the present | ironstone cake stand

by | Apr 4, 2014 | Antiques, Favorite Finds, Ironstone | 102 comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

 

You probably know that I have a thing for white ironstone.  I’ve been collecting it for years and have a wide variety of pieces from brush boxes to sugar jars, tureens, and pitchers to punch bowls and platters, casseroles, mugs, compotes, and a huge slop jar. A piece I’ve always wanted was an ironstone cake pedestal.

 I saw one in person in the home of an antique vendor a few years ago and it stopped me in my tracks.  I never knew there were ironstone cake stands!  I asked her to let me know if she finds another one and I would buy it.  I had no idea what a crazy request that was, since cake pedestals are like the ironstone holy grail.

So, for a few years, I’ve been keeping an eye out for an ironstone cake stand.  I never saw one…even an expensive one.  Zip.  I started hunting on eBay and Etsy with more frequency and still no luck.  I saw one or two, but I didn’t like the pattern or the condition (for the money.)  Finally, I saw the perfect one.  It was from the mid-1800’s, perfect condition and exactly the style I wanted.

I watched the auction for days, changing my mind several times about whether I should bid on this ironstone cake stand or not.  I brought it up to Jeff and declared to him that I just couldn’t spend so much on a cake pedestal.  But it kept nagging at me.  They are so rare!  My birthday was around the corner and I usually get spending money that I use on things that are just for me…clothes, makeup, massage, etc.  Would I rather have those or an ironstone cake stand that I’ve been hunting for years?  It was no contest when I thought of it in those terms.

I approached Jeff with my change of heart and he gave me the green light.

I watched the cake stand for the last hour of the auction.  A bidding war had been going on a few days earlier, but things were quiet for the last two days.  I decided I would place a strong “sniper” bid in the last two minutes of the auction.

I counted down…waited for the right moment and placed my bid.  Jeff was looking over my shoulder.  I didn’t know if he thought I was crazy or if he was rooting for me.  “Oh, I think you should bid higher than that.  You want it, right?”  I would’ve taken a moment to kiss him, but time was ticking and I needed to raise my bid.

The auction ended and the ironstone cake stand was mine.  It turns out I didn’t need to raise my bid at all.  I won it by $5.00 over the last bidder.  It was still expensive, but it didn’t get as crazy as it could have.  I sat back in my chair and sighed with relief.  Online auctions can be intense!

I jumped around, gave Jeff a kiss, and was giddy for a few hours.  The highly prized antique ironstone cake stand from the 1800s arrived a few days later and was even better in person.

So, when my family asked what I wanted to do for my birthday I said, “I just want to be with my family and have a carrot cake made by my mom served on my new-old ironstone cake stand.”

And that’s exactly what I got.

You can find antique ironstone cake stands on Etsy and eBay.  (And, sometimes you’ll get lucky and find one at a yard sale or thrift store!)

 

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    102 Comments

    1. Laurie

      Happy Birthday Marian!

    2. francene

      LOVE IT… HAPPY BIRTHDAY

    3. Victoria

      Happy Birthday to the most wonderful you.

    4. laura hewitt

      Happy Birthday, Marion

    5. Sarah

      Happy Birthday Marion!!

    6. Susan

      Happy Birthday! Enjoy.

    7. Donna C

      Happy B-Day! What a great gift, a birthday shared with family! That was my request this year too…are we related?

    8. Irene

      Happy Birthday Marian! May you enjoy love and laughter and abundant blessings throughout the coming year. And I hope you have many cakes on your lovely pedestal.

    9. Starla

      Happy Birthday!!!

    10. Anne Boykin

      Dear MMS, Happy Birthday! Hugs, Anne Boykin

    11. Jody

      Happy birthday! And I should add that thanks to you and your blog, my kittys are now eating from dainty little ironstone bowls. Thanks for a new obsession !

    12. marilyn

      HB MMS!!

    13. Kathy

      Beautiful! Hope the cake was chocolate!

