Pottery & Pieces

A good store to buy gifts for mothers and aunts — that’s how I would describe Pottery and Pieces. They have absolutely everything that moms would love: candles, candle containers, tea sets, jewellery, posters, different kinds of soaps (I was impressed with one that looked exactly like a cupcake. I wonder if they make cupcakes that looks like soaps too — that would be cool), decorative objects, lots of notebooks, your mom will like everything they have there, I’m sure of it.
They have things in all price ranges, from cheaper nits n’ bobs to much more expensive crockery and ceramics. The store also has a children’s section too, very useful to keep the kids out of the way of the more expensive breakables!

This fine homewares shop caters for the higher end of Moseley residents with not only impeccable tastes, but also with money on their pockets. You, know, those who live on Chantry Road, or who are from the St Agnes Church end of Oxford Road, rather than the stuff-‘em-in shared houses and converted Victorian detached houses of the St Mays Row end.
This isn’t run-​of-​the-​mill: There are exclusive products in stock like eye-​catching and finely-​crafted ceramic and bronze sculptures, depicting different animals. Perfect for the shelf by the baby grand piano. If you have £300 as a budget for a vase you could buy one of Mihai Topescu’s dazzling creations, or a plate by the same artists for £330. Expensive, but original and dazzling.
While mum and dad look for inspiration, the kids can step down to the back of the shop where traditional and simple toys be be bought at pocket money prices.
Among other items on show are greetings cards and mugs, including some retro Harley Davidson ones with happy-​Go-​Lucky scooter scenes.

I love visiting this shop as it always has a good and slightly different to the norm card selection and I often make a one off trip just to get a card when it is a special occasion.
My Mom and I love popping in around Christmas time to see what unique Christmas decorations they have.
They also stock gifts and some artwork. Their children’s gift selection is wonderful and you can always find something a bit unusual.
Most of the stock is quite expensive but I feel it is worth the extra cost.

I do feel a bit mean only giving them two stars. But I do always find Pottery & Pieces a bit disappointing. Moseley being home of the quirky, arty and trendy, you’d expect a big shop like this to produce something a little more, well, interesting.
It’s a large shop, with a lot on offer, from sculptures to candles, gifts, knick-​knacks and toys, and yet I don’t think I’ve ever purchased anything — despite having been into this shop more times than I care to think. Ultimately I just don’t seem to be able to find anything particularly inspiring there.
On the plus side, the staff are always very friendly and polite — almost alarmingly so; greeting you in suits as you cross the threshold. I think to someone else’s taste, also, this place wold be a treasure trove, as there is a diverse range of gifts here. I just never seem be able to find what I’m looking for however.