You never forget your first—the first time you see a piece of Cathrineholm enamelware. Mine was a royal blue teapot with white lotus leaves, and I was in love.
I wanted to learn more about these mid-century collectibles, but the Wikipedia page was blank. BLANK! So I did an internet deep-dive, scoured eBay listings and checked out a stack of library books.
Here’s what I learned about the history of Cathrineholm and how to collect the popular lotus enamelware today.
- History of Cathrineholm
- Collecting Cathrineholm Enamelware
- Where to Buy Cathrineholm Pieces
- How to Display Your Cathrineholm Collection
Note: This article contains affiliate links. See my disclosures for details.
History of Cathrineholm
The first thing you need to know: Cathrineholm was not a person. Yep, there’s no “Cathrine Holm.”
Cathrineholm was a factory based in Halden, Norway. It started as an ironworks around 1827, before transitioning to the more modern enamelware in 1907 and eventually closing down around 1972.
As an enamelware company, Cathrineholm produced a variety of dishes over the decades. Their most popular line hit the market in the 1960s: the mid-century modern lotus series.
That Magical Lotus
“White as porcelain—harder than steel!” said one advertisement.
These colorful dishes came in a range of mod colors adorned in lotus leaves. Swoon.
People have loved these for decades. But you know who didn’t love them? One of the designers.
The primary artist behind Cathrineholm’s lotus enamelware was Grete Prytz Kittelsen. She designed the dish forms and colors, and Arne Clausen designed the iconic lotus leaf that the factory added to them.
Kittelsen wasn’t bit by the lotus fanatic bug. When she was interviewed in the early 2000s for the book Grete Prytz Kittelsen: The Art of Enamel Design, she had this to say:
“I still don’t like the pattern used most frequently on items produced in the mid-1960s, Lotus. Oh, God, how I fought against those lotus leaves then!”
– Grete Prytz Kittelsen
Even though she never cared for the lotus, she was happy to see that vintage Cathrineholm pieces were still in use.
Collectors can take their pick between the solid and patterned enamelware that she created for Cathrineholm. And that was only a portion of her career as a prolific designer in the Scandinavian modern movement.
You can learn more about Kittelsen in this book and check out the online tour of her mid-century home (not a lotus to be found).
Collecting Cathrineholm Enamelware
Luckily for collectors, there are lots of Cathrineholm fans preserving and reselling the vintage enamelware. Here’s what you need to know to start and expand your collection.
Check the Condition
The Cathrineholm factory polished the enamel coating off the top rim of its enamelware to help prevent chipping. While there may be minor wear and tear after 6+ decades, it’s possible to find pieces in excellent shape.
Big chips and scratches should come with lower pricing.
Inspect the Lotus Shape
If you’re buying a lotus piece, inspect the design closely.
You’ll notice the authentic lotus shape is wider toward the top and narrower on the bottom, like a leaf or petal.
I’ve seen some knockoffs listed for non-knockoff prices, claiming to be authentic. You can usually spot the reproductions when they have a lotus shape that is widest in the middle, more like a coffee bean.
Look for a Complete Piece
Sometimes the casseroles are missing a lid, the saucepans are missing a handle, or the fondue sets are missing a burner stand.
They might still be worth adding to your collection, but they should be priced accordingly. You can see what came with each piece below.
Logo or No Logo?
You’ll find the Cathrineholm logo on the bottom of some dishes, but not all. The ones without a stamped logo came with paper tags, which are occasionally included in a listing.
It’s OK if you don’t see the logo. Look for the classic forms and colors of Cathrineholm, in enamel-coated steel (or aluminum in the case of the canisters and spice cans).
Cathrineholm Lotus Color Chart
So. Many. Colors.
There are lotus dishes in black, brown, pink and nearly any color of the rainbow except purple. I have confirmed that all of the colors in this chart exist within the lotus line, though some are very uncommon.
Most of the lotus dishes have white petals on a single-color background, or single-color petals on a white background. Some come in the two-tone options of lime on lemon or turquoise blue on sky blue.
The French blue is incredibly rare, but I have seen that electric color. The more common blues are turquoise (like a country blue) and royal (like a cobalt or navy).
If you come across many red pieces, you might notice there is a dark brick red and a lighter cherry red. There is also a true orange, as well as a red orange that people sometimes mistake for red.