    14. antiquechase

      Happy Birthday Marion!! I love your choice of gift!! Marcy

    15. Dee at the Carlton

      Happy birthday Marion – I too had a birthday this week & I love looking at special presents. Yours is absolutely beautiful & I hope you will enjoy many lovely cakes on it!

    16. Leanne Playter Korsos

      Happiest Birthday, Marian! (From all of us at Apple Box Boutique and Apple Box Design Studio)

    17. Fiona, Lilyfield Life

      happy birthday Marian, it’s gorgeous. you are so lucky to live near your mum. I love that you appreciate it. Fiona x

    18. Susie

      <3

    19. Susie

      Love, love, love!

    20. Amy

      Happy birthday, Marian! What a great gift!

    21. maggie

      A very Happy Birthday to you, Marian!!

      <3 Maggie

      p.s. I've had an ironstone cake pedestal for years…I didn't realize they were a rare thing!

    22. Rita C

      Birthday Nirvana! Happy Birthday, Marian!

    23. Shelley

      Awww…what a great story and a great cake stand to go with it! Happy Birthday!!!

    24. Lisa~A Cottage To Me

      Happy Birthday! I think you chose the right thing too! It’s gorgeous!

    25. Mary Anne

      Marian,
      What is your birthday? Is it April 4th? Mine is today, April 5th! Happy Birthday!
      Mary Anne

      • Miss Mustard Seed

        Yes, it’s April 4th.

      • Miss Mustard Seed

        Oh, and Happy B-day to you, too! 🙂

    26. Cheryl

      Sweet story. It’s the little things in life that make us happy. Happy Birthday!

    27. Bara Dale

      Happy Birthday in this your new year of life. More precious than your cake stand is your husband. He is your true gift. I don’t have a cake stand but, I also have a precious husband.

    28. Teresa Ross

      I want some of your Mom’s carrot cake but the pedestal is pretty sweet too. : )

      Happy Birthday!!

    29. Teresa Ross

      I want some of your Mom’s carrot cake!

      Happy Birthday!

      Oh, and the pedestal is pretty sweet too. : )

    30. Teresa Ross

      Sorry for the double comment. I was having technical difficulties!

    31. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life

      Happy Birthday!!!! Love the pedestal, stunning and that cake looks so good.

    32. Judy Pimperl

      It’s beautiful! Happy Birthday and I’m glad your longtime wish came true.
      Judypimperl.blogspot.com

    33. Laurena

      Oh carrot cake is always my choice too! And looks great on the cake pedestal. Happy Birthday!

    34. Nancy

      Happy Birthday!

    35. jinny

      It’s always good to treat yourself – you certainly earned it! You’ll always remember this birthday – hope it’s happy in other ways too!

    36. Gay

      So glad you got the perfect present. Happy Birthday!

    37. Junitta

      Sweet!!!! Congratulations on winning the gorgeous ironstone cake pedestal!!!!!
      Happy Birthday Marian 🙂

    38. Carol Leslie

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Marian! Wishing you a blessed day. Love all the White Iron Stone! Do you ever find the MADDOCK crest on any of them? My mother’s family, Way back when, were from England and they made pottery and dishes. I have a few of their iron stone pitchers and platters. Absolutely love them and knowing that it was family makes them even more special.

    39. Jennifer

      Many Happy Birthday Wishes to You!!!

    40. Christy Keyton

      LOVE this! Happy Birthday to you! I have been treasure hunting on ebay for years – I am the queen of the “sniper bid”. hee hee 😉

    41. Pam

      Happy Birthday!

    42. Amy Morgan

      I was watching that same one! So happy you got it!

    43. Suzanne

      What a sweet story! It made my eyes well up. 🙂 Happy birthday you, Marian — a very special gal.

    44. Dorothy

      Happy Birthday Marian! You rock. When times limited other
      blogs are deleted without reading, but not yours. Your photography and scenarios are always so pretty. Your Mom sounds like a treasure. Your so blessed she helps you in your business and bakes too!

    45. Bonnie

      Happy, Happy Burthday, Marian! Wishing you many more birthday cakes on your new treasure.

