Welcome to Something Borrowed
A Teacup Story
One of the questions I always get from people is: “ Where do you get all these beautiful china pieces?” I usually say that I have many sources – and every piece that I find has its own unique story.
I love finding new places to shop and add to my phenomenal collection and to tell people the stories behind each piece – especially the teacups. I often find interesting shops or antique malls during my travels.
In July of last year, one of my four daughters accepted a job offer in Great Falls, Montana. I was excited she had this amazing opportunity, and at the same time, I was sad that she and her husband would be moving so far away.
With the enormity of their move looming, my daughter and her husband invited us to join them on a scouting trip to Great Falls. Since we had never been to Montana, we began to plan our trip, and our excitement grew.
One morning in Great Falls, my husband and I were wandering around the downtown area while my daughter and her husband were busy meeting with their respective future employers. We stumbled into a really cute shop on the main drag called “Feather Your Nest”. This was a very eclectic shop, with everything from vintage clothing to antique books and a large collection of vintage vinyl records. I have to say, this shop was my kind of heaven, especially because of its extensive selection of vintage fine china from all over the globe!
This is where I found one of my absolute favorite teacups in my collection – the teacup and saucer made by CDGC Japan circa 1950. The saucer is more like a pedestal than a saucer, elegantly hand painted with wheat stalks and green wheat grass emanating from the center of the saucer. The teacup itself sits high on the saucer – so regal – with more wheat stalks and green wheat grass that appears to be moving in the wind. This beautiful teacup and saucer are rentable exclusively from Something Borrowed Vintage China and is ready to be at your event! Call me to schedule an appointment to come and see this teacup, and many others that will dress up your table beautifully!
Coffee and Cake with Oma
I love china – fine bone china, from England, France, Japan, Germany, the Czech Republic, and yes, even the USA.
My first introduction to china was by my grandmother, my Oma, at her house in Augsburg, Germany during the almost daily afternoon ritual of “Kaffee und Kuchen”, (or “Coffee and Cake”), when I would spend summers in Germany with my family when I was a little girl. This was the time of day that she took out her nice china, set the table with her prettiest white lace tablecloth, and we used her silver teaspoons and tiny cake forks. The exquisite teacups were balanced sweetly on their perfect saucers and were filled with that delicious warm sweetened milk, with just a hint of that strong German coffee that our parents were enjoying at full strength. There was always cake, served on beautiful china plates with intricate patterns and the teacups with their delicate gold-edged handles. Oma served everyone “Kaffee und Kuchen” on her good china – family, formal guests, neighbors, old friends, and new acquaintances.
My love for china was nurtured at various points throughout my life, like when I got married and registered for my first set of china – (I loved looking at all the pretty patterns, and oohed and aahed at the ones with pretty flowers, or delicate hand painted greenery.) I have always been one to pick up eclectic pieces here and there when I would see something that would catch my eye; a pretty plate, a teacup and mismatched saucer, or an old sugar bowl and lid with a notch cut out for the spoon to fit. Then when we were living in Windsor, England, I had an opportunity to take a day trip to Staffordshire and visit the factory stores for many of the highly regarded fine bone china makers in Britain. I was in heaven. It was in Staffordshire that I bought 4 of the most perfect hand painted Aynsley teacups and saucers. These teacups are still one of my most prized possessions!
I get very excited when I find a vintage romantic dinner plate that reminds me of my Oma’s place settings. I can immediately visualize how beautiful it will look when paired with an eclectic salad plate with a scalloped edge and pink flowers in the center like the ones I oohed and aahed over when registering as a bride. If I stumble across a bread plate delicately hand painted with a floral pattern and gold edge, I immediately see a table set out for eight, ten, a wedding, a rehearsal dinner, or even a garden party. It is from this love and passion for all things china, “Something Borrowed: Special Occasion Vintage China Rental and Sales” was born.
Written by Yvonne Janvrin
Something Borrowed 