You won’t have a problem spotting the yellow.
The greens are more complicated.
Avocado is the common medium green. Olive is the darker kind of army green. And butterscotch is a light yellow green that goes by many names, including mustard green, tan, beige and wheat.
To further complicate things, there’s a rare lime green, and a two-tone lemon lime.
Can you tell which green is which in this photo? From left to right in the second row, it’s butterscotch, olive and avocado.
Not every piece comes in every color or combo.
Many of the brown pieces only have white lotus leaves on a brown background, but not the reverse, with the exception of the omelet pan. Black on white pieces are very hard to find and might have only been samples that were not mass produced.
According to an old Cathrineholm color chart, there might also be a vibrant apple green, a beige that’s lighter than the butterscotch, and an additional blue, but I couldn’t confirm that.
Cathrineholm Lotus Dishes
These are the dishes Cathrineholm produced for the lotus series. Some of these also came in other patterns or solid colors.
Bowls, Plates & Platters
- Bowl: 6 sizes (approximately 4-inch, 5.5-inch, 7-1/8-inch, 7-7/8-inch, 9.5-inch and 11-inch)
- Dip Set: Wood serving tray holding a matching set of three snack bowls
- Plate: 3 sizes (approximately 7-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch); has large lotus leaves that nearly meet in the middle to form a complete flower
- Scampi Dish: 8-5/8-inch serving dish; has small leaves along the rim with enamel handles on either side
Some bowls have big lotus leaves, stretching nearly from the bottom to the top of the bowl, while others have smaller lotus leaves along the rim of the bowl.
Outside of the lotus line, some bowls came in the stripe design seen below, which pairs well with the lotus.
You might find vintage porcelain plates with small lotus petals along the rim. Those could be from Lyngby Porcelain, a Danish company that licensed the lotus pattern.
Tea Kettles and Coffee Pots
- Teapot: 2 sizes (1.5-quart and 2-quart); stout, cylindrical shape and metal handle over the top
- Coffee Pot: 1.5-quart; wider on the bottom, with black plastic handle on the side
- Percolator: 8-cup; tall cylindrical shape; has lid and aluminum percolator insert
The coffee pot also functions as a tea kettle and is sometimes listed that way online.
Isn’t she a beauty?
Cookware
- Saucepan: 3 sizes (1-quart, 1.5-quart and 2-quart); has lid and long handle
- Casserole/Dutch Oven: 7 sizes (1-quart, 2-quart, 2.5-quart, 3-quart, 3.5-quart, 5-quart and 8-quart); has lid and short handles on each side
- Lasagna Pan/Oven Dish: 14 x 9-inch; has optional stand
- Skillet/Frying Pan: 2 sizes (8-inch and 10-inch); has lid and long handle
- Omelet Pan: Has long handle and no lid, with a little spout on one side and lotus leaves inside the pan instead of outside like the other cookware
- Chicken Fryer: Often called the stock pot, this piece is indented along the bottom, with a lid and two short handles on each side; originally it came with a deep fryer basket inside
The lasagna pan sometimes has the lotus petals just on the front and back, and sometimes all the way around the sides as well. The stand was an optional add-on, so a lasagna pan listed without the stand isn’t necessarily incomplete.
Fondue & Warming Sets
- Lotus Fondue Set: Rounded trapezoid/gumdrop shape with lid, long handle and burner stand; optional tray add-on
- Viking Fondue Set: Spherical shape complete with lid, burner, stand and tray
- Butter Warmer: Stout little dish with handle; optional warming stand to place a candle below
The space-age-y viking fondue set was advertised with the lotus line, even though it doesn’t have the typical lotus pattern.
I imagine they included it because it looks gorgeous next to the lotus. You can find additional Cathrineholm dishes with the viking pattern to match.
Cathrineholm fondue pots are sometimes sold without the stand, or with a generic replacement stand.
There are also fondue fork add-ons that occasionally appear in listings.
Other kitchen Supplies
- Canisters: 4 sizes in complete set; made in Japan with aluminum (source)
- Salt and Pepper Shakers: Conical shape with narrow top
- Spice Cans: Cylindrical shape with lip near the top to fit in rack; optional 1-, 2- or 3-tier spice rack add-on; made in Japan with aluminum
- Ice Bucket: 2 sizes (3.5-quart and 4-quart); has lid and handle
Other Patterns and Solid-Color Enamelware
There’s a whole world of Cathrineholm enamelware beyond the lotus.
