During our secondhand shopping trip a couple of weeks ago (when we found the amazing teak patio lounge chairs) I also came home with another special find. It wasn’t quite as amazing as getting $6,660 worth of patio furniture for $150, but it was still a good buy.
So, as we were meandering through an antique store, I spotted this ceramic duck casserole and was a little surprised at my interest in inspecting it closer and checking out the price. There was something sweet about it and it made me smile. I’ve learned to listen to the inklings I get when shopping (most of the time.)
Eh, you should put that back. You don’t have a good spot for it.
There is something special about that. Go back and get it!
Typically, when I spot something I like, but I’m not 100% sure about it, I will leave it and keep it in mind. If I keep thinking about it, I will go back and revisit it to see if I love it as much the second time I see it. Many times, the initial excitement wears off. But, in the case of the duck casserole, I liked it just as much the second time as I did the first. I took a little poll on my Instagram stories while I was out shopping and most people agreed with me.
I bought the duck casserole and my mom was sort of laughing at me about it. She didn’t see what I saw.
But, when we saw this crazy turkey casserole at the Salvation Army store, she made sure to point it out to me in case I was starting a collection.
When I got home, I did a bit of internet sleuthing and found that the duck casserole is from Williams Sonoma for $149.95. (You can buy it HERE.) I got mine for $15. I felt vindicated and sent a text right away to my mom to crow over my good buy.
And this was her reply…
The turkey may have been some rare find, but a rare find isn’t much good if you don’t love it and want to have it in your home! The French duck casserole fits perfectly on the shelving in my kitchen.
I’ll say to you what I said to my mom when I bought it. If you can have a casserole with a pretty duck on the lid or just a plain lid, why would you not get the duck? Isn’t there something fun about it? Who doesn’t want to serve mashed potatoes or green beans at Thanksgiving in a duck casserole?
Plus, I like having things that are pretty that can sit out. For some reason, I have always gravitated towards kitchen and serving items. I love dishes, pitchers, flatware, napkins, silver, cookware, kitchen gadgets, cutting boards. If you see my kitchen, it’s evident.
I love my little duck casserole, but I don’t plan to start an animal casserole collection.
Although, my mom and I have a fun time spotting the variety of animal casseroles when we’re out shopping together…
I did sort of like this chicken on the basket, but it stayed at the store.
I did find a few fun things the last time we went out, though. I have a bit of a backlog of fun finds to share, but I’ll share them as I put them in their new home and get some pictures.
Would you have bought the duck casserole?
50 Responses
Totally would have!!!
Way to go!
Well, you just made me go in my basement and get my chicken casserole and put it on display on my cupboard. Looks good & love it!
Lol! Good for you!
I do believe I had a white duck casserole way back about 1982.Where is it now? Thanks for the memories!
I absolutely would have bought the duck casserole and I could tell before you said that it was from a great place. It adds some extra charm to the shelf!. Bravo!
I purchased a duck casserole in Stillwater,MN. sometime in the 1980s. I have always had it displayed in my kitchen. I love mine and know you will enjoy yours as well!
that wild boar tureen speaks to me. so charming. love the duck-dish! buy what you love, right? i bought a mushroom soup tureen a few months ago and happily gifted it to a friend who shares my taste in dishes that look like fruit and veg. and today i found an asparagus serving platter at the thrift. such a delight to enjoy your finds and not worry what other people may think.
LOL….I would have gone for the boar’s head casserole!
I LOVE IT!!! Great buy with or without it’s W/S “pedigree 🙂 🙂 🙂
No, but I might have bought the chicken. 🙂 The duck looks perfect on those shelves though.
I seriously doubt I would have bought either of these bowls.
Now if you found one with a sailboat on top I would have played rock,paper,scissors with you for it. I have said it before but let me say it again….
I LOVE YOUR MOM.
I think you should sneak back and buy the cheapest casserole dish and give it to her as a gag gift for Christmas. I know if I lived closer she and I could be friends as I love her sense of humor.
So the turkey tureen might have been Italian majolica – similar one on Charish -https://www.chairish.com/product/5222148/italian-ceramic-turkey-soup-ore-cream-touring. $299.00 I think the duck is much more suited to your style!
Someone shared a link and I confirmed with a Google image search. It is a vintage Italian Vietri Casserole that is listed on eBay for $125! 😂
The duck is cute! I purchased a White French Rabbit Tureen a few years ago for 3.00 and only used it a few times a year and later sold it at my garage sale for 5.00. Today when something is a good deal and I like it I only buy it if I WOULD pay full price for it… that is my test as to if I really want it or not…. or do I want it because it is say 75 percent off? My best friend said to me just because I like it I don’t need to buy it and unless I LOVE it … someone else can have it. Nice find!
I really like your friends suggestion!
You mean I didn’t come here to get a duck casserole recipe?
😛
My sister had your gift for spotting wonderful finds at thrift stores . One time at a garage sale she bought at least six Haywood Wakefield dining room chairs that completed my set of twelve. Such great memories! Enjoy your outings and your fantastic bargains!
I laughed so hard through this post! I absolutely would have bought the duck casserole! I liked the chicken one too!! I love your mom’s sense of humor! I was hoping to read about the kitchen window today, but I since you made me laugh, I will not make a fuss!!
I have a similar one from 40 years ago!
I would have passed on the duck even if I knew it was worth $150, but it looks great on your shelf with your other collections. I’m just being a little more picky as to what I bring home the older I get.
