Friday 10 May 2013

Johnson of Australia: part 1 of 2


the first of my collections that I hope to show off. and one of the largest: Johnson of Australia stoneware.
























the collection started when we were living on the coast in 2011, and has grown with each move, first to Orange last year and still now here in the Southern Tablelands. with minimal breakages along the way.
the thrill of unearthing a new design makes this collection ongoing. currently the design range stands at 37.
they fill the kitchen cupboard, and spill into the lounge room.
the count is enough to service a restaurant. a bit embarrassing really: 92 side plates and 153 dinner plates.
and we use our Johnson ware at every meal. & a small tip about vintage crockery and the crazing of the glaze that they often have: it's caused by not using it often enough. who'd have thought it. so get that special dinner set out and enjoy those pretty designs everyday.


then there's the teacups, teapots, milk and cream jugs, salt & pepper shakers and sugar bowls: to come in part 2.


do you have a collection? maybe you collect Johnson crockery too?

31 comments:

  1. Ahhh! I LOVE this collection. Thanks for posting!

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  2. Love, love this. I totally get you on this. I collect Crown Lynn which is the NZ equivalent to Johnsons. Your collection is amazing xo

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  3. Omg I do but I don't think my collection is nearly as expansive as yours Zara. Looking fwd to part 2.

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  4. WOW! That's one impressive collection you have there. xx

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  5. you could make a nice feature wall with the plates -stone ware wall! When you see them all together the range is quite extensive ! nice collection.

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  6. Zara are they all the same size pltes ? Definately would make staccking them easier

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  7. All together they look so beautiful Zara. I had a Johnson 20 piece dinner set (new) when I moved out of home in 1984. I think it was the third one across on the top row.
    I'm just the same with my Kathie Winkle collection..... A bit out of control!

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  8. My goodness. What an amazing collection! Yes I knew that about crazing too. We eat off my Johnson Bros Blue Indies dinner set everyday.

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  9. Oh and I really want to know....which was your first piece and what made you want to collect them all?
    PS I didn't realize you were now in the Southern Highlands - My husband grew up in Burradoo and his family still live in that part of the world. I LOVE the Southern Highlands!

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  10. they look beautiful photographed like that, you ought to make a plate wall to display them all! what a great collection-are there any designs you don't have for your collection yet?
    happy weekend x

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  11. FAB!!...how beautiful do they look all together like that. there are a few I don't have...yay more to search for. looking forward to part 2! xx

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  12. Awesome collection! I don't own any Johnson pieces, but I'm sure that will change in time.

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  13. What an amazig collection Zara, they are such a happy and practical dinnerware. I love the roses best, just.

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  14. Wow. A wonderful collection and so beautiful. x

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  15. That is incredible. I grew up with the brown and orange patterned one shown near the top, but I had no idea there were such beautiful designs in the same range... Thank you, I will definitely be looking out for these on my op shop trips!

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  16. Wowzers!!! That is impressive!!! I love it! Some of those designs are actually quite similar to Crown Lynn ones - I wonder if they had some mutual designers..
    I have a weekly collection linky if you want to join up - I think people need to see this!

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  17. Amazing Zara! Are you still looking for more? Any pattern in particular? We have some in our shearer's quarters and I often see it at our local Lifeline. I would happily pass it on when I could get it to you safely. Love your photos.

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  18. Hi Zara! I recognise three of those designs as ones my in-laws owned over the last few decades. There are plenty I've never seen before though..a very interesting collection.

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  19. This collection is AMAZING. Thank goodness it is something I don't collect as after all the boxes of pyrex and milk glass I have just packed I do not need any more crockery obsessions! Interestingly, I never see it but I wonder if that is because my eye is trained to find the colourful and my eye finds the Johnson a little muted. All together they look brilliant and I think you should start a plate wall of your favourites. mel x

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  20. What a pretty collection of plates! I hadn't heard of Johnson of Australia before but they are very stylised and interesting. The one with a poppy on it is familiar, so maybe I have encountered them subconsciously! I am the same with Crown Devon pottery and many of the pre-War British potteries. I am a sucker for shapes, too.

    I'm new to this blog, so 'hi!' from the other side of the world :)

    Tash from vintagepretty.org

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  21. Holy cow and I thought I had a large collection of china wear. Very impressive.

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  22. What a fabulous collection! Love it! :)

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  23. Oh my! What an amazing collection. Melinda x

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  24. I have one design that you don't, it's not a very exciting one though... I also use my Johnson stoneware daily :)

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  25. OH MY GOD!!!!!! *bows down in just plain awe* My collection of Johnsons is small but I thank you for showing me what I have left to get. (I have one that you don't. In fact I have three of this one design. If you have any double ups that you want to swap with, let me know :) )

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  26. oh my gosh, I have major Johnson Envy here!

    (sheepishly hides her meagre collection behind her back)

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  27. how did i miss this post?!!!??? amazing!!!! the tulip one, so special! xx

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  28. And you know what............you haven't got the pattern that I grew up with! Maybe in part II. Mum bought it in 1970 and my sister and I had to walk home because our mum loaded two boxes of the dinner set into the pram to get it home. Amazingly when I met my husband and I went to visit his parents for the first time in 1988 his family had the exact same Johnson's dinner set! We were destined to be together!

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  29. do you have the yellow gooseberry one.

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  30. Great collection you have there! My husband has just started a new business venture selling vintage items. He has some Johnson items for sale if you are interested. https://www.facebook.com/rivertreasures1?ref=hl

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