As mentioned, there are the viking and stripe designs. There’s the square design commonly called the flag, as well as the Saturn ring and Celebration stripe designs, among others.
It’s also possible to get the brightly colored enamelware, sans pattern. Try searching for Cathrineholm Holland or Cathrineholm Galloping Gourmet for solid colors.
Where to Buy Cathrineholm Pieces
You can start your collection right now if you want to drop some dollars online. Vintage resellers are stocked with Cathrineholm, but the price tags and shipping costs can be hard to swallow.
- eBay: They have a big selection rotating through all the time.
- Etsy: Choose from a number of options, as well as Cathrineholm-inspired jewelry, decor and other reproductions.
- Facebook Marketplace: For now they have less of a selection but seem to have slightly lower prices, and you can avoid shipping if you buy locally.
To score a better deal, you need patience and a hunter’s spirit—or just plain luck—to track down Cathrineholm on the ground. Here are some places to look.
- Antique Stores: This is your best bet for finding Cathrineholm offline, since many carry mid-century wares. Antique stores might be pricier than garage sales, but they are typically cheaper than online sellers.
- Garage and Estate Sales: You’ll probably find a deal if you can manage to locate Cathrineholm at a garage or estate sale. Increase your odds by looking for sales at 1950s, ‘60s or ‘70s houses that are more likely to be stuffed with mid-century goods.
- Thrift Stores: I keep searching for that once-in-a-lifetime score at Goodwill. Maybe someday!
Location plays a role, too. I’ve heard Cathrineholm was more popular in some parts of the country than in others. If your region is lacking in mid-century antiques, hit the road.
You can also join a Facebook group like this one to buy and sell Cathrineholm products and learn more about mid-century enamelware.
Cathrineholm Pricing
These days, I’d be thrilled to find a piece of Cathrineholm enamelware in good condition for under $50. They are high-quality dishes, and there’s a limited amount out there, so you have to decide what feels comfortable for you.
The best way to find the going rate for a piece is to do an advanced eBay search showing only the sold items. That way you can see what people are actually paying right now. The prices fluctuate wildly for different colors and dishes.
Some pieces can be very difficult to find under $100. For example, I think my husband ventured into the “over $100” category to track down this coffee pot for my birthday. Totally worth it.
It’s a question of whether you’d rather spend more time or more money collecting Cathrineholm.
Personally, I love the hunt! With some time and weekend thrift shopping, I hope you can collect and preserve these pieces without refinancing your house.
Cathrineholm Lotus Alternatives
In addition to the Cathrineholm products, there are other places to score a lotus. Some companies licensed the authentic lotus pattern to use on their dishes.
Deka Plastics
This plastics company produced cheerful plastic bowls in bright colors with the lotus. Perfect for your next potluck!
Lyngby Porcelain / Lyngby Porcelæn
This Danish company used to make porcelain lotus-ware. You might be able to find their vintage dinner plates, teacups and saucers with the pattern.
A Lyngby plate has small lotus leaves along the rim vs. the large leaves on Cathrineholm plates.
Lucie Kaas
Hold the phone! This Danish company is selling new lotus dinnerware NOW! They worked with Arne Clausen’s family to create this product line, so you can stock your whole kitchen.
How to Display Your Cathrineholm Collection
A few ideas…
- To stack the bowls by size with the biggest on the bottom, smallest on top, you can put something in each bowl to hold up the smaller bowl above.
- You can put the bottom bowl upside down to hold the smaller bowl above it.
- Alternatively, some people stack smallest on the bottom to biggest on the top, so the little bowls hold up the big bowls.
- The plates can make a glorious gallery wall using invisible hangers, or you can prop them up with display stands on a shelf or countertop.
- Cathrineholm products look beautiful with other mid-century enamelware and dishes, especially organized by color.
- Search #cathrineholm on Instagram for endless inspiration.
Your hutch or floating shelf is the perfect spot for a Cathrineholm display.
Or for a smaller collection, try placing pieces in their natural environment throughout the house. I have a coffee pot on my stovetop, a lasagna pan on my air fryer and a scampi dish on my coffee table.