    46. Mary @ Orphans With Makeup

      Happy Birthday Marian. That cake looks so pretty sitting on that cake pedestal. Have a great year.

    47. PC

      My collecting weakness – cake stands and punch bowls – can’t resist. Happy B-day, MMS

    48. Penny Wanliss

      I would ‘ve asked for exactly the same thing – you did good Marian!! Hope you had many HAPPIES yesterday!!

    49. Patricia

      Happy Birthday ! It’s the simple things of life that make it sweet.

    50. Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm

      Awww, Happy Birthday! April women at the Best; my birthday is the 11th…woohoo! But I’m decades older than you -grin-.

      • Kimberly

        Yes, Sandra, April women are the best LOL, especially those born on 4/11! My birthday is also the 11th. I’ve run into so few people with a 4/11 birthday! Hope you have a great birthday this Friday!

    51. Andrea

      “I would’ve taken a moment to kiss him, but time was ticking and I needed to raise my bid.”
      Too funny! Time and a place for everything!

    52. Gwen Goodin

      Happy Birthday, Marian! I’m glad you got just what you wanted!

    53. Ms. Mike

      Belated birthday wishes and congratulations on your big score. What a great present from a loving husband and great cake from your mom. I always say “write it on your heart that the ones you love a life’s most important thing.” You got the good writing!

    54. Jelena

      Happy Birthday, Miss Marian!
      That’s a beautiful cake pedestal, and I am sure the carrot cake tasted delicious.

    55. kathy r

      Happy Birthday! That’s a purchase you’ll never regret and it can become a nice tradition!

    56. Mieke

      Congratulations on both your birthday and your amazing ironstone pedestal. Enjoy

    57. Kelly

      Happy Birthday! Carrot cake is my chosen favorite, also. I think it must be because our mom’s made it. What choice do you have when they are the bakers. And, maybe an Aries thing.

      I acquired an old quiche ironstone piece before I knew what ironstone was. I’ll send you a pic someday. It has awesome crazing and its really heavy. Love your new cake pedestal.

    58. Cheryl

      Happy Birthday Marian! What a nice bunch of luck to find it, win it, and have your Mom to make you a birthday cake. Sweet!

    59. Mimi - 247 Mulberry Lane

      I love the cabinet full of ironstone in the first picture–actually I love everything about that picture! It all just looks so crisp and perfect. I’m so happy for you that you got exactly what you wanted for your birthday. After all, isn’t that what having a birthday is all about? 🙂 It’s amazing how so many likeminded people gathered here today. I had my birthday last week, and YES, I too had a carrot cake. Definitely must be an Aries thing!

    60. Nancy Carr

      That is the perfect gift. I was thinking of your love of ironstone today when I found a piece. I do not collect it, so I will put it on ebay. It is a smaller platter by James Edwards and Sons. Evidently it is a rare brand from what research I have done so far. If you have any advice on what to list it as, please let me know.

      • Stephanie Hobson

        Nancy, did you know about The Mustard Seed Pages? There’s a link to it at the top of this page. You could list your ironstone piece there. There’s even a dedicated ironstone section!

    61. JeanFB

      Fantastic story, Marian! Happy Birthday to You! Enjoy. 🙂

    62. Wendy

      Happy Birthday! It is beautiful!

    63. Marlene

      Score! It’s a beauty!

    64. Terry

      Sweet story and I am so glad that you got it! Now Happy birthday to you!

    65. Ginger

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! From one April girl to another. 🙂 And I love the cake pedestal!

    66. Cindy

      Haha!! I loved every minute of this story! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

      Cindy

    67. Teresa

      Happy Birthday! Family, a carrot cake baked by mom and an white ironstone cake pedestal, what more could you ask for!

    68. Sherill

      Love the stand and you taste in cake…carrot cake is my favorite too! I usually ask for it, but with a December 25th b/day I’m usually sugared out:(

    69. Pam

      Happy Birthday! 🙂

    70. MaryS

      HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
      And what a sweet story!! Don’t know of anyone who would appreciate an old ironstone cake pedestal than Miss Mustard Seed. So happy you made it your own.

