...family, friends, home and other tidbits of a blessed life

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Dinner for two Tablescape

Welcome to our dinner for two. Yes, just for you. I pulled out the Sunday best, nothing is too good for you! Pull up a chair and have a seat, dinner will be ready in just a sec!

Just ignore inspector Regan. He thinks he has to have his nose in everything these days! Could be he's anticipating the shrimp cocktail.

All the plates are united by a gold rim, even the underplate for the sherbet glass that will hold our shrimp.

You have good eyes, the salad plates are indeed a different pattern.

But don't they make a pretty stack? Each one a different maker, each one a different age.

This piece is by Seltmann Weiden - Germany - there is no date associated with this mark, but I am guessing this piece came about after WWII and before 1960. It belonged to my maternal grandmother.

This is another Seltmann piece, this time Seltmann Erbensdorf - which was opened in 1940. This factory was destroyed during WWII. Also from my maternal grandmother.

This sweet plate that I'm using as the underplate for the crystal sherbet is by Bavaria Tirschenreuth. Another piece of my maternal grandmother's. This dates the piece some where from 1930-1981.

And then I also have these pieces from my maternal grandmother. They are marked Johann Seltmann Vohenstrauss, factory in existence from 1901-1975. My grandmother had these when I was a little girl, I can so remember them.

 The original use of these dishes could possibly be for serving cookies since the serving place is the size of a salad plate and the little plates are the size of American butter pats. Today, it's holding the drips from the decanter.

Napkins from an estate sale. Eight napkins and placemats in pristine condition!
These little gems are marked Handgemalt - handpainted and belonged to my maternal great-grandmother. I should really have polished the silver tops!

This leaf dish is from my husband's paternal grandmother, marked Stouffer China - Czechosolvakia. That country doesn't even exist anymore!

European sized dinner plates, which means they are smaller than American plates. These are Rosenthal - Selb made in Germany. 



Three different candlesticks, two are gifts and the third with the gold band was purchased at TJ Maxx this past year.


The wine and sherbets are the same pattern, Libbey Rock Sharpe

A rosemary plant surrounded by giftwrap and placed in a crystal bowl serves as the floral centerpiece. The fragrance will compliment the pork tenderloin!

Gold flatware from International rounds out the setting. 



Wool embroidery on wool background hand stitched by my mother. She rarely used this because my dad placed a car battery on it and stained it. She washed it and the wool felted, which "just ruined" it, so says Mom. But I love it and use just as it is. 






Inspected by Inspector Regan, who gave his nod of approval. No climbing on the table this week! You think he's learned his lesson? Seriously, he has his nose in everything I do, ironing, washing dishes, cooking, hand sewing, machine sewing and computer work. 

I'm joining Susan's party at Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to drop in Wednesday evening to see the Tablescape Thursday tables set just for you! I'm also joining Masterpiece Monday.. click HERE for a direct link.. some cool stuff to be seen!

Thanks for dropping in and leaving your kind comments! They are blessings in my day.

33 comments:

xinex said...

Your tablescape is just stunning, Marlis. Your collection of plates from your grandmothers are priceless and the stemware are beautiful too. Oh, and I love the table topper. Your mom is very talented!.....Christine

Red Couch Recipes said...

Marlis, as one who used to do crosswork on tablecloths, I really appreciate the work of work of your mother -- it is beautiful! Your maternal grandmother must have had an awesome collection of dishes -- love the gold rims on them. So where's Inspector Reagan's place at the table. Nice job and so pretty! Joni

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Marlis, when I saw the crosswork on the tablecloths, I knew it had to be handmade. Your mother is very talented and now we know where you get it from! I adore the gold rims on the dishes. What a lovely collection! I think Inspector Reagan should meet Inspector Emma (my friend's lab). Emma is known to steal food from the table, and ate a whole tray of cannoli I made for a dinner party on Saturday.

Alycia Nichols said...

You have SO MANY incredible treasures from the ladies in your family!!! Isn't it great how they all work in concert? Funny how you say your Mom thought the linen was "ruined" and we think it looks fabulous! And the rosemary...very clever!!! I love the way it smells, and it looks great, too!

Jacqueline said...

What a lucky girl you are to have inherited all of these pricesless pieces. I just came from seeing "Where I Store..." You have such beautiful things and don't you love it when they are all attached to someone and have more meaning, especially the ones you remember them using. I agree, the felted look is fabulous (although I don't know how I would have reacted to a battery being placed on it!)

Slice of Pie Cookbooks and Entertaining said...

Car battery? I think Dad would have been on my list for awhile! This is a beautiful tablescape. Every detail makes it even more wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing ... and I love the beautiful cat, too!

Kathleen said...

Beautiful table, so many lovely pieces. I love the etched glassware. The table cloth is gorgeous! Car battery, OMG!!

Anonymous said...

Charming, Marlis. You have outdone yourself with all your treasures. It appears that Regan approves, too.

Sarah said...

Beautiful table, Marlis! The cloth is gorgeous. I'm happy that you still use it. Handmade pieces such as this are treasures. Also love the different plates. I like to mix things. In fact that is just what I did for my tablescape today too. ;-)
~ Sarah

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Marlis, this is a beautiful table! I really love your tablecloth, but I heard myself gasp when you said that dear ol' Dad had laid a car battery on it! So glad you're still able to use it. The napkins are great, too, and you did a really nice job of layering your beautiful treasures.

Stop by if you get a chance and enter my celebration giveaway!

Deanna said...