It looks super on your shelf with that contrasting color background piece! The touch of whimsy is perfect for your style and taste. Your kids will remember it forever! Good buy!
I think you should have also bought the chicken AND the boar!
I love the boar. I would fill it with pate.
Absolutely! A friend gave me a recipe for pate and the paper is stained and torn from 40-50+ years of making it. The boar would have been perfect!
I’m drawn to the hen but the duck casserole looks great on your shelves. The turkey is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen! Your mom has a good sense of humor!
Girl, you have been on a winning streak. I love the duck. The boar head looked like it may have been from Williams Sonoma as well. I have the chicken tureen. I look forward to all of your posts.
Yes, it was Apilco as well. Just didn’t float my boat!
I would have bought the second white duck also. The bottom half is so very pretty. And is similar to my dinner plates!
Laughing out loud when i got to the boars head casserole and the turkey 🤣😂🤣 (reminds me of a goat cheese keeper someone thought I would appreciate… they were wrong, but it IS the thought that counts)
The duck has a beautifully shaped head and YES I would have bought it! Even though I really don’t care for duck decor.
I love the duck casserole & it was a great find! But I’m still drooling over that bunny casserole. I may have to look for it.
Definitely would have bought the duck casserole. What a wonderful find! It looks perfect and right at home on your shelf.
I have the chicken on the basket one sitting in my kitchen! Yes, you should have bought it!
There used to be milk glass hens on nests. If people can have those you should have a duck casserole. Through the years I have found if you buy things you love they all go together and can be moved from room to room.
ABSOLUTELY, especially knowing what you already have that go
together… May not be iron stone but looks like it fits in quite nicely!!
WHAT A HOOT!!!
Such a fun find! Another score for your home ❤️ I just had to go looking for the turkey your mom spotted. It just made me giggle because it’s something my daughter and I would have laughed about. Well, the exact Turkey was spotted on eBay for $125.00! Such fun! Im glad you keep taking us along for the fun
My (similar) duck casserole has a prominent place in my china cabinet in front of my white dishes. It was given to me at a wedding shower 44+ years ago. It makes awesome brown rice for the holidays. The duck looks “spiffy” with a ribbon tied around its neck, in a color in keeping with the current holiday!
Marian, I have 2 small
light green bunny casseroles which I use at Easter!!!!
No, I would not have purchased it…because I already have one. It looks like the duck one in your second picture, but has a colored beak and eyes. I’ve had it for more than 35 years, and I always displayed it in all my homes. As Cubans like to say, “Para gustos se hicieron los colores” which means, “for all tastes, colors were created”. Or something like that!!
Yes, I would have for that price.
I collect Fitz & Floyd tureens so I completely understand the gravitation towards kitchenware!
Marian,
I really like how she stands out on your shelf with the wood plate behind her~
I am away from home but I have two that my husband and I got as wedding gifts, 49 years ago next month, and as soon as I get home I am going to get them out and take a look at them. I believe they are china.
I have a friend who shops specifically for Apilco porcelain from France. She resells it and it sells very quickly. It is beautiful.
I have a very large chicken tureen in an off white that sits prominently in my kitchen and I found it at the Goodwill. There are treasures in those places.
Your house is becoming your home! It’s such fun to watch. I’m so enjoying that you are so close to your Mom! Your parents are amazing!
Stay well 💕
Can I go shopping with you…..lol! Being white, it fits in with your ironstone so well and it has a French European vibe to it so that makes it even more you and at a steal too. I love vintage Fitz & Floyd and my best find yet was a pair of white blanc faux bamboo parrot candlesticks in a consignment shop some years ago. They sell for $150-200 on sites like Charish & Etsy.
I love the duck casserole and it looks great and fits in you collection on your shelves. The last picture you shared, I want that chicken casserole. I will have to look for one.
Well done, Marian! To thine own self be true! I think it looks so good with the round wooden bread board behind it.
You do have a talent in finding the truly wonderful finds! I laughed out loud at the turkey – your mom is hilarious.
I think if that chicken in the basket is still there and is reasonable you may need that too – but yes, don’t start a collection.
I love the duck casserole. It adds the perfect amount of whimsey to your beautiful display.
This is such a fun post; thank you for bringing us along! Your duck looks perfectly at home nestled into your shelves. Very classy! I, cheapskate that I am, would have balked at spending $15 for her, however.
That’s amazing! My mom had a white duck casserole and she and my dad loved it. It was always out in a prominent display. I can vouch for the fact that the duck makes it really easy to take the lid off!
My favorite aunt went to a Pzaltzgraff outlet with my mom and I back when I was a teenager and she bought about 30 duck casseroles, white like that. She had a little flower/baskets/antique shop and planned to do dried arrangements in the duck casseroles. I think she even did a few. She moved next door to my mom about 5 years ago and still had a few of those ducks in her moving truck. I had to laugh when I helped unpack them. Sadly, my dear aunt passed away a few months ago from cancer. We all loved her soooo dearly and miss her every day…she was the type of person who brought sunshine and laughter to everything. Heaven really gained a gem when it got her. Thanks for the memory. I will always see duck casseroles and think of my Aunt Rosey. <3
LOVE the duck casserole and the beautiful way you have it displayed. You have suck amazing decorating talent. Love watching what you are doing with your kitchen…and the pool. I am jealous of that pool!!!
Maybe but I do live the bunny.
As I was scrolling through these pictures, I unconsciously “quacked” out loud. Turns out the pups don’t like a quack as they chimed in instantaneously with loud barking. They did not appreciate my laughing at them. (Love the duck)