    71. Teresa

      Happy Birthday and Congrats on your win. That cake is making me hungry!!

    72. Gail

      Happy Birthday-enjoy the cake pedestal-it is lovely! Keep on being inspiring!!

    73. Sue

      What a sweet, sweet, loving story. I just loved hearing all about the gift from your husband.

    74. sharon

      I love your mom…I love your cake….wonderful present!

    75. Lorraine

      lovely gift for a lovely person. Happy Birthday!

    76. Jane

      Happy Belated Birthday Marian!
      Congratulations on your find! Sometime the hunt is the most fun. I love cake stands and have a few but yours is definitely special.

    77. joy browb

      I really like the industrial wooden wagon on Decor Steals and Happy Birthday!!

    78. joy brow

      I am already subscribed to Decor Steals daily deals, and I buy all the time.

    79. kellene

      I love this story! Hope you had a great birthday!

    80. Cindy@DIYbeautify

      Happy Birthday Marian…great story! For a minute there I thought you were going to say that someone outbid you…but it ended up being Jeff, lol! So glad you got your pedestal!

    81. teresa

      Happy birthday… the stars aligned…sweet =)

    82. Kim @ CoziNest

      I’ve just found your blog and it is quickly becoming one of my very favorites. Happy birthday! Your collection is both beautiful and timeless. The cake stand must be worth it all and what a nice way to spend your birthday. Looking forward to more fun from you!

    83. Kristin

      Awwww. It’s the simple things in life that are the sweetest, huh?! Happy Birthday!

    84. peggywatson

      Sounds like a super sweet birthday to me!

    85. Laurie

      LOVE it!! I think you should look into having copies made and selling them!

    86. Betsy

      Happy Belated Birthday – if you ever decide to sell the flatware in the pictures – I’m your girl 😉 I’ve been looking for something like that for our 1970 Aristocrat Lo Liner. So enjoy reading your blog.

    87. Janita

      This Makes me smile…. Happy Birthday! I love ironstone 🙂 Janita

    88. Deb

      Happiest birthday, Marian!!! What a wonderful tale! Surround yourself with ironstone and your family and love abounds, no doubt about it. And thank you for the opportunity to take your class; talk about an answer to prayer. I agree with other posters, your blog just makes me smile from ear to ear. Happy day to you!!! 🙂

    89. Sharon Rexroad's Bringing Creativity 2 Life

      Sniping is kinda fun, isn’t it? It’s all in the strategy — SO glad you won! My sis & her husband had Carrot Cale for their wedding so I can definitely appreciate your choice.

    90. Erica

      Happy Birthday !!!!!

    91. Jeanine C

      Sweet birthday all around 🙂

    92. Linda@Coastal Charm

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marian!!!! Happy to see that your bid won, because it’s one beautiful piece.

      Blessings,
      Linda

    93. Lisa R

      Hi there and Happy Happy Birthday! I too am a less than a minute left bidder…Practice makes perfect. I have been reading your blog for about a month now and still cringe when I think about the ironstone my parents got as wedding presents that I convinced them to yardsale when I was a teenager…They never took it off the shelf in the closet…

      No use crying over sold ironstone. So, my big question is, how does one tell true ironstone from fakes? I am an avid thifter and pick up pieces and wish I could send a picture to someone and say, “well?” Not sure if you’ve already done a post on this topic or not so I figured I would ask!

      Enjoy your birthday week!

    94. Denise

      Happy Birthday!! So happy for you, and heartsick at the same time 😉 I had an ironstone pedestal that I found last fall- no idea they were so rare- just really excited to find such a nice piece. I used it in a fall vignette on our mantel. We had just put up a very heavy, vintage mirror over our fireplace. The wood frame was extremely soft, and one evening the screws popped out of the frame and the mirror came crashing down. The mirror survived, but all the breakables -including the ironstone pedestal- did not. I think I felt the worst about that. 🙁 I’m really going to have to keep my eyes open again, but now that I know they are hard to find I might not be so lucky second time around…. enjoy it!

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