Cleaning Cathrineholm Enamelware
I mostly stick to soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth when cleaning Cathrineholm dishes. Be gentle to avoid scratching the enamel surface, and dry everything right away to prevent rust.
Cathrineholm cookware typically comes with these removable metal ring handles around the top. This is a common spot for rust to build up.
When I bring home a casserole or saucepan, I like to carefully remove the ring and give it a good cleaning. Dry it completely, put the ring back and try to keep it dry.
Just be very careful if you decide to remove and clean the metal rings. They are snug, and they can scratch the sides of the cookware. It’s something I don’t plan to do very often, but just as needed to stop the spread of rust.
There are more vintage enamelware cleaning tips here that you might want to try for tougher stains.
Keeping the Lotus Alive
While you’re working on that collection, there are other ways to add a little lotus style to your home. You might like to make a lotus table runner inspired by CH.
Also check Amazon or Etsy for prints, mugs, towels and more fun reproductions.
Did I miss anything? Do you remember seeing Cathrineholm in the ‘60s? Let me know in the comments!
WOW!! I loved reading and learning all this great info about the Cathrineholm collection. It is a great midcentury collection…and will be fun for you guys to “hunt” and “conquer” checking out antique and thrift stores. (you do never know what you might find..there are some real treasures out there!) I love the pieces you have gotten so far….what is or are the next ones on your radar?! 😉
All of the Cathrineholm products are so beautiful and addicting. I’m obsessed! Up next I’m looking for the fondue sets, and I’d like to get some bowls and plates. Searching the antique and thrift stores is so much fun. 🙂
Judy, Your information is fantastic. I have every size of the bowls, all with lids, one loaf pan (about 10 pieces). I plan to give these pieces to my family, so your information/background is FANTASTIC as I write up what they’re getting and the value.
My mother owned a store and stocked only the finest; therefore, she had Catherineholm and started me using it. When she passed, I got all of her pieces.
I scouted Ebay for prices – big help.
CAN YOU FREEZE IN THESE UTENSILS? I DOUBT YOU CAN, BUT IT’S WORTH ASKING!
Good for you and your marvelous information!!
Sincerely, Roxie
Thanks, Roxie! That is so nice of you to preserve your heirloom CH collection for your family, with detailed information. What a beautiful gift!
I’m not sure about freezing CH utensils. I have heard it’s OK to freeze enamelware but I probably would avoid it with these antiques. One concern is that extreme temperature change can lead to warping.
There’s some information about freezing enamelware here: https://www.freezeit.co.uk/can-you-freeze-food-in-enamel-dishes/
I found a Dutch oven for $8 today at Goodwill but it’s not the lotus pattern. It’s light blue with a dark blue almost wing like pattern.
Does that have a name? I can’t find much about it
Nice find, congrats! Is it this pattern?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/481707453/cathrine-holm-blue-and-white-double
This one is dark blue on a very light blue background. I’ve seen some people call it Blue Scroll, and some say it’s part of Cathrineholm’s Club Celebration line, which also includes some red and blue stripe pieces.
If that’s not it, if you want to email me a pic at hello@hammerandaheadband.com I’ll see if I can figure it out. 😊
That’s it! I wish it had a set name 😉
Thanks!
Yeah I’m hoping we’ll spot it in an old brochure/catalog one of these days and then we’ll know for sure!
Hi Tara, Thanks for doing this writeup! I’ve been curious about Cathrineholm since I picked up an olive green bowl at a thrift store ($3.99!) about 10 years ago. It’s a little different and I can’t find others like it online. First off, it has no pattern at all, just green. It has a round metal (stainless steel?) ‘medallion’ in the center of the bottom of the bowl, with the company stamp in it. At the base of the bowl is a footer (not sure what to call it) that the bowl sits on. Have you seen these? Thanks!
Hi Sally, congrats on the great thrift store find! That sounds like the lid to the globe/viking fondue. The lid is a solid color, with the steel knob on top and the medallion inside. A lot of CH lids have that “medallion” stamp inside. You can see some pics of the separate lid in fondue listings like this one: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1079183939/vintage-cathrineholm-viking-pattern
I’ve seen people use the lid like a bowl, it’s adorable! Or over time you might be able to find some more individual fondue pieces to complete the set.
