Cmielow coffee set

Spotted this coffee set for sale for £25. Seems expensive for this black/white decoration, especially since the jug on the right doesn't match. Or is it a bargain?
(Sorry about the quality of the photos).

I do remember that there was an interest in this type of thing 20 years ago when there would have been a profit at that price, especially as I believe the mis-matching jug is Homemaker.

I am out of the loop these days but if we believe these TV programmes "retro is in" and I guess that is where the price has come from.

I often wonder if they are trying to create a retro trend when they say that on TV, I can still buy retro for loose change so I don't believe the market is really how they portray it

Most of the retro stuff is purely for decoration because you cant put it in the microwave or the dishwasher - with the exception of pyrex which is so indestructible it'll still be around in huge quantities in the next millennium.

you know I never thought of tableware being catagorised as decorative for those reasons but then I don't use dishwashers or microwaves

It's also the fault of the TV culture, with people giving up cups & saucers in favour of mugs, and dinner services in favour of a large plate they can balance on their knees while sitting on the sofa.

I don't do that either!   

Just me then.   

I might find a place for one item from a set - a coffee pot or lidded pot -  but would begrudge giving up a whole shelf for a set with the same pattern.
If I bought this one, it would only be as an investment or present.

I'll let you off as your table is probably being used in other ways

Too true   . For storage, both on top and underneath.

I'm sure we are all shocked by this latest revelation...

Of course you all are. *innocent face*.

NaomiM wrote:I might find a place for one item from a set - a coffee pot or lidded pot -  but would begrudge giving up a whole shelf for a set with the same pattern.
If I bought this one, it would only be as an investment or present.

 Someone might have done that with the jug.

I don't think that it is worth buying as an investment and the price as a present would be OK if it was a full set.

Very true.


I might pop back and see if they'll just sell me the jug. 

Buy the lot and take a punt selling separately , it's not my sort of thing , but £25 isn't much and you'll get something back , maybe even a profit , I say gamble

Nah, I'm not into gambling (at least, not unless I think it's a sure thing).

I popped in, told them it wasn't part of the set, and they sold it to me for £2.   

Well done and I imagine that if you needed a pottery present for someone you might have one or two options around the house?

Not as many as you'd think, and only to people who promise to leave them to me in their will.   

Wish I could find charity shops like you lot find , I'll need to go further afield as ours have very little in them it would appear that certain areas are overflowing with picassos , rembrandts n' stuff   and you canhaggle as well   

Actually it could be worth investigating, I think it's the signature used from 1930s onwards. The design looks later though. Some of the designs can fetch up to 800-1000 squid so it would be interesting to find the designer's name for this one. Have a look here for later but similar designs: http://color-of-fashion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/polski-new-look-wystawa-w-muzeum.html it's all in polish but the pics are good.

Maybe, but on ebay this design is selling for less than £25 so not worth a punt

It is the pattern that I have seen the most of from the pottery.

They are mainly 50s/60s, There are various colourways, some better than others,
White on black, or the reverse seem the most stylish. The Cmielow book is not
much help as it is mainly animals and decorative items, not tableware.
The only set in the book "Serwis do kawy" is dated 1962.
You never know it might be the "new" Midwinter!