When the cold winds howl in the dead of winter, it’s very heartening to see the arrival of spring bulbs on fruit stands and in the grocery stores. Last February, I was inspired to throw a Ballgown dinner party for eight, with pink tulips making a sumptuous display in pink Venetian glass compotes with matching candlesticks.
Our guests were a close-knit group of neighbours from the old ‘hood. Our children all grew up together, running tame in each others’ houses. It had been some time since we had seen each other, and we all very much looked forward to catching up and enjoying an evening filled with stories, a lot of laughter and good food.
Happily, multi-course meals demand small servings. These charming antique cream soup cups made by Crescent & Sons, England, are diminutive. They are resting on complementary dessert plates from Coalport, England, made especially for Tiffany & Co., NY.
The service and dessert plates are each set of twelve hand-painted cabinet plates by Royal Doulton, Made in England for Ovington Brothers, signed by C. Horton and C. Franz, respectively. They are shown here with a cranberry & etched glass decanter by St. Louis, all from Elise Abrams Antiques.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
It is a beautiful table. I really like your cream soup cups. While thrifting recently I found some tiny bowls with horizontal handles on both sides and I grabbed them up not really knowing what they were for. In researching them I came to the conclusion that they were either a cream soup cup or a consomme cup. Fun to see yours used in your lovely table.
I use them a lot. Besides soup, they’re great for serving sorbet, ice cream, ceviche, tiny salad portions – all kinds of things. And like you found thrifting, usually available at a pretty good price because they’re not as popular in today’s more casual environment.
Hi sweet lady. Your Tablescape is Gorgeous in your Beautiful Dinnering room !! I love how you have put ever thing together….
Thanks so much, Diane! It’s a oldie, but goodie, that arrangement. I had such fun with the tulips.