Haha – oh my gosh, it’s a lid? That never even occurred to me. Genius design, that it can serve as a bowl as well. Yes, that picture looks just like it. The only difference is the lip of the handle isn’t curved/curled like the picture; it’s a straight edge. I wonder if the rest of the set was sitting elsewhere on the shelf at the thrift store. 🙂 Thank you for solving the mystery!
Yes, it’s a great design! The lids were designed to double as trivets since they are flat. Glad I could help!
Hello!
I found a pink and white bowl at goodwill recently. It appears to be the second largest in the nesting set. Can you direct me to find out it’s worth? I’m new to this! Thank you!
That is a lucky find!! The pink CH are very rare and often sell for a few hundred dollars. I would search “Cathrineholm pink” on eBay, and filter the search to just show “Sold Items” to get an idea of what they have sold for lately.
Keep your eye on the MOTHERLOAD of Catherine Holm enamelware plates, set of 8 and one server coming up soon on EBAY.
Exciting, thanks! 😊
I wonder if U can help me resolve something. I bought a Club Celebration Norway red, white & blue 10&1/2″ frying pan with cover.
I was told it is a Catherineholm product. I looked it up and it does not have her name on the bottom but Ebay & Etsy advertise the one I bought as Catherineholm Club Celebration. Is it or not? I’d appreciate your reply. Thank U so much.
Hi Marsha, yes that sounds like Cathrineholm to me! The Club Celebration products I have seen do not have the Cathrineholm logo, but instead have Celebration Norway stamped on them. They were a special line of Cathrineholm enamelware, and you can recognize them as CH by the similar dish, knob and handle shapes.
This article is wonderful-what a great resource! Thank you so much for doing the research and posting it!
Thanks, Teresa! Have fun in your CH collecting! 😊
Hello Tara: I have a Pot with indented base (1″ vertical indent). Looks like for a double boiler? The top handle and side handles are part of the lid and pot and not a stainless top handle nor wraparound metal handle handle for the pot. Both are the same color orange as the pot. 6.5″ High, 9.5″ wide, 13″ with the handles. I do not see any of these on the web and wonder if it is truely a CathrineHolms. Would love to attach a photo but not able to. Thanks Russ
Hi Russ, I’m not sure if I’ve seen a Cathrineholm pot like that. Does it have the logo stamped on the bottom? You can send me a pic at hello@hammerandaheadband.com and I’ll check it out.
Russ, thanks for sending the photo of your CH chicken fryer/stock pot!
Here’s a similar listing so people can see it for reference: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1119142103/catherine-holm-olive-green-stock-pot
And here’s another version with the metal handles instead, probably from a different year: https://www.ebay.com/itm/373735914746
What a great article. Love the history and wealth of knowledge that you provided. I purchased a lotus coffee pot with a wood handle. Do you was this someone’s homemade replacement? Or did it come like that?
Thanks, Annette! That’s interesting. I don’t think I’ve seen the lotus coffee pot with a wood handle, but it could be a less common version of it. The skillets and saucepans sometimes had wood handles instead of all metal, so maybe the coffee pots did, too.
I found this example of a solid color Cathrineholm “Galloping Gourmet” teapot with a wood handle, so it’s possible! https://mrbigglesworthy.co.nz/shop-vintage/596/cathrineholm-enamelware-teapot
What a fantastic write-up! Is there a resource for the non-lotus patterns?
Thanks, Rachel! I’m hoping to add more info about the other patterns and solid color dishes over time. You might want to check out the Grete Prytz Kittelsen book. Also, this Facebook group shares pictures of the other designs sometimes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/161590644398058
In 1967 I bought a Casserole pot for my mom, from Carson Perry Scot in Chicago, It is the white with the green lotus blossoms, I have the pot and still use it. But I cannot find any markings at all on it. It looks exactly like what I have seen on ebay, but it is actually in much better condition! I don’t know why it is not marked. I don’t remember what it said on the box it came in. But anyway this will be passed down, as we all love this pot. If I had the money I would buy another one for grandkids.
That’s amazing you still have it! Some of the Cathrineholm dishes had paper tags instead of permanent marks. Sounds like that might have been the case with your casserole. Such a beautiful heirloom!
