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Thursday, September 3, 2009

A Cuppa at That Old House, and a "Save The Date!"


Remember these guys, below?


I got them at the huge Visiting Nurse Association Rummage Sale last May. (More on that, later!)
Today, I am using one of them to offer a nice hot cup of tea to you!





Welcome to Thursday, surely one of the busiest days in our virtual community.
I'm piling on the parties:


Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch.
Vintage Thingies Thursday, hosted by Suzanne at Coloradolady.
And. . .
Thrifty Thursday, hosted by Leigh of Bloggeritaville.

Many thanks to these three ladies for their hosting skills, and inspiration!

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Welcome to That Old House; come for a spot of tea, have you? Sure you don't want to reconsider?
Our coffee is usually better than our tea . . . I'm just saying . . . .

No? Tea it is? All righty, then. Let's just pop into the dining room:


To compensate for the tea-bag tea, I'm using some of my prettiest things.

The teapot is gilt and cobalt, Meissen and quite old:




Lucky me, it was a gift from my in-laws. :-)
I do not make mother-in-law jokes!

A little plate that looks almost the same as the Meissen, but . . . is not. Still, cobalt and gilt:


I got it for a few dollars on Ebay.


The candlestick is one of two Staffordshire pieces I picked up years ago at a tiny antiques shop on Manhattan's East Side. The cheap part of the East Side. Reproductions, but by now almost 30 years old.


At this performance, the role of the napkin will be played by a small guest towel,
very old and well-worn linen, with charming embroidery,


and an intricate hand crocheted edging.
It was in a box of assorted old stuff I got at a yard sale.


The napkin ring is one of the pair that my grandparents used;
it is a heavy, hand carved shell.


And the tea cup!
One of six gilt and cobalt lustreware sweeties I got at the VNA Rummage Sale in May. From Japan, and some age on them.


Now -- a question for all you tabletop mavens out there.
When the dinnerware is elaborate, as is this tea cup, should the flatware be simple, or equally elaborate?

What do you like better. . . .

. . . the tea cup with the very vintage Georgian pattern spoon, a simple classic design,


. . . or the tea cup paired with the swirly, vintage Blenheim pattern spoon?



Side by side.



I only have a few pieces of Blenheim, but I have scads of the Georgian silverplate flatware -- much of it monogrammed with "L" for our last name, and "H" for Howard, and "C" for ... me! I even have some coffee spoons monogrammed with "D" and Dion says they are for him. Fat chance.

I will buy old silverplated flatware with any monogram, and it is just serendipity that nearly all of the Georgian pattern -- bought in many batches -- is marked with an appropriate monogram!

I actually polished the spoons for this post. Hastily, but still . . . .

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And about that Visiting Nurse Association Rummage Sale? If you are in New Jersey, near New Jersey, want to fly to New Jersey, mark your calendars for October 2, 3, and 4. It's the largest and longest-running rummage sale in the state, and it is amazing.

Visit here if you want a little more info.

For more about what I snagged at the VNA Rummage Sale in May, go here. . . and here!

Happy Hunting. Now scat! Go visit other thrifty, vintage, table-topping posts! I think I hear the kettle whistling . . . . -- Cass

32 comments:

  1. Hi Cass...

    Okay...this is just too cool! I definitely think you should send all of your beautifully monogramed items to MOI...yep me!!! We have the exact same initials..."C" for Chari and "L" for my last name Lambert!!! Hehe!!! Ohhh...if I only lived closer!!! wink!

    Well Girlfriend, I just adore your beautifully set tea! That Meissen teapot is gorgeous and I really thought that the pretty teacup and saucers, along with the teapot was a matched set! Wow...you couldn't match them any closer that's for sure! Actually...both sets of silver look fabulous with the elegant tea set but I think I prefer your monogramed silver with it! Also love that pretty embroidered napkin...it's lovely my friend! Thanks for the tea...I really enjoyed it!!!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  2. That is a beautiful set, love the black and gold colors, just stunning. :)

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  3. What is that they say...less is more or is it more is more!!!! Thou shalt not covet but I can't help it....I would be happy with just the teapot!
    Good job again!
    Carol

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  4. I say go for the swirly pattern silverware with that fancy cup.

    And that tea pot is way gorgeous, btw.

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  5. Cass, First of all I love your production...um I mean post. That teapot is fantastic. Somerset hills? Is there usually like a long waiting line hours prior to the opening. I am so going to this. Thank you for the heads up.
    ♥, Susan

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  6. Thank you for the tea! Everything was just beautiful!

