A pictorial website mainly about transfer-printed and cream-colored ceramic feeders, bottles and pots made in England during the 19th Century used to feed infants, sick children and invalids.

********************   NEW SECTION ADDED:  "FOR SALE"   *********************

Welcome and thanks for visiting, 

In the area of ceramic feeders one quickly realizes that there really is not much information to find.  The reasons are varied and I feel have alot to do with the facts that those that collect them are also collecting other things as well,  that those owned by museums are generally overlooked and not exhibited frequently for public viewing, and finally, and I really believe this, those that do collect them want them to remain under the radar so to keep prices down and there chances of finding them up.

While collecting I always hoped that someday once I stopped to leave something behind to help fill the informational void.  Unfortunately the only problem with that was that I was never really interested in the "what", "where", "why" and "when" of thing like the other collectors seemed to be, I was generally mostly interested in just their "beauty".  Long story short this small website, while not much on origins, patterns, manufacturers or dates, is my contribution.

Before I go another step I must mention that there was one exception when I say that there was not much information about ceramic feeders while collecting and that was John K. Crellin’s wonderfully illustrated black and white book on medical ceramics (see “Crellin’s Collection”).

Now a few words about collecting.  As with collecting anything there will always be the few that “got away” that one never forgets and one continually kick themselves about for not doing things differently. While in my case not not a large number -  it's really the reasons for not getting them that haunts you  (i.e., bulking at the asking price that really was fair considering the item or being indecisive when presented with the opportunity and it slips away). So why the rambling?  When the opportunity to buy a rare ceramic feeder presents itself  “do it”.  It does not happen often and the chances of that same pattern and shape being available again is remote.  These items are rare, historical and beautiful and you must consider yourself lucky if given the opportunity to acquire one.  My only word of caution is of course  “condition”.  For me personally I generally only wanted ceramics that were in perfect condition which to me meant free of repairs, damage and hairline cracks. This policy has both served me well in the long run (as what I have would be easier to sell if needed) but also resulted in having less (because of the high standards).

As with collecting anything over a span of years my priorities have changed, I have basically stopped collecting and the majority of what I did have has been sold.  With that said I kept a few which I considered to be my favorites which I continue to enjoy looking at (see “My Collection”).   

The pictures included in the website (see "Photo Library") are but a very small sampling of the wide array of shapes, colors and patterns. I wish to thank those few that provided me with pictures from their collections - they know who they are.

FeederGuy