Why are my Foley hollyhocks yellow and orange?

by Wanda
(Yelverton, Devon, UK)

Why are my Foley hollyhocks yellow and orange?:- I've just been to my first auction (in Tavistock, Devon) and hope this may be the start of a new hobby. I acquired a Foley sandwich plate with scalloped edges. Checking the marking on the base gave me its period as 1930 - 36. Then I've looked for others on the web but can only find similar patterns, not the same. Even the closest match has pink and purple/blue hollyhocks while mine has YELLOW and ORANGE.

Is there an inventory of the designs manufactured by Foley during those years? I'd like to find out some more details of my plate, such as the design name and exact date, quantity produced, what other items were produced in the same design......

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Thank you!

Wanda

reply by Peter (admin) below - just scroll down...

HOW I MADE MONEY FROM BITS & BOBS OF OLD CHINA .....more

Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- Why are my Foley hollyhocks yellow and orange?

Hi Wanda

What a lovely plate!! First, well done for realising the value of Foley China within your china antiquing skills (that's if it's the Foley associated with Shelley China not one of the other two Foleys). As commentators, we would only know this for sure if you were to have uploaded a photo of the mark as well as the wares. Not that there is anything wrong with the other two Foleys of course, but Shelley is one of the more collectable vintage brands.

I have written quite a bit on the other Foley china companies on this site. To find these articles, all you have to do is use the search box situated at the top right of every page.

First try a search term like "Foley" and check the list of results. My search box only looks at this site, so, apart from the normal sponsored ad links at the top, you won't get any other listings - just various mentions of the different 'Foley' information within this site.


Secondly, the reason your Foley hollyhocks are yellow and orange is that you just have a different colourway. There may have been several different version of this particular pattern. If you can't find much around with your colourway, then it must be rarer - which can sometimes add value, but sometimes not. It's no good being rare if no one collects it.

I give a list of reasons for something to be valuable on this page:-

Put an Antiques Roadshow Expert in Your Pocket.

Now the important thing in your case, being an enthusiast, like me, is that it is not necessarily value that is the main issue. The main issue is whether or not you like something or are fond of it. People should always collect what they like. Value is a secondary consideration to the enthusiast. It just happens to be a nice feeling if what we like also has some value!! ;-)

Pattern research online is possible, but restricted. I talk you through it on this page:- CHINA PATTERN IDENTIFICATION.

Anyone needing valuations only, please go to this vintage and antique china values page. You can also take the opportunity to liaise with experts on that page.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.

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