How often do you see a nice tea ware set in a yard sale?

[gingkoseto]

I always dream of getting a set from a yard sale. I once saw a nice set, but the pot was too big for oolong, so I didn't buy. Then deeply regretted it and thought I could have used it for other teas.

I bought a few yixing cups and tea plates for almost nothing. They are simple cups but nice. Then I moved for a few times and now I can only find 2 cups from that group.

I have opportunities to travel to asia on yearly basis, but every time, thought a whole set of tea ware was too bulky and fragile to carry. Besides, yard sale price may be better

I did get a very beautiful Greek color painted copper vase from yard sale before, for like $1. Besides the price, it's so much better than carrying the vase by myself all the way from Greek

[chamekke]

I haven't yet seen a tea set at a yard sale that I thought worth buying. I have picked up a couple of surprisingly good chawan, though.

Actually, most of my best local buys are found at charity shops or consignment shops... the yard sale of the masses. And the best tea sets on eBay... the yard sale of the planet.

[Victoria]

eBay... the yard sale of the planet.

Exactly!

[eanglin]

Depends on your definition of nice.
Nearly all my European style teaware comes from yard sales or thrift stores, and I have found some wonderful big teapots that just needed a replacement handle or a good cleaning.

Tiny teaware, suitable for gongfu style brewing is a lot harder to find, though I did see, on the same day at a local resale store, a Japanese tea set including a water cooling bowl, and a boxed Yixing set that was more suited for European style brewing. (Large pot, cups with handles, saucers.)

Now If I can only find a good cast iron kettle...

[gingkoseto]

I haven't yet seen a tea set at a yard sale that I thought worth buying. I have picked up a couple of surprisingly good chawan, though.

Actually, most of my best local buys are found at charity shops or consignment shops... the yard sale of the masses. And the best tea sets on eBay... the yard sale of the planet.

Good idea. I should try more searches in charity shops and consignment shops. As for getting tea ware from ebay, I will still worry about shipping. But it's worth it if the price is good.

[gingkoseto]

Depends on your definition of nice.
Now If I can only find a good cast iron kettle...

I don't have any cast iron kettles and would like to get one when I get a bigger kitchen. I've seen some cast iron kettles in tjmaxx, not many varieties in terms of size and pattern, but price is good.

[eanglin]

Most of the cast iron kettles I have seen are either monsters designed more for use as stove top humidifiers than for pouring tea water, or they have enamel finishes on them that, if I understand correctly, will crack if you use them directly on heat. (They are iron teapots, not kettles, I guess.)

[chamekke]

Most of the cast iron kettles I have seen are either monsters designed more for use as stove top humidifiers than for pouring tea water, or they have enamel finishes on them that, if I understand correctly, will crack if you use them directly on heat. (They are iron teapots, not kettles, I guess.)

Most older cast iron kettles (tetsubin) don't have an enamel lining and would be safe to use on direct heat. You can find such vintage and antique tetsubin on eBay. Obviously the ones that are more attractive or in better condition are also more expensive, but sometimes you can find plain ones that go for a reasonable price. The older ones (pre-1950's) typically do not have a steam vent hole in the lid, so that's a good feature to check for.

Also, wabisabi-world does sell Nambu unlined kettles (not lined tea pots, which are sold separately by the same vendor). So if you want a kettle in perfect condition, that might be the way to go.

[olivierco]

You can look also here

[eanglin]

Ohhh.. Thanks for the wonderful links!
That tortoise shell pattern is lovely.

I keep lurking and bookmarking vintage kettles on Ebay, but I have yet to have one hit my sweet spot regarding Design+ Condition+ price+ shipping cost when I actually had the money to get it.

Eventually... eventually... the right one will be mine!

I also have a fantasy of finding one at a local yard sale, flea market, thrift store at bargain prices. (A gal can dream, can't she?)

[chamekke]

I also have a fantasy of finding one at a local yard sale, flea market, thrift store at bargain prices. (A gal can dream, can't she?)

Hey, it can happen! I found a kettle-style tetsubin in wonderful condition at a local consignment shop for $38:



Keep dreaming and keep looking!

[edkrueger]

Nice! Is that Japanese or Dutch made?

[chamekke]

Nice! Is that Japanese or Dutch made?

Japanese - and old. A few months later I found an identical one on Trocadero that was identified as being Meiji. The style is shinnari, "shouldered".

It's not a super-fancy one (the finial on the lid is too basic for that), but it's very good for using for tea-ceremony practice at home.

[edkrueger]

That is almost certainly worth over 200 dollars.

[chamekke]

That is almost certainly worth over 200 dollars.

Could be! The one on Trocadero has a price tag of $250, and it's rusty - which mine isn't.