The Joy of Collecting Bowls

Why vintage bowls are my soft spot (and how to spot the ones you'll love)

Stack of vintage white ceramic bowls with fluted sides, placed on a rustic wooden table
Vintage ceramic bowl with a faded rose pattern and worn rim, styled in front of a framed botanical tulip illustration on a rustic wooden table
Close-up of a vintage ceramic bowl with hand-painted floral design in pink, blue, and green, shown on a wooden surface with a floral book underneath

Why Vintage Bowls?

My advice? Always collect what you love.

While collectors might prioritise authenticity, condition or rarity, I believe in following instinct. Choose pieces that speak to you, not just the pristine ones, but the ones with life in them. The ones with a chip on the rim or a hairline crack that tells you it's been used and loved.

My personal bowl collection is full of such pieces. It started when I was living in France, not just a one-off find, but something I came across regularly, especially in brocantes and vide greniers. Café au lait bowls turned up often, nestled in cardboard boxes or stacked beside enamel jugs. I didn’t go looking for them, they just had a way of appearing, and once they did, I couldn’t leave them behind.

Now, living back in the UK, I still find them, often tucked into boxes of bits and pieces at London markets and boot fairs. They’re not always café au lait bowls these days, but anything with colour, pattern or character pulls me in. Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, I don’t mind the origin as long as the bowl feels right in my hands.

And I use them. Every day. For fruit, for breakfast, for mixing, even just to admire. Some are cracked, some are slightly crazed, others have that soft wear on the base that only time creates. I love them all.

So if you’re starting a collection, or adding to one, let it be personal. Don’t wait for perfection. Let your bowls find you, and enjoy them for what they are, little vessels of joy, colour and memory.

What to Look For

  • Brushstrokes: Hand-painted designs are rarely uniform. Look for soft inconsistencies, petals that vary, borders that wobble slightly.

  • Crazing: Fine cracks in the glaze are common with age. I see them as part of the charm, but avoid bowls where the crazing looks dirty or badly stained if you plan to use them with food.

  • Weight & Feel: Vintage bowls often have a heavier, more grounded feel. Pick it up and trust your hands.

  • Bases: Look underneath for signs of age. Unglazed foot rings, worn bases, or faint stamps can hint at a bowl's journey.

  • Imperfections: Chips, scuffs and glaze bubbles aren't flaws in my book. They are signs that the bowl has lived a little.

Where to Find Them

  • Brocantes & Flea Markets (France): These were my original hunting grounds. Look for sellers with boxes of kitchenalia and be ready to dig.

  • Second-hand Markets: Car boot stalls, mixed house clearance sellers and vintage household goods often yield hidden gems. Look under tables or in the boxes at the back.

  • Charity Shops: Less common but sometimes a standout piece turns up, especially in countryside towns or during clear-out seasons.

  • Online: Search with varied terms, "hand-painted bowl," "vintage earthenware," "cafe au lait," etc. Zoom in on photos to check wear and brushwork.

Tip: Bring a small tape measure, a reusable cloth bag and a soft cloth to wrap your finds.

Remember: Worn edges, soft glazes, tiny cracks, these aren’t flaws, they’re fingerprints of time