Mint The Shop

Set of 5 Hornsea spice jars

Spice jars generally go one of two ways: those tacky, often greasy jars that land up littering the back of your pantry; or a nicely crafted collection filled with great aromas that you’re proud to display on your kitchen shelf. This very collectible set from Hornsea definitely fall into the latter category. They were designed by John Clappison in 1967, and proved hugely popular in the early ’70s in England. The combination of a matt and shiny glaze, wooden lids sealed with rubber rings, and that great block lettering all make for great design. The set of 5 jars is accompanied by a pair of oil and vinegar pots. The pots aren’t as desireable in my view, but will still prove useful – it’s so much nicer to decant a small amount into these pots than having a large mismatching set of store-bought bottles on your dinner table.

Dimensions: Spice jars – 7cm tall x 5cm in diameter; Oil & vinegar pots – 9cm tall x 7cm in diameter

Price: R200 for the set

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Set of Hornsea kitchen jars

I first discovered Hornsea a couple of months back when I bought two fantastic beakers that featured in the V&A Museum. I was an instant fan of this UK pottery house and have been keeping a keen out for it ever since, so I was thrilled to come across this set the other day! The pattern on these jars is called ‘Heirloom’ and was designed in the early ’70s. The jars are in fairly decent nick given their age, buy sadly there’s a chip on the front of the biscuit jar and the seals on the wooden lids have seen better days (the small jar is missing its seal). But despite not being in mint condition, I would still be very proud to display these jars in my kitchen.

Dimensions: Large jars – 20cm tall x 15cm in diameter; Small jar – 15.5cm tall x 11cm in diameter

Price: R350 for the set

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Hornsea Mugs by John Clappison

Sometimes I come across pieces that I know I will find it very hard to part with. Generally it’s a beautiful sideboard, or some other piece of furniture that I spend my nights drooling over trying to figure out ways to reconfigure my house so I can squeeze them in, but not often do I become so attached to a coffee mug! There’s something really special about this pair of coffee mugs by English designer John Clappison, so special in fact that the ‘Partridge Beaker’ (1967) appears in the Victoria & Albert Museum. There’re also one or two for sale on ebay at silly prices. The partridge mug is in excellent nick, but the mug with the tree image does have a few hairline cracks. I’ve tried both mugs out (I just had to!) and the hairline cracks don’t leak at all.  A great piece of design history!

Dimensions: 9cm high x 8cm in diameter

Price: R90 for the pair

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter our competition to win a fabulous retro mirror!

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