Soup tureens amp up the elegance factor in even the most casual meal.
Individually sized tureens are also known as “covered soup bowls”, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. I have an especial weakness for them and have to restrain myself whenever a new crop arrives. They’re so inexpensive these days that it’s easy to get carried away.
I almost indulged in some very nicely priced tomato-shaped beauties Pier 1 had on offer this summer but managed to catch myself. They take up a lot of storage room and aren’t easily stacked like plates. This lids can be problematic, as the finials get easily damaged if they’re not put away with sufficient care.
These Turkey brown transferware tureens were produced by Williams Sonoma around 2010, and I managed to snag a set of four on eBay a while ago. They came in the original box and didn’t appear to have ever been used. I found the pattern on Replacements a few years back, but they’ve never had any in stock. The botanical pattern on the edge of the tureen lends itself to all kinds of table combinations, not just for fall.
I teamed them up with a white pumpkin full-size tureen from Pier 1 this year and used their leaf platter as an underplate. There are individual pumpkin tureens in the pattern, and everything is currently on sale if anyone wants to get a jump on their Thanksgiving table preparations.
The detail and veining on the platter coordinate really well with the stem detail on the tureen lid. The tureen comes with its own ladle, too.
A pair of Spode Harvest pheasant salt & peppers trotted in to see what they might scrounge by way of food.
These twill forest green plaid napkins have proved tremendously useful. They’re a forgivingly soft “bald-flannel” fabric and drape themselves nicely inside a napkin ring. They’re still available at Pier 1.
The Acacia wood chargers, the Sawyer flatware and the grapevine napkin rings continued the woodsy theme.
I picked up these vintage French horn-handled dessert forks & spoons from Etsy last year. I love them for a cheese and fruit course at the end of a meal, or for handling small appetizers that are bigger than bite-sized and need a bit of utensil assistance,
Vintage brown Faience salad plates (eBay) sit atop Juliska Berry & Thread dinner plates.
The Cameo Green Depression style iced tea and water glasses are actually from the 1970s. Produced by Fostoria, the slightly grey undertone to the green coordinates well with the napkins.
A fairly restful palette for a sunny fall day, don’t you think?
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Now, what kind of soup to serve? I’m always game to try out some new recipes. I loooove soup and when I make it, I usually do a triple batch so I can freeze a bunch in 4-cup containers. They’re my go-to for lunch during the cold months. Time to start stocking up on Butternut Squash with Apple, Sage and Bacon, Broccoli Soup with Mustard Seeds, and Tomato Soup with Dill. Once it gets a bit colder, Split Pea simmer made with a ham hock is a must.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Helen, you are well advanced into fall, aren’t you? Here we still have summer, with warm golden days and plenty of flowers. I love covered bowls also, but not tureens…I find that the soup just doesn’t stay hot enough for European tastes, which demand scalding-hot, blow-on-the-spoon temperatures. My latest are Fitz Bristol, which are on sale on the F&F site,
http://www.fitzandfloyd.com/bristol-lidded-pumpkin-soup-bowl_2567.aspx
but which seem to be out of inventory everywhere else. They are really pretty in person and are large enough to do double duty as serving pieces for such table-for-two sides as rotkohl with apples. They work for chili or hearty soups too. I fill them with water and microwave them for maximum heat before ladling in the boiling soup. As they are white, they go with almost any table setting, and the delicately molded leaves and flowers on the lid protect them from terminal orange pumpkin cuteness. My current fave soup is a faux-Thai concoction using roasted Kabocha squash, strong chicken stock, coconut milk, and shallot, and scented with Thai red curry paste, cumin, cardamon, kaffir lime leaf, curry, cinnamon, and a finish of sriracha and fish sauce. It’s the most gorgeous exotic orangey-yellow…perfect for a festive fall dinner!
Fitz & Floyd really had a winner with that Bristol Series, which now seems to be discontinued. It was really reasonably priced, too. I have several of the small covered dishes. Love your idea of filling with water and zapping for maximum heat retention. Thanks!
Your soup sounds delicious! Warm and toasty, and bursting with flavour. Yum!!!
Nothing like tucking into a warm bowl of soup in the cool weather months especially in these very elegant soup tureens. Almost too pretty to use. Nice job complimenting them with your choice of napkins, etc. Those miniature forks and spoons are adorable and of course the pheasant salt and pepper shakers. Nicely put together, again.
Many thanks! I restrained myself to four with these 🙂
You have great style, Helen!
Muted fall table is right up my alley. I got Pier 1 Hushed Harvest set just days before Pier 1 stores closed forever here. I totally remember that leaf platter! Never saw it in muted color pallet you have. I got the orange with darker burnt orange leaf veins that was hostess gift for my cousin’s wife, Jen. She LOVES it. Uses jt as coffee table decor year round except Christmas. Fabulous tureen and covered bowls you put together!
Those covered bowls are called “turkey” and are from Williams Sonoma (though I got them on eBay). Little tureens are hard to find. I saw a pretty set on Home is Where the Boat Is – small brown turkey-shaped tureens that apparently hailed from World Market. I’ve never seen any for sale, though.
The cute farm animal individual tureens you inspired me to get are a fun way to serve soup course/ starter. “Besty” Heifer and “Petunia” Pig. So cute!
I like low soup bowls, or I suppose properly called soup plates, when soup is the meal. Large tureen the stuff of tablescape dreams for me. I admire them greatly but don’t own one……yet.