Friday, June 1, 2012

Such a Friendly Little Village...

I am Beyond excited to share my latest and greatest Estate Sale score!  I have been coveting a set of Johnson Brothers Friendly Village dishes for some time now, but (as usual) I am unwilling to pay full price for them.  I missed out on a set about a month ago at a large Antique Estate Sale and recently saw a small set at my local Antique/Junk Mall. 
 I am on the mailing list for 
EstateSales.Net and watch it religiously.  
I just about died when when I saw a full set of the Friendly Village at a sale that started yesterday.  What was interesting was that this was a house/condo that my Real Estate friend wanted me to stage and had contacted me about  about 4-5 months ago.  It didn't work out (various reasons) but I gave her the name of a few reputable Estate Sale companies who could take on the job of selling the contents after the home sold. This home was packed with beautiful decorative accessories and furniture.  I used to feel very strange about Estate Sales knowing that sometimes the circumstances under which the items were sold were often sad.  But, I think of it now as recycling and instead of buying new items I am reviving someone elses treasures.  
OK, enough of my Moral Compass, on to the DISHES!!!
This pattern: Johnson Brothers Friendly Village "Made In England" has been in production since 1953-2003 and was made in England.   It is now made in China under the name "Johnson Brothers England 1883".  
This makes my set a lot more valuable.
You can see on the backstamp where it says
 "Made in England"
The set came with 17 dinner plates, bread plates, bowls, and cups and saucers and 2 serving bowls.  The plates are the standard 9 7/8" size and not the larger 10 1/2" size but that's OK, I can always add to them. I love all of the beautiful scenes on the dishes but I think my favorite is the "Covered Bridge" on the bowls. 
So, my curiosity inspired me to check on Ebay and Replacements.com to see how much a set like this would be worth.
  Are you ready for this?
  Replacements has a 45 piece starter set (8 place settings) for $599.00 X's that by 2 for my set! 
And there is a 103 piece set on Ebay for $1530.00.  

I think I did pretty good since I only paid $165.00!!!  

Of course I had to fight my way through the crowded house down to the basement where I saw a lady had MY dishes is her hot little hands.  My competitive spunk kicked in and I told myself "these dishes are mine and I am not leaving here without them!".  I boldly asked her if she planned to buy them.  She hemmmed and hawed and said "Well maybe but I want larger plates".  She held onto the plate with the price tag on it (that's the signal that it's yours...).  She asked me if I had plans to buy them.  I confidently said "Yes, I would like to buy them".  She stood there for a few more seconds and then asked me if I would consider "Splitting" the set.  I said No, that I needed at least 12 of anything for my family.  She said "OK" and set the plate down on top of the stack of dishes.  I scooped it up as fast as I could and brought it right to the Hold table.  
Victory was Mine!
  I can't wait to use them this Fall and Winter!
Until Next Time,
Beaux R'eves

41 comments:

  1. OMGosh, Cindy! I'd be screaming from the rooftops. I see a few pieces around here that are the Made in England, but the price is astronomical. How exciting that you got the set and what a great price. Good for you for standing your ground at the sale..Yay!
    I know you'll enjoy your new dishes...you lucky thing. :)
    Babs

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  2. I'm so happy you got them, Cindy! It is such a beautiful set! I can't wait to see them taking center stage on one of your fabulous tablescapes!

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  3. I love when I "find" exactly what I need at an antique shop or estate sale. Fortunately, I don't need any new things right at the moment and when I do I will enjoy the search.

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  4. Congratulations on that acquisition, Cindy! They are just beautiful! I can't believe they are worth that much.

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  5. Wow, you saved a bunch of money. How nice. I went to an estate sale today and it wasn't very good and way overpriced.

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  6. yOU FOUND A GREAT DEAL. I PURCHASED THE TEASET FOR FOUR ABOUT A MONTH AGO PAID $40. GREAT FIND.I LOVE THIS PATTERN.

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  7. What a lucky find. You really got a great deal on them!

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  8. Congratulations on finding a Happy Village to your home. And respect for the steely negotiation attitude!

