Cavorting rabbits, radishes and cabbages. Is it Mr. McGregor’s garden?
Not quite. More like the French version.
These playful plates were patented by Choisy le Roi in 1900 for Higgins & Seiter, premium purveyors of china and glassware in their heyday.
I first came across them when Elise Abrams and I had a fun photography day a few years back, and featured the plates from her private collection. I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled ever since for them, and to my delight, I was able to compile a set of six from a few vendors on eBay.
In addition to six different scenes featuring the lively bunnies, there are two mugs. I was able to find two of one type.
I adore those rabbit handles. (Oh yes – the glass is June Pink iced tea).
The plates comprise a set of six in various playful scenes.
What I first thought were strawberries turned out to be radishes upon closer inspection. You can see the frothy tops of the rather square radishes. The whisker and fur detail on the rabbits is lovely, and the back legs look incredibly realistic.
I keep the linens for table pretty simple – burlap runner and neutral placemats. The lively checked napkins from Pier 1 picked up the country-frolic flavour of the plates.
I’ve had the cabbage tureen for some time, waiting for the right milieu. This was it!
Both the tureen and the salt & peppers are French Garden by Kaldun & Bogle. I picked them up through Houzz a while ago. I see they still have the salt & pepper, but not the tureen.
They do have a rather adorable rabbit, however…
The flatware is Twig from World Market, and coordinates with their Fiddlehead napkin rings.
The dinner plate and matching cups are an eBay find, and the pattern is Wedgwood Colonial Williamsburg Shell Edged in green.
I used them a while back in the Chintz appetizer pattern by Pier 1, with the same napkins.
Fitzhugh Green by Spode ironstone teapot, sugar bowl and jug coordinates well with the rustic nature of the faience plates.
-
- detail on the twisted handle
-
- Fitzhugh Green by Spode
The detail on the twisted handles is charming, especially for a rather “rough and ready” medium such as ironstone.
All set for an Easter Breakfast, don’t you think?
Which reminds me – the green container with marmalade is actually an open salt.
One of these guys. It was the perfect size for marmalade. They’re Opaline Salt Dips from The Source and come in four different colours, including clear.
One more look at the cabbage salt & peppers. 🙂
And the mug. Happy Rabbit!
Now I’m all hopping ready to start digging out previous Easter table photos and setting new ones. We will be in England this year for Easter and I’m trying to decide whether to hold the family brunch before we go or wait until we get back. There are always such fun Easter things to buy for little girls at Monsoon I’m very tempted to wait until we return.
Last year we brought back a bunch of tutus with butterfly wings, tiaras and wands, which were a big hit. Hmmm – what do you think. Wait?
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Definitely wait. Your table is so fun and how nice that you can put together pieces from different eras and have them fit. Nice to see cups and saucers as part of the table. It makes sense since it is a breakfast table but still nice to see them used.
Thanks Lorri. I’m coming to the “wait” mindset myself. I love finding stuff in Britain to bring back for the little girls.
The cups and saucers from that Wedgwood set are a great size, and have a really nice “feel”. I know we’ve moved to mugs on the whole, as a society, but teacups and saucers are also quite useful – the saucer is a great biscuit holder 🙂
Have a good weekend!
“Butterfly wing tutus, tiaras and Wands..” A collection of words to make us smile.
Helen Kain, you have done it again!
The rabbit table is delightful. I fell in love with the water color delicacy of the frolicking rabbits..
The pale green glasses and pink accents of cabbage salt and pepper set is a nice touch.
My vote is to wait till you return from England… more for us to enjoy!
How did I know those would appeal to you, oh Fairy Tale Girl? We actually had to buy another carry on suitcase to accommodate the collection of wired wings. Glenn was delighted, as you can imagine…
This year I shall travel over with an empty carry on!
Glad you like the table, mon ami. It was fun to set, and I do love those frolicking rabbits myself.
Have a great weekend.
Helen Kain, thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.
Thanks Sahoo. Glad you enjoyed the Post!
Helen, what a charming table. I am green with envy over those vintage dishes! Fabulous. If you are so inspired, I set a Mr McGregors Garden table using my Beatrix Potter collection last year – oh so English!
I loved your Beatrix Potter table, Debbie. What a beautiful tablescape you made with many layers of interest. It’s tough to showcase the small figurines, but you did an amazing job with large and small features. My favourite is Mrs Tiggywinkle. 🙂
We happened to be in the Lake District in England for the 150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth; the National Trust owns the property and was having a big bash. It was All Things Peter Rabbit, delighting children and adults alike.