things for them to use or play with as well as figurines, pictures etc.

If you have seen this blog please mention it when you visit the shop.

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