    I love your monogrammed spoons and believe it or not, my husband and I have the exact same initials as you. "H" for my husband Howard, "L" for me, Linda, and "C" for our last name!

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  7. Cass, you are right, that is a watercolor original...I don't know how to talk about this stuff I love so much. Thanks for telling me more about His Majesty, Mr. Turkey too. ;D
    I love, love, love everything about your post!! I can't get enough of the monograms either so that is a hard question...I like both.

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  8. I would adore tea from that super
    beautiful Meissen teapot. What a
    lovely tea! Happy VTT!

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  9. I wish I could come to that sale in Oct...how fun would that be???

    I love tablescapes with vintage goodies. The tea set is gorgeous. Have a great weekend and a great VTT!

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  10. Wow, I've never been to New Jersey, but you sure make me want to go...Gorgeous china...but I'd never be able to choose between the silver patterns...they're both beautiful...this is a wonderful post...I wanted to reach out and touch that lovely teapot...

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  11. Beautiful, beautiful teacups and teapot!! And I think either spoon would love lovely with the setting. Happy VTT!

    Jocelyn
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

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  12. Oh I just love the teapot and the teacups and saucers. They are absolutely stunning, and either silverware is beautiful. What a wonderful find. I know you enjoy them and they are gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  13. Black Eyed Susan sent me here and I'm glad she did! It was originally to tip me off about the VNA sale (hereto-forth known as "Road Trip! ;-) but how lucky am I to feast my eyes on your gorgeousness (and amazing home).

    I am a total sucker for monogrammed flatware so I think you'll know my answer!

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  14. What a beautiful setting. I'll admit to never seeing anything quite like that tea set. Very unusual, but I like it :o)

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  15. Thank you for having me over for tea! And it was such a special touch to let me use a spoon with my initial! Such a beautiful set! I'm going to need a dollop of milk in my tea though, because if I'm going to have my tea in a cup so fancy, I'm going to have to act fancy too!
    Happy VTT!

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  16. What a beautiful set. I don't usually go for the fancier stuff but boy this stuff really makes a statement.
    I thought you were going to say you spoon feed Dion with the silver spoons.

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  17. Gorgeous set! Sure wish we could fly back for the sale - hubby is from S. Jersey!
    Cheers!

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  18. Those tea cups are just gorgeous! I like the fancier spoons with it! It's all so delicate, but with a strong presence! Thanks for sharing!

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  19. what a gorgeous tea set..that teapot's amazing!!..love the embroidered towel..adore the spoons!

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  20. I would be honored to sit and have tea at your stunning table.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Living it up Lakewood,
    Cindy

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  21. I always know when I'm hopping over to visit you that I'm going to see some very pretty things! Gorgeous linens usually play a part. And you have excellent taste!
    Brenda

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  22. Oh my! You have many many pretties on your table today -- it's all stunning!

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  23. Wow, that is so neat looking. Antique looking cups and things to go with that great looking house. Nice job. Thanks for sharing the tea!
    Pam

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  24. You have such beautiful things!

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  25. Hi Cass,
    Love the monogramed flatware and how perfect, the C is for Chari but also Cindy! Oh, the tea-cups are so elegant and I love the candlesticks, awesome! I love your profile about non-profit,that is so cute! hugs, Cindy

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  26. Very pretty tea set! So unusual in its colours but very striking!

    DD

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  27. Elegant, Classy, sophisticated, gorgeous, beautiful.....treasures indeed. Wow! Lcuky you t o have such great inlaws with good taste! Thanks for linking up to Thrifty Thursday this week, my friend!
    Leigh, Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  28. I cannot believe all of those pieces are not part of a set. They are all gorgeous and look fabulous together. Before I looked at the pictures, I was thinking that this set deserved an elaborate spoon. I was surprised that I liked the more simple spoon with it, but really anything would look great with that set. laurie

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  29. Beautiful tea set, how lucky to have that as part of your collection. Tablescaping is the most entertaining way of meeting other bloggers. Thanks for sharing your lovely setting with us.

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  30. So very beautiful---I thought the teapot and cups were a matching set; you had me fooled. Love them and the "napkin" wow. I liked the more elaborate spoon....perhaps because it seemed more shiny and therefore I liked the way it played off of the tea cup!

    I used to live in NJ but now live in SC ....soooo poowee on that sale!! Sounds fabulous.

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