Pilgrim's Antiques Dorking. Lazy Hazy Days of Summer.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here........

So sang Nat King Cole, and so say I.
Though I know, because people have told me so, that there are some who feel overwhelmed by the hot days of summer.

Pilgrim's Antiques comes into its own during the summer. It is cool within the shop.
People enjoy coming into browse.
Please feel free to come and browse. We all hope you have a pleasant visit and would want to return.
We all enjoy chatting with people and helping them if they have particular requests.

But yes, it has been hot lately hasn't it?
I thought that this week I might not get around to new photographs for the blog.
There were lots of things happening in the shop.
But finally I spotted Jo's Poole dish and it reminded me of the colours of the sun.
So, I searched for some more items like that.

The first item I photographed is not yet in the shop - next Monday I promise.


This record storage book (for the old 45's) has such a 1950's summery cover.
I can look back to picnics with friends and maybe our favourite records on a small portable battery powered record player.


Here is Jo's Poole dish; I am sure you can appreciate why it made me think of the heat of the sun.

Glass vases in my area.

More oranges and reds in this art deco (Clarice Cliffe style) jug.

Red vase from West Germany - 1960s.

I must mention that you can see the letters AF on the price ticket.

This is an abbreviation for 'As Found' - the seller has found some damage.

I try to write on the ticket what the damage is - but it is not always possible.

If you see AF - check the item and make sure it is not more than you can tolerate.

The pebble vase is by Sylvac.

Diana the Hunter in rich terra cotta.

The colour of heat - translated it means 'baked earth'.

Diana the Hunter reminds me of the people hunting for sporting glory just now.

I wish good fortune to all the football teams still involved in the World Cup.

In the UK we are holding our breath to see if 'our' man Andy Murray could possibly win Wimbledon.

Cricket continues - our English team has beaten the Australians.

Personally I am involved with track and field athletics and lots of good things are happening this summer.

And next weekend Le Tour de France begins.

I love coloured glass.

I have these items at home at the moment - the vases and the carnival glass.

More carnival glass and a big handkerchief vase.

Now sing along with me and Nat King Cole.....

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

You'll wish that summer could always be here.

Pilgrims Antiques Centre Dorking. Fresh stock each week.

Welcome again to Pilgrim's Antiques Centre.

Basically, there about 20 people displaying and selling a great range of antiques and collectables.

There are items and prices to suit all tastes and pockets.

Bill and I tend to be in the shop only once a week - we help look after everything on Mondays.

One of the great pleasures is looking around to see what all the other people have brought in during the week.

Bill and I always have a box full of fresh stock on Mondays and most of the others are the same; duty days involve finding some time to arrange the fresh stock.

This week's blog is a brief look round with my camera to find treasures not seen before.

But I begin with something completely different that we hadn't spotted before.

It was Bill who noticed as he sat out in the back yard to eat his lunch. He watched parent blackbirds busily taking nice juicy titbits to their young.

And here they are.

One of them seems to be much bigger than the tiny fledglings, which is slightly odd.

I had fresh stock to arrange in my area.

The teapot fascinated me. It is the same design as a traditional honey pot.

Next to it is a little trinket pot made by Wedgwood and designed by Susie Cooper.

If you enlarge the picture, you can clearly see the prices of the objects and will know that I aim to provide bargains to either fellow traders who come calling and collectors too.

Enlarge by clicking on the picture, then return to the main page by using the back arrow on your computer screen.

The little cupboard is fairly recently made, using reclaimed old wood. There are little struts either side, showing that it could be used for CDs; but I would prefer to see it with perhaps one shelf and used in the kitchen.

These lanterns are also recently made, but I have a feeling that the glass is old.

I also have 2 lanterns which can stand on a shelf, similarly made.


This is Ridgways Homemaker - the epitome of 1950s design.

It was a cheapish item in its day, sold in Woolworths.

Now, hard to find pieces command prices up to £50 plus.

Jo is selling the Homemaker.

Jill brought this large glass Murano bowl to Pilgrims last Thursday.

I really love this sampler. It is extremely well crafted and very poignant.

Do enlarge the picture to see what it is all about.

Jonathan has this in his area.

Jonathan also had this quite beautiful Victorian photograph album, presented to somebody in 1891.

Sue has this brass fire insurance plaque.

To the left of it is the top of a very sturdy lamp stand - about 5 feet tall - in heavy dark wood, perhaps ebony.

Gill normally sells fine glass, but she has very recently brought in these two copper items in the arts and crafts style.

They are by Joseph Sankey and sons who was a coppersmith in Wolverhampton from 1890 to 1932.

