[As we branch out national-style, Faith, our new Editor-At-Large, will be bringing us a weekly scavenger culled from eBay, so no matter where you live, you can entertain a purchase for your kitchen.]
Here's a vintage Franciscan Atomic Starburst platter in a narrow oval shape. Maybe it's my vintage kitchen talking, or my insatiable need for more serving dishes, but I find this piece quite charming. It has no bids yet, so it's still at its starting price of $8.50. Ends Sunday, September 24.
In your eBay browsing, don't forget that you can sell your own kitchen items right here through our free service: The Kitchen's classifieds.
MORE VINTAGE POTTERY
• 4 round Bauer platters for $12 - Ends tonight!
• Stangl tangerine teapot for $10 - Ends tonight!
• Black ceramic pie bird for $8 - Ends tonight!
• 12" yellow Fiestaware platter for $10 - Ends Wednesday
• Vintage batter bowl with pour spout and handle for $6 - Ends Thursday
Ah, Franciscan-ware... My mother utterly despises it. My grandmother, her mother, one of my Aunts, and a second cousin all have the Desert Rose pattern. They tried to get my mother to buy it and she sensibly refused. :P
I do love vintage Corelle patterns, Pyrex, and Fire-King Jadeite though. Some day when I have enough money, I will build an entire collection of Jadeite dinnerware from eBay.
what's a pie bird?
It's a little ceramic figurine designed to keep your fruit pies from boiling over and for venting steam so that the crust doesn't get soggy.
You basically stick it in the middle of the pie crust first and then spoon in the fruit filling all around it. Then you take your top crust, cut a hole in the middle, and drape it over the bird so that it's head sticks out the middle. :)
I've never used one myself (prefer open pies and crumbly dutch apple) so I don't know how well they work.