Hi Tara,
Thank you for you wonderful website.
I trying to work out the origin of a stack of small enamelled baking dishes with bakelite handles, that are not marked. I got round ones and square ones. I have found the square version on line in a lot of different colours and they seem to be Cathrineholm Holland. I have the Grete Prytz Kittlesen book here but the dishes are not in that book.
Is Holland referring to a model series name or the place of production? Are my dishes made in Norway or Holland? I can’t seem to find that information?
Kind regards
ARNE
Hi Arne, it sounds like you have some pieces from the Galloping Gourmet line of Cathrineholm dishes made in Holland. Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, partnered with Cathrineholm to release these dishes. The ones I’ve seen have been in solid colors, including “rounded square” bowls, casseroles, pans, butter warmers, and the baking dishes you mentioned with the Bakelite style handles. They are beautiful! It looks like Graham Kerr is using some of the Galloping Gourmet CH dishes in this video, along with the classic lotus dishes:
My mom and I found a medium pot, white with a blue stripe at the bottom in perfect condition for $5! After researching the pattern, I am not having luck finding alot on the set. It this a rare set by chance?
So cool, great find! It might be from Cathrineholm’s Club Celebration line. Many of the pieces have blue and red stripes, but some have just blue stripes, and some have a whimsical Scandinavian pattern.
Tara, this is one of the best comprehensive articles I’ve read yet on CH. I have been collecting for about 6 years and I didn’t realize that there was actually an “olive” color! Thank you so much. I just came upon some Barbie sized replica’s that I ordered to display with my collection – they are so adorable! I found them on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1322864873/7pcsset-dollhouse-miniature-16-mini
In addition to my real-life collection, I have been working on a 60’s themed 1-inch scale dollhouse (about 1/2 the size of Barbie scale) and have made some miniature CH pieces (and I have bought some from other miniaturists as well) You can see some of them on my IG page here. https://www.instagram.com/amysretrominis/
Thanks again for this article – it’s sooooo helpful!
One more comment for fellow CH enthusiasts – I bought a beautiful necklace from Norway that is designed by the grandson of Arne Clausen and his wife – they retain the rights to the Lotus pattern and their jewelry is gorgeous! I thought it was worth sharing! They ship to the US so I was incredibly excited about that! https://skjervenjewellery.com/collections/frontpage
Thanks, Amy! I had a hard time making a complete list of colors, but these are all the options I’ve seen so far. I get the feeling that some of the colors just changed slightly from year to year, so one year the orange became more of a red orange, for example, because there seem to be slight variations within the main colors. I would love to get my hands on one of the pretty olive green pieces!
All these miniatures are amazing on Etsy and your Instagram. I can’t believe how accurate the CH minis look. And I didn’t know about the lotus jewelry, so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for a great article !
There was a factory warehouse outlet 2 miles away from me growing up. Everyone in town went to the sales twice a year. I have the 12” stockpot in excellent condition and can’t part with it. But my question is on my smaller pots … is it possible to get small rust spots inside on the bottom ?
Thank you
Thanks, Lorraine! That’s exciting, it sounds like you have a beautiful collection!
I’ve seen some CH pieces with rust spots, especially near the rim or where the enamel cracks. I haven’t tried this yet, but I’ve heard that Peek polishing cream can work really well for removing or minimizing the rust spots.
Thanks!
These spot are in the bottom of the pots, white inside so you can see them well, and almost look like an orange from a spaghetti sauce type splatter. Since it’s. It raised,
Or cracked, guess it isn’t rust .
Thank you for the great advice on buying and taking care of pieces! I found a couple of lotus skillets, one avocado on white and one white on avocado with lids. I tried to find other examples of the white on avocado skillet and haven’t been able to. Does that mean fewer were made, or just that people are hanging on to theirs? I really love having one of each!
Thanks, Doug! It’s hard to say for sure. Avocado is one of the more prevalent colors, but it seems like I don’t see as many of the skillets in general compared to the plates, bowls, saucepans and casseroles. And every variation is becoming rarer all the time! That is great that you found a pair with avocado on white and white on avocado. I bet they are beautiful together!
Hi Tara,
What an exciting article. We didn’t have Catherineholm at home (in Australia), but I remember my grandmother had the canisters in the orange. I never knew the brand, as I was just a child, and I’d forgotten about them until I read your article.
