Eileen, The Author

It is with great sadness that we report author Eileen Rose Busby, my mother, passed away on April 6, 2005. She was passionate about the subject of her books, English china and particularly, Royal Winton. Oh,the trips we made to England hunting for English China! We are very proud to offer her books on our Cottage Antiques Web site and also this blog. Items featured in her books are offered for sale in our store and on our site.
Read the obituary
About the Author, Eileen Rose Busby
Eileen Rose Busby, a writer and antiques dealer who taught an antiques and collectibles course at a San Diego, California community college, fell in love with Chintz while living in Suffolk, England. She and her husband Richard had purchased a 16th-century thatched roof cottage on the English countryside that was furnished, including with some pieces of Chintz.
While living there for a decade, they attended English antiques shows and frequented flea markets, searching for more pieces. During her travels, she has done extensive research on English pottery, ceramics, chintz and RoyalWinton. She also has attended chintz shows all over the United States. After they returned to the states, Busby and her late husband led antiques tours to England until 2000 -- to the Newark Antiques Faire, Ardingly, Shepton-Mallet Internat'l Antiques Faire and others -- in search of Chintz and Cottage Ware. A bonus to "Royal Winton Chintz and Pastel Ware" is that Busby, a recognized historian when it comes to Royal Winton, includes interviews with people who once lived in the potteries and whose parents helped design and name early patterns. Busby has written numerous magazine and newspaper articles on the subject. Also, she has been featured in the Antiques Roadshow Insider. "Royal Winton Chintz and Pastel Ware" covers Grimwade/Royal Winton patterns and pieces starting from the 19th Century to today. More than 300 color photos are pictured along with descriptions, shapes and today's updated prices. Busby has created a classic work -- the most comprehensive on Royal Winton -- that includes rare and hard-to-find patterns and pieces. Other books by Busby include the top-selling "Royal Winton Porcelain: Ceramics Fit For A King" and the critically acclaimed "Cottage Ware: Ceramic Tableware Shaped as Buildings 1920s-1990s." Also, she and her daughter Cordelia Mendoza, who owns an antique store, are co-authoring "Decorating With Chintz."
-Cordelia Mendoza