Twist on Tradition: Blue and White Porcelain
9 ways to show off these lovely pieces all over the house
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There's a place for classic blue-and-white porcelain in nearly every room in any style house. Whether in a large collection or a few well-placed pieces, this popular color combination is easy to incorporate, whether it's dressed up or dressed down.
While it's commonly thought that using blue decoration on white porcelain was a technique that originated in China, the technique actually began in the Middle East in the 9th century. The Chinese weren't far behind, though. Cobalt-blue pigment was excavated from Iran and exported to China as early as the 9th century as well.
Antique pieces are particularly special, but the look of blue-and-white china is easy to come by these days. Mass-produced pieces can be inexpensive, easy-to-find alternatives for those who don't have access to older pieces. Here are some wonderful examples of how and where to use these pieces all over the house today.
Browse designs using blue-and-white porcelain
While it's commonly thought that using blue decoration on white porcelain was a technique that originated in China, the technique actually began in the Middle East in the 9th century. The Chinese weren't far behind, though. Cobalt-blue pigment was excavated from Iran and exported to China as early as the 9th century as well.
Antique pieces are particularly special, but the look of blue-and-white china is easy to come by these days. Mass-produced pieces can be inexpensive, easy-to-find alternatives for those who don't have access to older pieces. Here are some wonderful examples of how and where to use these pieces all over the house today.
Browse designs using blue-and-white porcelain
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Make a powerful statement in the entryway. Try putting a grouping like this in a hallway or nook that is particularly difficult to fill.
A pair of ginger jars like the one on the right side of the table is one of my favorite things to give for a wedding. The sweet pea vines symbolize "forever" and "many children," while the main decoration is a shuang xi character which is the symbol for "wedded bliss." It's a great way to think outside the registry.
A pair of ginger jars like the one on the right side of the table is one of my favorite things to give for a wedding. The sweet pea vines symbolize "forever" and "many children," while the main decoration is a shuang xi character which is the symbol for "wedded bliss." It's a great way to think outside the registry.
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| Commit to a collection. If you're going to do it, why not commit? I love a statement wall like this where a beautiful collection can be displayed. While these pieces match, I like it equally as well when you can tell the curator stumbled upon each piece over time and that each piece has a story. |
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Add symmetry to a room with a pair of blue-and-white urns. Filling porcelain with something fresh helps make the look applicable to all seasons and all holidays. I would put greenery or flowers in these to really make a statement.
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Convert urns or ginger jars into lamps. Lamps are a good way to incorporate a touch of blue and white that isn't too overpowering. There's no reason to search the globe for a matching pair; if you stumble across pieces you love, it's so easy to have them converted into lamps. I did it a few years ago with a pair of ginger jars, and they look fabulous.
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by Wm Ohs Inc.
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| Put your collection to work. It's hard to see in this picture, but this kitchen contains a number of blue-and-white porcelain pieces as functional pieces. Why not use ginger jars as canisters for an unexpected twist? Yellow is a striking color to pair with this palette; fill a blue-and-white fruit bowl with lemons and bananas. |
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| Dine like George Washington. Blue-and-white porcelain was the place setting of choice at Mount Vernon. Colorful china gives the table an eye-catching pop between meals. These place settings match, but a blue-and-white collection that doesn't can be great, too. Stories about where you found each piece make for a perfect conversation starter during a dinner. |
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| Replace that silver tea set with blue-and-white porcelain. When it comes to blue and white, this dining room is perfectly done. The porcelain provides a punch of color in an area that is usually reserved for a silver tea set. |
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Take your collection to the coast. A seaside home is one of my favorite places to use blue-and-white porcelain, as it ties in beautifully with a nautical color palette.
To keep it from looking too formal, I would use the porcelain pieces on a mantle and fill them with wild sea oats, starfish or seashells for a nice contrast.
Oscar de la Renta's Dominican Republic home is filled with blue-and-white china. If it's good enough for Oscar, it's good enough for me!
To keep it from looking too formal, I would use the porcelain pieces on a mantle and fill them with wild sea oats, starfish or seashells for a nice contrast.
Oscar de la Renta's Dominican Republic home is filled with blue-and-white china. If it's good enough for Oscar, it's good enough for me!
Come up with an unexpected twist. If you like the idea of using blue-and-white porcelain but aren't wild about its more traditional uses, a sink like this is a great way to think outside the box. It adds a fun new dimension, especially in a small powder room. Even better, a sink like this is relatively inexpensive and readily available online.
More:
Demijohns Around the House
Straight from the Runway: The Blues to Use at Home
So Your Style Is: Traditional
More:
Demijohns Around the House
Straight from the Runway: The Blues to Use at Home
So Your Style Is: Traditional
Ideabook updated on Feb. 9, 2012.
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lways loved blue +white porcelain but it's so difficult to mix with other colours in the house. Thanks for the ideas above though, it's made me think I can pull it off!
saya, I think they actually come made as sinks - I've seen versions of this at ceramics places.
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