Vintage Decor Find: Set of 3 Ceramic Soup Bowls

Another shining example that life is nothing if not full of surprises.

While dropping off my husband at work last week, I spotted something strangely attractive in the trash can nearby. On top (not swimming in garbage juices, mind you), I found these 3 ceramic bowls.

First off, aren’t they cute!?

Secondly, who the heck throws out perfectly good ceramics!? Yes, two of the bowls have small chips on their rim, but come on … you can still eat out of them. Plus, they are downright charming.

As expected, I gathered up the bowls (despite my husbands’ minor disgust) and took them home. Fast forward to yesterday & I finally had time to wash and take some pictures of said bowls. In less than 30 minutes of internet research today, I’ve found out more about the origin of my new beauties.

The stamp on the bottom of the bowls says “The Old Curiosity Shop”, which is a line of various colonial-style patterns manufactured by the Royal China Company of Sebring, Ohio (my connection to the Midwest never ceases!). The company began in 1934, was sold in 1969, and went bankrupt in 1986. These particular bowls were likely manufactured in the 1950s. They were sold as soup bowls, are 8 and 1/4th-inch in circumference, and designed by a man named Gordon Parker.

If you find yourself enamored with these darlings, then you’re in luck! I’ve found two websites (Big Ed’s Royal China Dinnerware & My Granny’s Attic Antiques) that have them for sale at just $10 each (chips not included, haha). You can also find many of the other patterns in the Old Curiosity Shop line in green, blue, brown, and pink.

[Images taken by Victoria Klein]