Dairy Slabs - Now Available!!!

Years and years ago, when Houston designer Carol Glasser’s house was published, I first took notice of dairy slabs – those antique pieces of ironstone with black lettering.  In Edwardian times, grocers used these slabs to display their dairy products such as butter and cheese, along with various meats.   The white ironstone kept their goods cool in the days before refrigeration.

Besides the slabs, other wares were sold in both small and large jars.  This collection is found HERE. 

The French had beautiful milk jugs – if you are lucky enough to find one for sale.

But by far, it is the assorted cheese and butter slabs that are the most popular. 
 

Magazines documented Glasser’s houses as she moved a few times – here showing two pieces from her prized collection.  A large collection of antique ironstone doesn’t come cheap.  It’s an investment, as valuable as oil paintings and fine porcelains.

Glasser’s last move seen in Milieu showed some of her ironstone – the collection is more valuable today and it is much admired, decades after she first introduced us to it.

I think I can truly say that without Glasser’s collection, many of us wouldn’t have our own pieces.   Just another decorative element we admire due owe to her. 

Thanks Carol!!!

Google and Pinterest is filled with photographs of collectors showing off their slabs.    Here, Vignette Design showed her slabs – several houses ago! 

Holly Mathis mixed her cheese slab with other white ironstone.

Delores at Vignette Design served a pie off her cheese slab.

A lot of people top their slabs with cloches.  I do this too!

Nancy’s Daily Dish – she collects, blogs, and sells her fabulous collection HERE.

Holly uses her cheese slab to hold fresh vegetables.

When my kitchen was photographed for a magazine, stylist Bonnie Broten used my Pure Butter slab as a prop. 
 

Real life styling on Instagram – you can see I have more ironstone here on my baker’s rack.   And if you look closely you can see the French milk jar or lait pur! 

I think the slabs look especially pretty on white marble or quartzite.   They make perfect serving pieces or, when stacked, they are great accessories.

There is one huge problem with dairy slabs - availability.  The antique ones are impossibly expensive these days and the reproductions are hard to find.

This antique slab is now going for $1,890.00 on Old Plank.   I’m sure you might find one for less, if you are lucky, but the pickings are awfully slim.

This plain slab is for sale on Chairish for $1250.00.

No price on this beauty – can’t even imagine what it would sell for!  It’s such a one of a kind.  Glasser has one just like this.

For a long time, I had a link to Joanne Hudson’s web site who sold reproductions of the slabs.  They stopped selling them and then, recently brought the slabs back, but they are always sold out.

So, you can imagine how excited I was when a potter from Houston approached me to look at his Etsy store.  Wyatt of Living Soul Pottery, is now making these slabs and if you have been wanting one – now is your chance!!!

Living Soul Pottery’s workroom

He’s been making the round slabs with different lettering in different sizes.   It’s just so exciting to know he’s close by in Houston!!  Making dairy slabs!!!! 

 Ain’t life sweet?

A behind the scenes look at Living Soul Pottery – making the slabs.

I love that he has his own brand on the center – made in Houston!

This is one you won’t easily find anywhere else.

A must-have for your collection.

These slabs would make a great Valentine’s Day gift which is why I am showing them now!!! 

If you visit his Etsy store HERE

write CotedeTexas in the promo code to receive a $5 discount.

Thank you Wyatt for that extra gift.

All I can say is this truly is a gift – if you’ve wanted a slab before, now you can get one at a reasonable price.

AND if he doesn’t have exactly what you are looking for, discuss a custom order with him!!

AND – here are a few other Valentines Day gifts I found:

Just click on the photo to go directly to the item.

A happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!!!!!