52 Vintage Dishes to Inspire Your Next Thrift Store Trip ...

By Eliza • Aug 2, 2014 • MD

Vintage dishes are something I really enjoy looking at and imagining the history behind them. Sadly, I don't have enough room in my house to collect them, but it's fun to admire them when I find them. You can use incomplete sets of vintage dishes for many things, but if you're lucky enough to find the entire set, display or use them for a unique look in your home.

1. Scalloped Pyrex

Scalloped Pyrex Via little betty sews: 5 Days
Why can't Pyrex be as cool now as it used to be? I love these vintage dishes in bright colors with a fancy border.

3. Baking Dishes

Baking Dishes Via 24.media.tumblr.com
My baking dishes are plain and boring, but I think cooking would be so much more fun with these cute ones.

4. Honey Bee

Honey Bee Via Honey Bee Plate
The image is so detailed and melds perfectly with the gold and turquoise border. So cute!

Embrace the vibrant colors and cozy vibes of the upcoming season with your loved ones. Planning for some memorable fall family photos is a unique way to capture the warmth and love amidst the breathtaking autumnal hues. Trust me, these keepsakes would be beyond beautiful.

5. Mix and Match

Mix and Match Via Blessed Serendipity
I love how all the dishes go together, but aren't exactly the same. Those avocado green and white ones? My mom got those as a wedding gift and still has some of them.

6. So Much Color

So Much Color Via My Pyrex Collection
If I had this many vintage dishes, I'd totally display them exactly the same way.

7. Feminine

Feminine Via My Favorite Color
These dishes are a bit more feminine, but back in the day, the kitchen was a woman's domain so she could choose whatever she wanted.

9. Flowers and Polka Dots

Flowers and Polka Dots Via All Things Shabby and Beautiful
Flowers and polka dots come together in this set for a fun outdoorsy feel perfect for dinner in the backyard.

10. One of Each

One of Each Via That Girl Can Cook!: Just ...
If you're a collector, gathering a variety of different vintage plates makes for a great display on the wall or in your china cabinet.

11. Pinks and Greens

Pinks and Greens Via Vintage & Salvage
It seems that a lot of vintage dishes feature pink and green. They look so good together so why change a good thing?

12. Bowls

Bowls Via thehandmadehome.net
Vintage dishes were so well made that you can use the ones in your collection without worry.

13. Warm Colors

Warm Colors Via In Color Order
With the popularity of avocado green and mustard yellow in past decades, these red and orange dishes are a real find!

15. Totally Retro

Totally Retro Via 017
I can just see these dishes rounding out a 1950s chrome kitchen. Love the color!

17. Butter Dishes

Butter Dishes Via Pretty Aqua Turquoise 2 Vintage ...
My mom has one of these too! Now that butter is sold in tubs, a lot of people don't even own a butter dish. I know I don't.

18. Roses in Pastel Colors

Roses in Pastel Colors Via Sommerhusliv Hele Aaret
I love how the stripes and roses go so well together. This set is perfect for an afternoon tea with your girls.

19. Flowers Galore

Flowers Galore Via Antiquaria
So many of the vintage dish sets I've seen feature these elegant flowers. They must have been so popular in their time.

24. Big Floral

Big Floral Via Madelief
Imagine how great it would be to eat dinner of these plates.

25. Color Coodinated

Color Coodinated Via tossturn.tumblr.com
I love how all the colors are different, but somehow still go so well together.

26. Fire King Jadeite

Fire King Jadeite Via Love it
I've seen the occasional piece of this at the thrift store, but if I had a whole set I'd use it everyday!

27. An Entire Set

An Entire Set Via Sur la Table
These sets would be great for a wedding or bridal shower, don't you think?

30. Serving Platters

Serving Platters Via Steadmans' Corner
While vintage dishes are fun to have, it only makes sense to use them sometimes, right?

32. Soup Tureen and Accessories

Soup Tureen and Accessories Via Vintage Ironstone Soup Tureen and ...
I love how glamorous this set is. Imagine pulling it out and serving soup on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

33. Pink

Pink Via Ballerina Set Pink Pastel
This lovely pink set sort of reminds me of Fiestaware. It would look great in a white kitchen.

35. Repurposed

Repurposed Via Clever Ideas for Flea Market ...
If you only have one item from a set, use it to display flowers or as a conversation starter in your home.

36. Pink Blooms

Pink Blooms Via Vintage dishes
Have you noticed how popular pink blooms are on old dishes? These are especially elegant.

38. Blue Color Palette

Blue Color Palette Via Vintage dishes
All this blue looks so great stacked together on these shelves.

39. Single Colors

Single Colors Via I love the pastel colors ...
These solid colored dishes are fun and you can mix and match them with other dishes.

40. White and Blue

White and Blue Via Thrifting blue
These white and blue dishes are my absolute favorites!

41. People Images

People Images Via flickr.com
These cute dishes have little people on them. What a fun way to relive the fashions of the era.

42. Colored Glass

Colored Glass Via Vintage Dishes
I love the colored glass swirled into the clear glass of this bowl.

45. Gray and Blue

Gray and Blue Via mid century bowl set
This is a color combination that's come back into style so if you can find these dishes, you can create a look that's a little bit modern, a little bit retro.

46. Sunshine Yellow

Sunshine Yellow Via RESERVED for J - Mid ...
This sunshine yellow color was pretty popular there for a while, but I think these dishes are still in vogue.

50. Tiny Flower Pots

Tiny Flower Pots Via this morning
These adorable little flowerpots are fun for any kitchen. I wish I had them in mine.

52. Blue Flowers

Blue Flowers Via CORELLE VINTAGE DISHES Set of ...
I'm sure we've all seen a dish like this one at one point or another. This was a pretty common pattern on dishes for a while.

Do you have any vintage dishes? What's your favorite pattern on old stuff? I love the retro patterns!

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Misty

    2014-08-03T13:07:05.318Z

    I love these. I have some of these and love picking up different dishes here and there.
  • Renee

    2014-08-03T20:36:30.853Z

    The best trip down memory lane! Thank you for taking the time to do a piece like this. The red PolkaDots & flowers made me smile, would love to own a set. Would love to see more nostalgic articles on different types of items,what does anyone else think?
  • Shannon

    2014-08-30T00:24:00.470Z

    No Fiesta ware? I have a huge collection and love mixing the colors!
  • duje

    2014-08-03T16:04:50.899Z

    15 is cute defo have to buy them
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