A Table Chez Jacqueline

Some table settings wait through a season or two before they can be presented again. Such is the case with this one. In fact, this particular combination has been gathered together over decades of time, and is just making its debut.

In a 'veddy' English manner my collection is presented on plaid wool by Ralph Lauren. Freshening it up is easy with a gentle cold water Woolite wash and air dry. Due to the color, the wool is very forgiving to any possible stains. It's also nice to have on the table between dinner parties for that English Manor House mood. It can stay on for a long time making a cozy surface for blogging, tea, research, etc.. We have brick floors and can use all the cozy we can get in the winter. A fresh tablecloth layered over is a nice option too.

 

Playing a starring role for my table are these two French pictorial plates, marked Opaque de Sarreguemines, that I came across and couldn't resist. The captions elude me, but no matter, I am charmed by the color and design.

In fact they mix in an interesting way with other orphaned plates I've collected over time. Finding bits and pieces of vintage china and glassware at flea markets more often than not means only one, two, or three of something rather than a set of anything.

 

Being one that never wants to settle on ONE design, it's just as well.

Once again my arrangement crosses the barrier between rustic and refined in its mixed centerpiece elements. That's a vintage brown pottery wine bottle from Germany in the center.

 

The unifying feature for the mixed china is my old Adagio pattern by Noritake. It's faint grey blue and brown design blends wonderfully with all my odd pieces of brown transferware. I acquired it long before I had a single piece of transferware in my collection.

 My napkins are comprised of a variety of vintage and antique damask and woven linen towels. Imagine the dinner conversation when you sit down to a soft napkin in excellent condition with this date on it! Interestingly enough, even though all the linen is different, it still pulls the design of the table together because it's all the same size, color, and vintage.

Furthermore, you can select your individual settings to reflect the gender or taste of your guests, or better still let them choose their own  favorite! A table is never more interesting than when its place settings are as individual as the people sitting around it.

 

Three of my place settings are more recent Staffordshire by J. Broadhurst, The Constable Series.

Can't get enough of the acorns and oak leaves this time of year. Berries nice too!

The solitary Aesthetic Movement piece is named Seine.

The glass pattern looks like a Ralph Lauren design as well, but it's a vintage original.

My vintage Thistle pattern glass seemed right to mix into this plaid theme also.

Its square heft suggests a little more masculine tone, as do the less delicate colors and textures on the table.

With a large table set only for six, there is plenty of room for serving pieces in order to serve family style. And a good opportunity to bring out purely decorative items as well.

  Vintage Portuguese trivet tile with more Thistle theme. 

Mom in law Jane's old silver server and sterling flatware.

The set  is stored in the cabinet in this pewter jug and makes setting the table easy and fast. Left until last, it can give an early guest something to do!

I always have a magnifyer nearby for reading marks on china, for looking up definitions and encyclopedia items that come up in debate and discussion at the table. What's a dinner party for anyway?

Thanks so much for stopping by! Ciao! for now!

Jacqueline

I'm joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday,

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday,

Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Friday!

The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday