Where did you get that hat? | Rare 1970's Sepia Range

Launched in the early 1970's, this range was born from Susan’s discovery of a piece of Edwardian sheet music of the same name. Embracing the era's growing fascination with "Vintage Chic," she traded the modernism of the 60's for the playful decadence of the Edwardian period (1901–1910).

The Aesthetic: Edwardian Voluminous Style

The range is characterised by its use of authentic sepia-toned photographs of models wearing the "outrageous and voluminous" hats that defined pre-war high fashion.

• The Border: To frame these theatrical images, Susan designed an ornate, hand-drawn border made of stylised pearls, which added a layer of luxury and "ornate" detail to the sepia prints.

• The "Sepia-on-White" Look: By printing in sepia on a crisp white body, the items looked like actual vintage photographs transferred onto ceramic, fitting perfectly with the 1970's trend for "antique-style" home decor.

The "Chaumette, Paris" Mystery

This range has a particularly interesting export history that keeps collectors on their toes. While it was produced in Stoke-on-Trent, the majority of the stock was sent to Europe and Scandinavia.

• The French Connection: A significant portion of the production was made specifically for the high-end French department store Chaumette.

• The Backstamp: Because of this partnership, many pieces exist that bear the "Chaumette, Paris" mark with no Portmeirion backstamp at all. For the uninitiated, these pieces look like French antiques, but the seasoned collector knows they are authentic Portmeirion.

Collector’s Insight: The Elusive Coffee Set

While the range was applied to large breakfast cups, saucers, and storage jars, some shapes are significantly harder to find than others:

• The Coffee Set: In 2026, a full "Where did you get that hat?" coffee set is considered a "Holy Grail" item. They were produced in much lower numbers than the tankards and jars.

• The "Scandi" Hunt: Because so much was exported to Scandinavia, many of the best-preserved pieces are found today in Swedish and Danish vintage markets rather than in the UK.