    ( thank you for such an adorable blog, I´ve been lurking in comfortable silence so far but dishes always were my achilles´ heel )

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  9. Congratulations on finding a Happy Village to your home. And respect for the steely negotiation attitude!

    ( thank you for such an adorable blog, I´ve been lurking in comfortable silence so far but dishes always were my achilles´ heel )

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  10. What a find Cindy and what a great price, they are beautiful. I must admit I have not seen them before. They will look beautiful on your Fall table.

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  11. What a great find! I love that pattern.

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  12. What a gorgeous set of dishes! You are really going to enjoy using them this winter. I love the pattern!

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  13. What a beautiful set of dishes! I'm sure you're tickled pink & rightfully so =)

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  14. That is a lovely set of dishes. I love Estate Sales.

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  15. My Mom purchased a set of 12 of the "Friendly Village" dishes in 1959. I loved them sooo much. Back in those days it was "the" thing to have Lenox China for one's trousseau, but I only wanted the Friendly Village. In 1961 for Christmas my parents gave me a set of 12!
    I have used and loved them for years. Almost two years ago my darling Mom passed away. I now have a complete set of 24 as well as some extra pieces, large bowls, salt/pepper, water server, 2 large platters, etc.
    Congratulations to you, may you enjoy yours as much as I do!!! Pam

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  16. I worked in a flower shop in 1965, my boss had Friendly Village. I loved it!! When I got married in 1972, I didn't have to think twice - I registered for it and we got gifts that created service for 12 of the banquet plates (larger dinner plates, each one is different scene), plus a lot of the extra things - 12 of each. A few years later, I got another set at an auction and yet more at a garage sale later! I have the soup tureen, tea pot, large chop platter and several other platters in various sizes, round veg. bowls, oblong bowls, 2 gravy boats, 3 cream & sugars. I will divide them some day between my 3 kids!! They love them, too. It's good to know, they're so valuable now!!

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  17. I am visiting from Rhoda's Thrifty Treasures Party. When I saw the picture of your dishes I just had to look at your find!! I LOVE those dishes and you got such a good deal on them!! Enjoy!

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  18. My uncle passed away a year ago and I had the opportunity to purchase my aunt's Friendly Village service for 8 for $200. I fell in love with the dishes the moment I saw them and felt that $200 was a fair price for service for 8 plus several matching serving pieces. I absolutely love my dishes!

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  19. My Mom has this china. She was given a serving piece which spurred us on to buy place settings. Every time we'd see a piece at a flea market or antique store we'd snap it up. We've done that for at least 20 years. So she has most of a 8 piece set. I did not know it was being made now in China. That is disappointing. I have Richmond White also made by Johnson Brothers but they quit making it quite some time ago. Love your big set and what a bargain it was.

    We always use my Mom's for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner.

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  20. Lucky you!! I've always loved those dishes. I didn't know that they're made in China now :(

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  21. i won a set of eight each includes dinner, saucer, tea plates eight bowls and eight tea cups and one seving plate serving dish and a sugar and cremer set that says freindly village made in england but they have a red mark one bottom what does that mean? they are the smaller dinner plates. when i unraped them the paper that wwas in there was dated 1994 so i know they re older than that do you know how to tell how old they really are? please some one email me and let me know mainstcutie@yahoo.com thanks

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  22. Hi
    I have a 8 pace settings,large serving platters
    , egg holders, gravy servers..3 sizes, covered bowl, large bowl (2) in my cupboard! They were my grandmothers!
    All stamped made in England!

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  23. I inherited a 4 piece set from my grandmother, made in England! Unfortunately we are building a tiny house and have no room to keep them and none of my children are interested in them. I'm hoping I find a buyer who loves them as much as you!

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  24. I have my mother's Brothers Johnson "The Friendly Village" set. It is from England, not China. The bottom plates and bowls are marked "ironstone". Does anyone know if these dishes are microwave safe? My mother used them for holidays and special occasions and I would like to use them everyday. They have been in my basement since 1998. No use in the basement.