Very nice selection of gorgeous dishes and love the stemware.

May you have a great time dining,
d from homehaven

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Oh that cloth is just stunning! THis is a beautiful table. I love the dishes that coordinate beautifully and I know the rosemary makes this a feast for the senses!

Debbie said...

It's the fact that the dishes ARE NOT from the same set that makes your setting all the more stunning to me. I love the way it all comes together. The colors are just beautiful!

The Tablescaper said...

Great table. Amazing tablecloth. Just beautiful.

- The Tablescaper

Marigene said...

Absolutely beautiful, Marlis. The china is exquisite...so is the crystal. Rosemary is probably my favorite smelling herb.

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Your tablescape is so wonderful! The dishes look so good together and I love the wine and sherbet glasses. The tablecloth is awesome. I have something similar that my grandmother made.

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Marlis, I would love to be a guest at this very special table! Your delicate dishes are beautiful and the tablecovering is exquisite! A car battery--oh my! I did not know that European dinner plates are smaller than American ones. Aren't continental flatware pieces larger? So many things to learn. Your table is gorgeous and I think your little helper is cute. Linda

Lana Kim White Austin said...

This is a beautiful table! You have an immense amount of attention to detail and I LOVE that you mixed china patterns!

Thanks so much for your kind comment on my post!!

Hugs/blessings,
Lana

Entertaining Women said...

Your grangmother's plates are pure sweetness...perfect for a Valentines tablescape. Everything is gorgeous, and my eye and heart went immediately to your magnificent tablecloth. Absolutely incredible...and your mama stitched it herself! A true treasure. Thank you for sharing your lovely design. Cherry Kay

Mary said...

This is a very pretty table scape! I would like to invite you to link this up to my new link party, Masterpiece Monday, at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week. Take care, Mary :O)

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Marlis...

Ohhh my...what a gorgeous table, my friend! It really does have that sweet European ambiance! Of course, the first thing to catch my eye was that fabulous...utterly FABULOUS embroidered tablecloth! I have never seen anything like it or as beautiful! Your mother is such a talented lady! Girl, I just about cried when I read that your Dad sat a car battery on it and stained it...eeeks! I bet your mother was heartsick...I can only imagine the countless hours that she spent stitching it! Soooo...was you Dad in the doghouse for awhile? Hehe! Ohhh my..MEN! Anyway, lucky you...to have recieved this beautiful piece! It was a real treat for me...to just see it! Ohhh...and I love all of your beautiful layers of gold rimmed china...superb, my friend! I love how you mixed and matched the different patterns...sooo pretty! You also have some beautiful crystal...and it's perfect for this beautiful table setting! Thank you so much for sharing it with us today!

I also wanted to thank you for coming by and taking a peek at my silver tablescape! I enjoyed your visit and sweet note, my friend! You asked about the wintery goblets. I found an entire box of them at a yard sale and was just ecstatic. I knew nothing of their manufacturer, etc. However, today in one of my comments, a lady told me that she had the same goblets and that they came from Arbys...can you believe that! I just giggled!

Warmest winter wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design

Mary said...

I so love all your heirloom patterns & pieces together on your table! I'm glad to know Regan put his stamp of approval on your table this week :-)

Tricia said...

Oh, Marlis, you have outdone yourself this week! I loved reading the history of your pretty china, and the way you've combined different patterns here is just a textbook lesson in how to do it! What a great story about the gorgeous tablecloth -- can't believe your dad set a car battery atop it! Have you sent a photo of your crystal to Replacements.com? They quickly identified my grandmother's (now my sister's) pattern.

Mary said...

Your table is just beautiful and overflowing with sweet memories. How blessed you are to be able to set your table with all of them.
Mary

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Marlis, I adored seeing all of your grandmother's pieces. That is the type of table I love, set with family china and crystal and a cloth that was handmade by your mother. So pretty! And German china is often so gorgeous as these pieces prove. Thanks so much for sharing, and thank Regan for us, too. It's nice to have an inspector in the house! ;-)

XO,

Sheila :-)

Tammy at Tammy Loves Dishes said...

What a beautiful table. I love the table covering and can appreciate the time your mother spent on it. Your vintage dishes are wonderful and I enjoyed reading about them. Lovely!
Tammy

Jocelyn said...

What a gorgeous table! So elegant! I love your dishes and linens.

Jocelyn
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

Kuby said...

The tablecloth is exquisite! It looks so inviting. I can smell the rosemary now.

Designs on 47th Street said...

I absolutely love your taste. Those dishes are so rich looking...just spectacular! Pretty tablecloth too. As always, I loved seeing this pretty table of yours. :)

Donna

Dianne said...

What a beautiful table. i especially like that all the pieces have such personal meaning. I love how to put them together. I think my favorite is the salt and pepper shaker set.

Anita Diaz said...

Absolutely beautiful table!! How wonderful to have all those patterns that work so beautifully together! Gorgeous table!! LOVE the stemware!

Chubby Chieque said...

Hej Marlis,

Oh! loving it! I recognize all you crystals and all from EU, as am living in Europe almost whole my life. Your right Czechosolvakia doesn't exist & changed to Czech Republic which is Prague is the capital city. This is heaven for the Tablescapers. Millions of wonderful crystals & to die for treasures.

Albeit is a german word for "despite" but in this connection, it means imitation or fake.

But who cares, all your treasures, for me is to die for. LOVING THEM!

Have a blessed w/end.
/chie

Kitty Deschanel said...

I love looking through all your lovely photos, Regan included! :)

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