Once a charity shop staple, Cornishware, the blue and white striped kitchenware previously relegated to the back of the cupboard or lugged to a car boot sale has suddenly become cool again. In fact, the Financial Times reported on 20th July 2023, that the painted stripes of Cornishware are a ‘British homeware staple, a 20th century design icon and now a fashion sensation.’
Created in a family studio in Shepton Mallet, Cornishware featured at Milan Fashion Week in Jonathan Anderson’s range for the SS24 show of his label JW Anderson, with the runway decorated in blue and white stripes and more than 500 teapots, mugs and bowls of Cornishware pieces used as invitations. The event saw bloggers and influencers dressed in blue and white stripes, as the porcelain, which originally started in the 1930s, took centre stage. Jonathan Anderson is quoted to have said ‘Cornishware is a British household classic, a ceramic that any person would have in their home. One of the main references from JW Anderson’s last show in Milan was the everyday textures, patterns and conformities of the home, particularly the British home. This is why we decided to do a nod – from the invites to the fashion runway – to the blue and white stripes.’
Cornishware recently sold at Cheffins
The Cornishware brand, which almost closed in 2007, saw a resurgence in popularity during lockdown, is hugely successful on Instagram (70.8k followers), and according to the creators, has a large following of 25 to 35-year-olds. Ultimately nostalgic, the brand is relatable, affordable and resonates with the vast majority. Whether this is a continuation of the ‘normcore’ trend which appears to be taking over the worlds of fashion and interiors reamins up for debate, however there is no doubt that large scale events such as this can really propel brands into the limelight, which then trickles down to affecting the second-hand market.
With this in mind, now could well be the time to pick up second-hand Cornishware pieces, which regularly feature at regional auction houses up and down the country, with boxes of it appearing often in job lots following house clearances. Here at Cheffins we have seen a steady uplift in interest in Cornishware on the second-hand market over the past couple of years, and expect that trend to continue. Prices tend to vary from around £30 for a small number of items up to £80 for a large mixed box. For example, a box of 27 pieces of Cornishware sold at Cheffins in April for £60.
Keep an eye on our sales calendar as Cornishware is most likely to crop up at the monthly interiors auctions. You can view all of the sale dates at Cheffins here