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  25. I have my mother's Brothers Johnson "The Friendly Village" set. It is from England, not China. The bottom plates and bowls are marked "ironstone". Does anyone know if these dishes are microwave safe? My mother used them for holidays and special occasions and I would like to use them everyday. They have been in my basement since 1998. No use in the basement.

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  26. I have 8 piece Friendly village setting includes 8 dinner plates 8 salad plates' 8 tea saucers, 8 tea cups, 8 cereal bowls, covered veg bowl, oval platter, sugar bowl with lid, sugar bowl, creamer, gravy bowl. these are marked made in England. what might they be worth?

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  27. I have 8 piece Friendly village setting includes 8 dinner plates 8 salad plates' 8 tea saucers, 8 tea cups, 8 cereal bowls, covered veg bowl, oval platter, sugar bowl with lid, sugar bowl, creamer, gravy bowl. these are marked made in England. what might they be worth?

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  28. The stamps on your set look like my parents' anniversary set (which I have now) that they bought in the late '50s.

    Regarding the ironstone question: As far as I can tell (been obsessed with JB for years), the IRONSTONE mark on the Friendly Village dates it to the later years, probably the 70s. It's probably microwave safe. I use my everyday JB in the microwave and nothing has happened. I never put my vintage JB in the microwave.

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  29. I have a 60 piece set of this China I am selling. Please contact me if you are interested. Mine has the backstamp Made in England.

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  30. How many many different scenes are pictured on the original dinner plates. I have 10. What are the names of all the scenes? I want to complete my set, even if with made in China replacements.

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    1. 12 scenes. Covered bridge, Hayfield, sugar maples, village green, old mill, the well, stone wall, Lily pond, village street, willows by the brook, school house, Autumn mist.

      There is another "newer" one with a turkey but I don't think it is part of the original images. Some were made in England though.

      The "dinner" plates were the school house. The buffet plates were larger with the 12 (13) scenes. There is also a charger or chop plate with the covered bridge which is just a little larger than the buffet plates.

      Ebay is a great place to find them. Watch the edging and back stamps. Some, usually older, have a much nicer scalloped edge. But, its more a matter of finding what matches what you have best.

      Best of luck. They are all beautiful. My favorite changes every time I look at them:)

      And the ones made in China, just don't seem near as pretty. Different coloring, hardly any scalloped edges.

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  31. Mary, the dinner plates I have are all the schoolhouse scene. There are several motifs in all the other pieces.

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  32. Has anyone else ever seen the tea cups with the covered bridge? Not the mug. I purchased a set last week that had about 23 tea cups. Half had the ice house scene which is all I had seen before, half were just a tad larger with the covered bridge. It really caught me off guard. Lol. I did manage to find a single matching saucer on eBay. The cups will have to share...

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  33. I just ran into your blog with your beautiful 'Friendly Village' C'mas China. I only have a big platter and a soup tureen I treasure come C'mas and yes, I checked and it is Made in England in the back. I always knew that, but hey, who knew they also make them in China !

    Fabby

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  34. I have a 107 piece friendly village set all made in England if anyone is interested please let me know, thank you... 941-445-0538

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  35. I have a 107 piece friendly village set all made in England if anyone is interested please let me know, thank you... 941-445-0538

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  36. 4 full 5-piece place settings. 20 total pieces. 1953c. Vintage group. Rare elongated octagon bowls. Absolute mint condition. Text or call 405-915-9862 for more info.. detailed photos available.

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  37. I have a 38 piece set which includes the salt & pepper shaker and 2 candle holders. I would like to sell them if anyone would like to make me a fair offer. tinalbr@yahoo.com

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  38. We have a nice sized set, not sure how many pieces yet. No chips so far. Made in England. There are red marks on the bottom of some pieces. What are they?

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  39. I love Johnson Bros vintage dishes. My favorite is the Wild Turkey pattern of two birds flying. It’s a very hard to find pattern.

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  40. I'm in Australia and got the set of 6 each 36peice set at an op shop for 35 dollars score

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