Hi and Welcome to the cooking forum!

Yes, I'm a collector of Bennington and have been for about 25 years. I've got a mix 'n match set of green/black and mustard (it's called something else now but it's the same glaze). Have somewhere around 150-200 pieces and just love the darn stuff.

Here's some of the types I have...

Square Plates
Dinner Plates
Salad/Dessert Plates
Chili Bowls w/the cute little handle
Pasta Bowls
Trigger Mugs
Large Rimmed Pasta Bowl
Mixing Bowls (2)
Rectangular Baking Dish (about 11"x13"?)
Loaf Pans (one green and one mustard)
Baguette Server
Butter Dish
Pie Plate

Reasons I love it: MADE IN AMERICA, I live in Connecticut so it's also Made in New England and I enjoy going to potter's yard, it cooks beautifully, holds the heat well (does get cold in a cupboard though), freezer, mico, and oven safe, it blends very nicely with our decor, and it just feel nice in my hands. I also like that there is such an active secondary market. My dishes have held their value so I don't feel too badly about getting a new piece.

What color do you have or are interested in collecting?

/tricia

hi tricia and thanks for responding !

i was thinking about the loaf pan, butter dish, banneton and crock set and possible the salt and pepper shakers also love that frog mug..i just adore that quirky stuff.

i "think" i like the elements of gold and green for colors.

was thinking of cinnamon or tavernware, but felt the cinnamon was a little dark and tavernware alittle too rustic.
we live in PA and i am not that into "country" so staying away from the agate.

i wish we were closer to the store, but i don't think we will making the trip anytime soon. it would have to be a weekend trip.
i also love that it's made in USA and love to support small, family businesses when possible.

any advice?? are the colors on the computer true to life?? i guess that's my biggest question. does it chip easily?
any other info would be most welcome

and thanks for welcoming me to the forum. i am usually in "kitchens" since we just did a reno. they were most helpful as i am sure this forum will be as well.
GW is such a treasure and a wealth of "real life" info that u just can't get anywhere else, IMHO...

thanks again, look forward to your response!!!

e.

Hi,

I second the welcome to the CF! I have various pieces purchased from Bennington IN Bennington VT. To be honest, I bought the pottery as a souvenir of my visit. That was many years ago. I have all of it still, and use it regularly. It needs no special care but seems to be very well made to survive our clumsiness as well as major move across the country. I have no idea what patterns they are, I just picked pieces which I would use so I have several serving bowls in a white-on-white design, many square dishes in a cinnamon brown (I don't know if I have ever used these) and some cream with brown rim dishes.

Cheryl

Another welcome! I can't tell you anything about the pottery. Glad to see you here anyway!

I'm redoing my kitchen. Maybe I should head over to "Kitchens!"

Teresa - kitchenless in Minnesota

e.

Yes, the colors are true on my monitor. I've not had chipping issues at all on any piece. However, once in awhile we'll drop something on the granite counters and it breaks. I just replace since it's all open stock. That's another aspect that I love about Bennington.

Forgot a couple other pieces I have...a very large/deep oval and rimmed baking/serving bowl (16"x12" approx) and the party plates with the handles that match the chili bowl's handles.

Our home is furnished in 1775-1850 American antiques for the most part so the "country" look works well for us. I adore the Tavernware. I purchased a set a few years back as a gift and almost didn't let it go! :) It's too similar to my mustard dishes though so I'm not collecting it. Tavernware wasn't available when I started collecting.

We actually got our first Bennington at a store in Portsmouth and that's where I learned about potter's yard. We were new to New England and just learning our way around the area. A few months later, we went to potter's yard and I was hooked!

I think the gold and green would be beautiful together. They can morph casual or more upscale depending on your other table settings. Also, don't forget you don't have to limit yourself to two colors. Add other colors as you go...fun. Bennington's pieces are time honored traditional dinnerware. I give them as wedding presents frequently especially to young couples starting out with practically nothing.

I'd post pictures of mine but I haven't seen them myself since Oct. 28. We are one of H. Sandy's thousands of victims and were flooded out of our house. It's now under repair but we're still a bit from being able to move back. I have no idea where my dishes are. The mitigation crew that came in to pump the water packed the entire house and put it into one of those POD units. I expect it to be spring before they make their way back to the kitchen cupboards.

Let me know what you decide to start with...I say "start with" 'cause I know once you pick one piece up with your hands you'll add to them. :)

/tricia

I think I have every piece they make in Morning Glory Blue, service for 8, plus all the baking and serving pieces. I just love that itâÂÂs the perfect color with my antique cobalt blue glass. I bought it all about 3 or 4 years ago after Tricia posted a picture of her table setting for a dinner party. I probably use the muffin pans and loaf pans the most and we use it for dinner most nights. Its heavy and I have banged it pretty hard at times no chipping so far. I like that it stays cold or hot for a very long time. ItâÂÂs very easy to clean hardly anything sticks to it for some reason. I know the morning glory blue is exactly the color that the catalog shows. Give then a call, very nice people to work with, have them send you the latest catalog 800-205-8033 I got one in the mail a few weeks ago.

And welcome to the forum I hardly ever post but I read it daily.

Claudia

I found a couple pictures...

This is homemade ciabatta, roasted homegrown heirloom tomatoes, and fresh figs for an afternoon snack.

{{!gwi}}

And here's the large rimmed bowl I mentioned with cioppino.

{{!gwi}}

/tricia

tricia,

so sorry to hear you were hit by Sandy.. that must be so devasting..hope everything gets back to normal for you and your family as soon as possible..sending good thoughts and prayers your way..(((hugs)))

my mom has a shore house in Cape May, NJ and somehow we were spared any devastation..we really thought the house was going to be destroyed. my sister asked my mom "is the homeowners paid up?" that's how bad we thought we were going to be hit.. we were ok in PA, just some downed branches and we lost power for about 18 hrs.

thanks for all the info..i'm def going to get the green and gold, it sounds perfect. do you have the butter dish? is it heavy? we are so used to rubbermaid butter dish, which snaps close. i hope we don't break it!!!

i have a feeling i'm going to love it and it will probably become an addiction..haha!! will keep you posted !!

thanks again and take care,

e.

Tricia,

I also have some of the green/black in square plates, forgot that these were from Bennington. I have no idea why square appealed to me, but I got a lot of square plates when I visited the shop. I use the Bennington for every day use, and as you can tell, I mix and match everything.

I sympathize with your homeless plight. I would be desolate. Friends of mine had their house destroyed in a fire and lived in hotels for about 3-4 months dealing with insurance and contractors. They told me eating out and having daily service got old after a week. They looked forward to visiting us in our disorderly home, eating casual homemade grub. I hope things go better with you, and you can go home soon.

Cheryl

Cheryl

Do doorknobs count? LOL

I bought several sets of antique Bennington Pottery doorknobs when we were building our house. We FINALLY installed them this summer after I found some fabulous antique brass backplates.

Okay...back to cookware. Just thought I would mention my doorknobs because they are beautiful and super high quality!

Now that I know they make cook/bakewae too I will be researching that!

Linda

I had a small set of the dinnerware in Mustard and a large set of the White. I loved it but will admit the white showed knife marks and I found the bowls did chip. It is heavy so both went to family members. I kept 2 pieces of spatter, an oval serving bowl and a loaf pan that I use frequently. Goes in DW, fridge, micro, oven and on the table.

Thank you all for the warm welcome..it is much appreciated !!

tricia, thanks for the photos, they really help and i do see what u mean when u say they mix and match beautifully.
uh-oh, im in trouble..haha!!!

thanks for all the info..

e.