This huge family Bible saddened me.

It is a treasure that should have remained within the family.

I would love to own such a Bible that has served generations of my own family.

Not only was this Bible a religious book it was also a family almanac, with details of births, marriages and deaths.

The names and dates are poignant - enlarge it and see.

The two names at the bottom are parents of the two children named above.

How the mother, Agnes must have wept each Christmas for her Alice, who died on Christmas Eve 1902.

Jo has this precious old Bible.

Bill took in the Hornby Dublo railway yesterday.

It seems that it sold today.

This enamel bread bin is in superb condition and Monika found this to bring into the shop.

And she also found a bread plate.

The bench and the teddy have been in Jo's area for a couple of weeks.

Terry has the hand made Odds and Ends draw string bag.

We have seen that some items sell very quickly - like Bill's train set.

The pinafore went even faster.

I brought it in yesterday morning and persuaded Monika to model it for me.

She decided she must have it - it would be her best pinny!

It certainly suits her.

There is another one in my area in a different fabric, but hand made in the same style.

We are looking forward to doing some work in Pilgrim's Antiques during the summer - hopefully to improve the lighting and heating.

Some of you would know just how cold it can be on a winter's morning.

It will be great to have lots of the dealers working together - some of us rarely meet up with some of the others - just talk to them on the phone.

If you are not enjoying the abundance of sport on TV just now, do escape and come and see us.

Pilgrim's Antiques Centre West Street Dorking.Something for the WAGS

Just when you thought it was all over, there are even more football games on TV!
I don't think The World Cup will make a scrap of difference to life in Pilgrim's antiques, but it is hard to avoid the event - even if you should want to.

I promised to find for you things this week a little outside my own area of expertise - I enjoyed a browse around the shop looking for things that the WAGS might like - the footballers' wives and girlfriends.
Some of them do seem to live up to the caricatures as depicted in the magazines and tabloid press. Obviously they do have more money to spend than most of us and some do seem to want to flaunt it.
It is actually most unlikely that the stereotypical footballer's wife would be shopping in Pilgrims - we are aiming to please all sorts of people, but we do have it in my mind that people without an abundance of funds like to browse and buy.

So here we have it - the closest that Pilgrim's Antiques can get to glitz and bling!


I displayed everything this week on a mirrored display stand that Terry and Emma have for sale.
The white tray cloth is from Julie as are the brass candlesticks.
Jill has a number of decanters for sale - I chose this ship's decanter.

To be honest the prices of these things are more suitable for us "normal" folks.....no more than small change for a footballer's wife maybe!


I can imagine Chardonnay's dinner party with this huge tureen and ladle as the centrepiece.
Her guests would be so admiring of her interesting ways - seeking out Victorian special items.
It is only the size that takes into WAG class, for it is really very beautiful and stylish. It is Jonathan's - he specialises mostly in Victorian china.


Champagne time!
There are lots of beautiful glasses of all types in the shop. These two are Gill's.
The silver wine bottle coaster is from Monika.


Do WAGS eat boiled eggs?
Surely they do! Their boiled eggs would be deserving of the silver (plated) egg cup and spoon stand.
It is in Sue's area.
She also has the muffin dish and the napkin rings.


More table ware - mostly in Judy's cabinet. She specialises in cutlery and pretty spoons and ladles.
The glass butter dish is being sold by Ann.

Our footballer's wife is now lounging on her chaise longue with her cream telephone, chatting to her girlfriends as she sips a little something from the decanter.

The telephone is Stephen's.

The glass is Gill's and the decanter is Jonathan's.

You can't have a footballer's wife without sparkly jewellery and Hilary has a cabinet full of both the sparkly and the simple - all of it very elegant.

I almost sold this ring for Hilary on Monday - it was a little too big for the potential buyer; she might be back.

But hey! It fits me perfectly!

It is a mystic topaz surrounded by tiny diamonds and set in gold.

A mystic topaz is a clear topaz which has been artificially coated to create fantastic colours.

Terry and Emma also have sparkly dress jewellery.

The candelabra is from Jill's area.

Jonathan has the silver punch bowl and Terry and Emma have the letter rack.

The perfume bottle is mine (Paula).

I thought that we should also consider the footballers themselves - though I assume as top class sportsmen they do not actually smoke.

We can but hope that they shun tobacco - and also hope that our footballers might turn out to be top class sportsmen!

Bill has these table lighters.

And perhaps a little something for the football fans!

I look out for local ginger beer bottles.

The Men Only magazine from the 1950s are very innocent and unerotic - but lots of fun.

Well, this time next week we will be close to discovering if the footballers will soon be back to their WAGS or if they have some more matches to play.

