Collections: Lu-Ray Pastels

You may have noticed in some of the pictures of my kitchen redo found in this post, were some lovely, soft, bright, happy dishes called Lu-Ray Pastels. I personally call them my "beloveds". They are pretty, add a bright freshness to my kitchen, they make me extremely happy and if you can't tell by now I am madly in love with them. 

Beautiful new kitchen

This madness started way back in 1996 when I was a new mother and started receiving Martha Stewart Living Magazine. (which I also collect, but that's another story of crazy) The issue was April 1996. Once I opened to the page that showcased this dinnerware reminiscent of Easter goodness I was hooked. I had to find them. I needed to find them. And soon!

Here is the magazine article that started the crazy...



All photo's above are from Martha Stewart Living Magazine; April 1996: Number 38

They were made by the Taylor, Smith and Taylor Company from 1938 to 1961. The four original colors are Surf Green, Windsor Blue, Persian Cream and Sharon Pink. The color Chatham Gray was added in 1949 and at the time proved not to be popular and was discontinued in 1952, which now makes this color extremely rare. What is fun about this collection is that when you find a piece all you have to do is flip it over and you can tell what month and year it was made. Unfortunately towards the mid to late 1950's they stopped marking some of their pieces this way.

This "after-dinner coffee cup" shows a manufactured date of January 1942.

Here it is next to an average sized tea cup, so cute.



I received my first Lu-Ray Pastel from my ex sister-in-law Deb as a housewarming gift when my ex husband and I bought our first house in 1999. She had gone to an auction and found a beautiful set of Windsor Blue dishes.

After receiving those dishes I purchased the book Collector's Guide to Taylor Smith and Taylor "Premier Potters of America" Lu-Ray Pastels U.S.A.: Featuring Conversation, Pebbleford, Vistora and More by Kathy and Bill Meehan. To this day it is still considered the "bible" to all collectors of this dinnerware.





As the years have gone on I have found different dishes at several antique stores. Once scoring a Chatham Gray platter for only $14 because the store owner thought it was Windsor Blue. In reality it was worth quite a bit more!! Win for me! Jeff has given me a few expensive pieces for our anniversary (that I just couldn't convince myself to purchase) such as this Sharon Pink flower vase known as an "Epergne". 



Epergne



I don't buy pieces off of Ebay myself, I'm not sure why. My guess is that somehow I feel it's "cheating" when it comes to the "hunt" of collecting. I have been lucky enough to find a few pieces at my local Salvation Army and Thrifty Shopper for mere pennies! Like this small Sharon Pink bowl called a "36s" which I had never ever seen in an antique store, even at an outlandish price!

Sharon Pink  36s sitting atop of a Chatam Gray saucer.



I'm not sure what my favorite piece is.... I do love my covered casserole, it was part of the set that Deb had given me all those years ago. I really love them all. =)

Covered casserole and salt and pepper shakers

Dinner plates in all four colors with a Windsor Blue sugar bowl on top. A Surf Green salt and pepper shaker. In the back is the awesome find Chatham Gray platter. In front of the platter is a Surf Green juice jug, Sharon Pink egg cup, Windsor Blue sauceboat with a Persian Cream butter dish underneath.

Cups and saucers in all the colors with bread and butter plates in the back.

Persian Cream water jug, Windsor Blue sugar bowl and platter.

Notice the difference with the Chatham Gray platter and the Windsor Blue sauceboat?? What a score!

Persian Cream Nappy (veggie bowl) with Sharon Pink creamer (sitting inside) and baker in the back. Windsor Blue teacup sitting on a Surf Green pickle dish.

Sharon Pink sauseboat and a stack of fruit dishes, the top dish is in Chatham Gray.

Two bakers in Surf Green and Sharon Pink and also a creamer.

I just love the top of the lid, like a dollop of cuteness.

There are still so many pieces of Lu-Ry that are yet to be found, the hunt will always continue.... they just make me smile. =)