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.

Feel free to make comments on this blog by clicking on the "comments" button.

Pilgrims Antiques Number 6. Presents for the men in your life.

Welcome again to Pilgrims Antiques Centre.

It is December 1st as I write - suddenly we begin to realise that, if we haven't started yet, there is much to be done to create the Christmas you might yearn for.

I have to admit that I find choosing presents quite hard. Can I be sure that I have found something that will be truly appreciated?
So in this blog posting I am doing as the magazines do, and offering some ideas for presents for the men in your life.
The shop has items to please the interests of many men.
There are things a man can use or that will adorn his study. There are fun things and beautiful things and items to add to collections.

Let me remind you again that to see an enlargement of a picture, click on it and then use the back arrow to return to the home page.

But first let us admire the window display.

When I arrived I was entranced to find such a lovely spectacle.

Many customers have already praised it and wished to pass congratulations to the window designer.

Well done SG.
Where possible items from the areas and cabinets of all our sellers are included in a window display.

And now let's see if I can find that Christmas present for the man in your life.

You could give him a decanter and glasses - perhaps he would like a special bottle of his favourite tipple too.

I did have a picture of these decanters on a stand last week - but It was not a good photo.

They are Stuart Crystal and are amongst the wonderful glass that GR has for sale.

These high quality hats - a bowler and a topper - would look splendid on a special occasion.

They don't really need to be worn to be appreciated.

These hats are amongst JW's stock.

There were many interesting objects in the SBG cabinets and shelves.

Here we have an old decoy duck, a very old wooden tinder box, a crib board (remember "one for his knob!") and a string tin - old and with a blade on the top to cut the string. I thought this was so useful and the age gave it extra interest and beauty.

More from SBG - a blotter with lovely brasswork, a paperknife, a lovely looking spirit level and a car bonnet motif. These car motifs fill many collections world wide.


PM has an interesting selection of reasonably priced items. There are bar jugs for water to add to your man's whiskey. The old bottle comes from Leatherhead. There is a golf game and a 1950s book of aircraft. Crested china comes in many shapes and sizes. This one shows Edith Cavell, the nurse shot as a spy in WW1.

I guess few men could resist an artistic nude on his desk!

I don't know what this one is made of - it looks like bronze and it is very heavy.

But rest assured the price is under £50.

TJ has this beauty for sale in the back room.

Here are 3 more from TJ's stock.

Trench art - decorated shell cases and the like are very in vogue just now.

JSB and MAB work together. Here is a selection of their more masculine bits.

Their Masonic medal didn't show well in the photo above, so I took it again on its own.

Here is a little collection of JC's things.

In front of the framed model cars are 2 match box holders, a corkscrew, a penknife and the brass fly is actually a little desk container - for rubber bands, staples etc.

JN offers this writing slope.

The wood has a lovely patina. It looks just as lovely with the lid down.

Three more items from JN's stock. The lighthouse is Beachy head. The ink stand is hallmarked silver.

Items from 4 people.

The decanter dates from c. 1820. It is being sold by glass specialist JS. The large whiskey bottle is hers too.

The golfer's hip flask is in AG's cabinet which she shares with CAC who has the perpetual calendar.

HC's brooch has a military flavour and the little plaque commemorates the visit of London County Council officials to a French school in 1905.

As soon as you arrive at Pilgrims Antiques, you will see old telephones. SK collects and restores them. They are adapted for use with present day phone lines.

These are displayed in the small shop window.

SK also has microscopes and other scientific instruments - brass surveying tools etc.

This is a gold plated pencil sharpener - for the gentlemen who has everything!

It comes in a box.

It is in fact very modern, though the style is old. The current selling price of this item on the internet is about £170.

Pilgrims Antiques, as ever, offers you bargain prices. This is much less.

MC has this in her cabinet.

This is a lovely old clear glass apothecary bottle. It is about 2ft 6 inches tall.
Another item from MC's stock.

Almost all WGM's stock would probably satisfy the needs and whims of men.

Since he moved in the popularity of this area has grown immensely.

You can find him behind the selling desk in the first room though the front door.

Another selection of WGM's things.

There is so much more - I took 5 or 6 photos of WGM's things, but couldn't use all of them.

JK sells barometers.

He makes sure they are all working well.

He has many more at home - please ask if you do not see the style you want when you come in.

His display can be found at the end of the alley way we call Pilgrims Way.

So, there we have it! I have shown you a selection of things which you could choose for your menfolk. Please come and have a good look for yourself before Christmas.

We are open on Sundays at the moment and there is late night shopping on Thursday 10th December.