And of course, as the blog gets read around the world I wish each country involved in the World Cup good fortune and hope that each man can leave feeling proud.

And it will be time for Wimbledon too - poor you if you like to relax in front of the TV and don't like sport!

Pilgrims Antiques Centre West Street Dorking. For my Anglesey Friend.

Welcome to Pilgrims antiques Centre.

Last week it was half term week.
Weeks like this can pass me by now, but once upon a time they were an oasis in a mire of schools, fun and stress.
Yes - teaching could provide a mixture of highs and lows. But I was happy to escape 18 years ago, though not happy with the serious ill health which provided the need to escape.
Once I had recovered to something like normality I found myself with a small corner in an antiques centre and a reason to get on with life.
And I still find that the hunt for interesting things to sell and the chance to meet all sorts of people very stimulating.

I now have grand children and their lives revolve round school holidays.
Last week we were with one grand daughter in North Wales.
The sun shone and we did lots of things and enjoyed the beauty.
And the hunt went on for interesting things.
On Sunday we were at a car boot sale on the Isle of Anglesey.
Car boot sales are excellent places for all sorts of bargains and also chat.
I enjoyed meeting somebody who has a shop in Menai Bridge. I was attracted to her stall and bought some things. Next time we are in the area I must find the shop.

When I arrived at Pilgrims Antiques Centre yesterday I was still not sure what theme to take for this week's blog.
My heart was still in Wales.
And that is when I decided to imagine showing my new friend around our shop and finding the sort of things that I felt would interest her.

I hope these things might interest everyone who drops in to see what I have done this week.

Obviously as I was attracted to the stall at the car boot sale - with superb views over towards Snowdonia - I was aware that the stall holder would love the same sort of things as me.
Next week I will concentrate on things a little outside my own area of expertise within our centre.


These are my things. I like old kitchen paraphernalia.
The clock is not very old, but I like its style.
There is a pattern book for knitted children's clothes from the early 1950s - anybody remember wearing a knitted swimming costume!

I also like old style toys.

And look.... I am not the only one who loves them.

Yesterday was a very sociable morning, with lots of customers and friends in the shop.

This little girl is the daughter of somebody who rented a cabinet in Pilgrims until she felt she didn't have time to deal with it.


My Anglesey friend loves vintage fashion and fabrics.

A number of people in the shop share that interest.

The stool above has been restored by Terry and Emma. The tray of buttons is theirs too.

The tray on the stool is mine - pictures and trays done in foils of different colours fascinate me.

And in front is Terry's mystery item.... nobody seems to know what it is. It looks like a milk maid's yoke - but is too small.

But I think it would be decorative on a kitchen wall.

Now I have combined Terry's things with Jo's things.

Eiderdowns are really popular again now.

Jo has all sorts of small items of furniture. This lovely settle also serves as a toy box or blanket box.

Monika's area.

She specialises in art nouveau and arts and crafts eras.

But, as you can see, has an eye for all sorts of interesting items.

This is Jo's second area - I showed it last week too, when I showed off hats that she was selling.

The jug and bowl is being sold by Jonathan. He seems to have a few examples of these at the moment - a couple of blue and white ones I saw yesterday.

Julie, our dear French friend, sells the hand made cushions and other items of linen and lace.

On the left there is a stool from Brian and Sue's area.

And many of you will already know that Stephen renovates and sells old phones.

This one is wired up to receive calls - I don't think you could ever ring out on it.

The tin and the studio pottery girl are from my area.

On the right is Jo's old early American ice cream maker.

I don't think my Anglesey friend would covet everything from Bill's shelves - maybe not the soldiers or shiny model cars.

But he does have old cameras, which could be used - though would I guess be part of a decorative collection.

I love the horse and cart as it is. Bill has the urge to renovate it - shiny new paint for the horse. Don't do it, Bill!

The straw filled cat (or whatever he is) is mine.

I love this picture. It is Terry's.

Every couple of weeks or so, Sue creates a new window display.

People love to stop and look.

She and I do not dicuss any themes we have in mind, but quite often we coincide.

The window is full of interesting old items, full of character.

This is me!

I just thought that my Anglesey friend would not now remember very much about me.

I now feel I know her well - she writes a blog too. Hers is called Anglesey Allsorts - you might want to search for it and enjoy.

And she can also take a look at my blogs.

Pilgrim's Antiques is 300 miles from my new friend - and some people from much further away read this blog too.

If you are close enough, then do call in and meet us.

I am in the shop on Mondays.

We are open 6 days a week from 10 o'clock until 5 o'clock.