On Ralph's Kitchen Shelf

Ralph: "Our home town Hilversum (NL) has numerous enjoyable restaurants, but onlye one really top restaurant: The Golden Madarin. Here we enjoyed our first meal ever together and since then we come back to celebrate each year. And these cute knife rests are the fun reminders in our home..."

On Myriams Kitchen Shelf

Myriam, Holland: "We found these bowls on a market in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. We had a hard time choosing between all beautiful bowls and jewelry. But we just loved these bowls the most. For us they mark our journey to Tibet in 2007 and the trail we walked over the planes of Tibet. That was hard work, but above all an experience to never forget." 

On Sonja & Marcel's Kitchen Shelf - 3

And Marcel's small Czech shnapps goblets. Very eastern Europe and delicately casted. Interesting design with the double wall at the bottom side of the cup. 

On Sonja & Marcel's Kitchen Shelf - 2

The soup bowls look fifties. There used to be more bowls in different colours I am sure. Belgium made by Boch La Louvière. Calls for a little investigation!

On Sonja & Marcel's Kitchen Shelf

The blue and white serving bowls of Sonja's granny

On Inga's Kitchen Shelf

Inga (Iceland):  For long as I remember I've watched this jug in my mother's kitchen. My mother used it for milk or any other beverage served with our dinner. And for some time now I have had it in my kitchen but it is never used, it is a symbol of old times and good memories. It has a stamp underneath, but it is blurred, the only thing I can make out is: Made in Poland. This jug is about 60-70 years old."

On Sue's Kitchen Shelf

Sue (Malta) : A lot of these pieces have stories attached to them and are symbolic of my interest in clay and the people that produce ceramic items. Among them is a Stephen Parry vase, Wendy Kershaw holder, Clarice Cliff plate, Alan Bain pit fired pot, Clive Bowen mug, Ray Abela figurine, Black Friar goblets and Broadstairs Pottery goblets and decanter. I like the idea that a little of each makers personality is captured in each piece. 

On Charlotte's kitchen shelf - 4

My grandma's dinnerset - or what is left of it...
It's an earthenware set, produced by the Maastricht Ceramics Factory. 

Charlotte's kitchen shelf - 3

Tante (aunt) Annie's fruit bowl. This is such a nifty design! Freshly washed fruit goes on top of the 'drainer device': the excess water leaks through and the fruit stays dry. It's like an inside-out colander. I feel very blessed I inherited this wonderful piece. It sits on my 'kitchen shelf' next to my mum's cake plates. On the bottom there's a mark" Zaalborg, Holland. 

 

Charlotte's kitchen shelf - 2

My mothers cake plates. I always loved this set. I used to ask my mum to be careful with them, because I hoped to own them 'when I was grown up'. Later, my mum gave them to me as a birthday present. I think there used to be more small plates. The set is made by Flora, a Dutch earthenware factory which was founded in 1945, just after WWII and still exists as Royal Goedewaagen.

On Charlotte's kitchen shelf - 1

This wonderful kitchen set came from my grandma's kitchen. 
She gave it to me many many years ago. There is no 'factory stamp' on the bottom of any of the items, so origin is unknown. There must have been so many of these sets. I am curious what happened to them...