My very first antique was a chipped Mason's ironstone pitcher. I was eighteen and loved the crazy all-over pattern and wild colors. I didn't care that it wasn't perfect or valuable, I was in love with it. Produced in the mid 19th century, the "Bandana" pattern featured black and white Chinese foo dogs and motifs that were largely hand-painted by children. I still have that old pitcher, plus a few more, and have made the "foo" is my newest line of design.