Saturday, May 26, 2012

Latest Crush


Vintage porcelain balloon molds




I love white ironstone...

... for its simplicity.  

It's sturdy, reliable,
 and practically 
indestructible.

   Unpretentious,
pure utilitarian 
whiteness.

(And the crazing makes a piece all the more charming, right?)


Which is probably why
I fell in love with these old
vintage porcelain balloon molds.

Aren't they cute?
My newest crush.






They make me want to draw smiley faces on them!

Do you collect something silly like these too?











26 comments:

Ricki Treleaven said...

Cool collection! :D I don't really collect anything other than books and salvaged wood picture frames. I just don't have the room in our small cottage! I was bad yesterday and bought some art from a friend....where I will put it I have no idea.....

Pamela Gordon said...

This is an interesting collection Alison! I've never heard of them before but they look wonderful in your ironstone jug.

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

I never heard of those. They are so smooth and beautiful.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Alison...from all my travels through antique shops etc, I have never seen these...I love them...they look terrific in the ironstone!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

How fun and so interesting. I havn't ever heard of them before. Such a fun collection. Hugs, marty

NanaDiana said...

I have never seen anything like these anywhere! You find the neatest things! Love it- and they make me smile just looking at them- xo Diana

Sarah said...

Guess there is something for everything. I've never seen or heard of these. Alison, they are wonderful. I like them just clustered in the crock. I think they make an interesting collection. How fun! ~ Sarah

Content in a Cottage said...

Alison...
Great score. I have never seen or heard of such things. I love them too.
Put one in the freezer and rub on your brow after a hot day of gardening.
Have a great Memorial Day.
xo, Rosemary

Michele Smith said...

Wow! I have never seen or heard anything of these. They are interesting and a beautiful collection Alison!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Michele

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Never saw those before Alison, but they look so pretty in your white pitcher!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I have never seen those before or knew that there was such a thing. So cool.

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living said...

At first glance I thought they were spoons! What do you do with them and where did you find them? They're cute.

Natasha in Oz said...

I've never seen anything like them! they are quite amazing. I can see why you love them so much!

Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz

Natasha in Oz said...

I've never seen anything like them! they are quite amazing. I can see why you love them so much!

Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz

Bliss said...

Those are awesome, never heard of such a thing as balloon molds. Still not sure what they are, but unusual and interesting for sure.

My collections..... nothing near as cool as those.

~Bliss~

Garden, Home and Party said...

Alison,
I've never seen these before, but then we have so few antique stores compared to the mid-west and east. What were they originally used for? I do like Rosemary's suggestion above (Content in a Cottage)...they probably could cool your brow in a warm day.
I collect blue and white and black and white transferware, a discontinued pattern of silverplate, all things old and equine related and old books when they are of interest...sorry you asked? :-)
Karen

Our Hopeful Home said...

I've been known to collect salt cellars and flower frogs B.C. (before children). I love these cuties, too, and have a soft spot for ironstone. Wherever do you find them? I'd never know in a million years what they're for!

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

What are they used for????

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

How unusual, never seen anything like them before? But the white porcelain is screaming..put me in the kitchen!

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

A few of you have asked me, what the balloon molds were for?

These individual molds would have screwed into a long bar and would have been dipped into vats of liquid rubber.
The rubber would have been peeled off and that is how you make a balloon!

Kind of like those rubber glove molds you see everywhere I suppose!

Blondie's Journal said...

These are very cool! I wouldn't have known what they were had you not explained. They make a nice collection!

XO,
Jane

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Terrific! I too love, love this Alison. White ironstone is wonderful, never heard of this one. Great and fun collection! Have a terrific week.
FABBY

Rebecca said...

That's what I love about blogging! Almost always learning something new...

I'm almost positive I've never seen any of these before. (Or maybe I just never paid attention.)

I'm sure I have some silly collections -- just none so unique (and beautiful) as these, I'm sure!

Paula said...

They're absolutely gorgeous and SO unique! I wouldn't have know what they were for, but now you say it it seems obvious! They are SO tactile looking - I just want to stroke them.
lovely!
Paula x

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Alison, I am a white ironstone girl too! I have never seen balloon molds. Such a fun collection!

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Alison, I have been away for awhile and just saw this post. These molds are so cute! I've never seen those before. These are a lovely addition to your home!