TEPCO Pottery El Cerrito, CA

Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company, once a major West Coast producer of restaurant ware, had contracts with the U.S. Navy, Army and Veterans Administration, and was at one time, El Cerrito’s largest employer. Tepco outfitted many local restaurants including the Polynesian themed Trader Vic's, the dinnerware for Berkeley Spangers' Fish Grotto, and Mel's Diner. 

In operation from 1918-1968, designs that were deemed flawed or unfit for sale were dumped into the San Francisco Bay off of Point Isabel. Walking along the shoreline, countless pieces of china fragments can still be found on the beach.  Pictured are pottery patterns green Banana Leaf, Spenger's Fish Grotto, a US Navy mug, Needles & Pine (my patterns at home).

Doll Eyes

  OK. I'm going to publicly admit that I love creepy dolls. You've seen doll parts in the shop, but they are also all over my house- the more beat up the better. I find them at garage sales and in estate basements. There are dolly heads on my fireplace mantle, little legs in a bowl by the front door, tiny faces peering out between the spring blossoms in the garden. (this is actually a little sinister during the winter months when the greenery dies back). A friend from work once said that he felt anxious having so many little eyes watching him.
Whatever...

Collecting: Button, button ...

Vintage glass & Bakelite

Victorian




Metal military, police, & security uniform buttons

We've got the buttons !!
Some have been carded, most are sorted by color and stored in jars. There are thousands - Ooooooh.

Collecting: Cruise Ship & Airline Silver

Prudential-Grace Line, Cruise Ship Flatware



Delta Airline Nickel Silver Creamer Pitchers



Cruise Ship Flatware

We have a limited amount of cruise ship flatware in the shop now. There are also some coffee and tea serving pieces available. Drop us an email if you are looking for something special or have questions about an item we have posted.