Homestyling: My Love for T G Green Kitchenware

I first developed a love for T.G.Green Pottery several years, when I came across what I thought what could quite possibly be the best tea/coffee/sugar/biscuits canisters in the world (no exaggeration, honest) that were residing in a lady’s kitchen in a house and home magazine. 

I adored the quirky, bold, cartoony print on the barrels that graced her shelves (and I don’t usually ‘do’ cartoony, in the same way I could no longer bear writing in Comic Sans past the age of 21 and the Myspace era *shudder*). They really stood out, and have been on my list of homeware to buy ever since. We’re looking to move house soon, and one of my first purchases will be the biscuit barrel, and the cheese barrel pictured here (all about priorities, right?!).

After doing some research on the pieces that made my heart skip a tiny beat, I realised that they were made by the same company who make the classic and timelessly retro blue and white striped Cornishware. My Mum had 2 or 3 mixing bowls by T.G.Green when I was growing up, and they really were staple kitchen accessories (and she’s lucky she’s still got hold of them, what with having me around!). They go with everything, and to be honest will never really go out of fashion.

T.G. Green was founded by Thomas Goodwin Green back in 1864. Rumour has it that he bought up an existing pottery factory while he was on his honeymoon with his new wife, Mary Tenniel, the sister of Punch and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrator Sir John Tenniel. The aforementioned Cornishware was first produced in 1924, and was created using a nifty lathe-turning technique that scraped blue slip away from its beautiful ceramics to reveal white bands of clay beneath. Those stripes reminded an employee of the blue skies and white-crested waves of Cornwall, which is how Cornishware got its name. Nice, huh?

Judging by Ebay, many people go out of their way to collect the whole sets, but I think it’s cooler (not to mention space-saving) to select just one or two classic bits that you’ll actually use, to add to your kitchenware collection. I like to say you can never have too much kitchenware, but alas, most of us don’t have tardis’ for kitchen cupboards, so difficult decisions have to be made somewhere! My personal favourites are mixing bowls, plus maybe the odd quirky conversation starter (if you have like-minded house guests, obvs, otherwise you just look weird). I like the flour shakers, and there’s currently a rare salt pig going for £56 on Ebay that would look nice too. Otherwise you can pick up lots of items on Ebay as ‘Buy it Now’ for under 20 quid, so an individual item with a story behind it, and minus the hefty price tag of some bigger home stores who stock similar things. 

Winning!

What do you think? Your cup of tea or not?

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.