I’ve always loved the designs of my era, and, as I don’t have a MCM house now (I grew up in a wonderful MCM house my father built), I’m creating a MCM dolls’ house. I’ve just discovered 1/6 scale Catherineholm cookware, so at least my dolls can have it…
Thanks, Cindy!
Great idea about the MCM dollhouse! That will be beautiful. I love the miniature Cathrineholm dollhouse pieces. They look so authentic and adorable!
I bet the orange canisters were gorgeous in your grandma’s kitchen. The CH colors are so cheerful. Between the colors and the patterns, it’s hard not to love Cathrineholm. 😊
Hi. I’m in the UK and can remember going to a Cathrinholm party around 1967/8.
My mum bought a blue saucepan which I still have and use today.
I just bought a green chicken fryer , with basket inside, looks brand new and unused.
I paid £5 English pounds for it.
Does anyone know if it’s worth anything?
Hi Sara,
Wow, that’s amazing that saucepan got so many years of use and is still cooking! That’s great you were able to hold onto it all these years.
Nice find with the chicken fryer! It is worth much more than 5 pounds. I saw one recently sold for about $75 on eBay in fair condition, but in pristine condition it would be worth more, similar to the large casserole prices.
Hi Tara,
I found 3 pieces at our Goodwill last week here in eastern Iowa; the white omelet pan ($5.88) with orange lotus, the 1.5 qt orange pan ($7.88), and the orange 3 qt dutch oven ($10.88). The prices were higher than their regular panware prices so Goodwill must know they are more valuable?
I didn’t know what they were when I saw them but they had mid-century appeal and they were just cool looking and stood out like a sore thumb. I put them in my cart then looked up soldson eBay and soon discovered I hit the jackpot. My intention was to sell them but after looking at your website I want to collect but the wife disagrees. We are getting ready to move and are trying to downsize our “collections”. LoL
Just wanted to let you know since you mentioned they are not easy to find in thrift stores. Maybe it will help inspire your other followers.
Now I’ll be looking for them at every store, estate sale, and garage sale.
Thank you.
James
Wow, lucky finds! That’s exciting. Now the hunting begins! I agree the Cathrineholm pieces stand out with their irresistible mid-century charm. You will have so much fun looking for them all over the place. Happy hunting!
I have a 4 inch wide lotus lemon lime bowl in excellent condition. I would like to sell it. I believe it must be rare as I can’t find another one anywhere. Do you know where I can find out an approximate retail price? I sell on Etsy.
Thank you
Beth
Hi, Beth! Yes, the lemon lime is pretty rare and beloved. I’ve seen sellers post pics in the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/161590644398058) asking for a going rate. The group will give you feedback and probably some offers. 🙂
Is it safe to actually use my Cathrineholm saucepan to cook with? I’ve heard that vintage enamel contains high concentrations of lead. TIA!
It’s hard to say. I know some people do still cook in CH dishes. There are lead test kits that are designed for testing dishes, so that might be worth trying, but I’ve heard mixed reviews that they can’t always be trusted. When I tested my CH dishes, the test said they didn’t have lead.
Wow, this is hard to read! I cook in mine almost daily, and had no idea there could be a problem
You might want to check out Lead Safe Mama for details about detecting lead in dishes so you can be sure: https://tamararubin.com/
Shocked again because she tested Corelle dishes, my pattern, and found toxic elements, now I feel like tossing them, hubby says we have been using them for 40 years, the damage is done! Yikes.
I didn’t see anything on Cathernholm specifically but she finds lead in so much stuff it’s crazy.
Hello! This is a wonderful article that I enjoyed reading. I recently found my first Cathrineholm items on a free table at a garage sale. They are two black with white lotus aluminum cylinders that are salt and pepper shakers, but look like spice cans. I haven’t been able to find them anywhere on line in black. Are they rare?
Thanks, Kandi! Wow, those salt and pepper shakers were an amazing find! Black CH in general is pretty rare, the spice cans are even rarer, and I’ve never seen the spice can style salt and pepper shakers. So cool!
Thank you for your reply. I am thinking about selling them but I have no idea what to ask. I’m thinking an auction site like EBay would be best.
An auction site sounds like a good idea to find out what the going rate will be.