It’s game bird season, at least in plate form. Over fifteen years ago, this antique Limoges game bird set flew in from Country Dining Room Antiques. It comprises two sets of six different birds surrounded by gilded depictions of leaves and pine cones.
The partridge plate, with its little ones, is my favourite. It reminds me of the opening of “The Partridge Family’ opening theme song from the 1970s.
Woodcocks and snipes, with their long, narrow beaks, are closely related; both are a type of sandpiper. This fellow is a snipe (you can tell from the white belly).
This one is a woodcock, distinct due to its cinnamon belly. Fun fact: a group of woodcocks is called a “fall”. I wonder if that is where the season known as “fall” comes from. Or is it the other way around?
The gentle colours of the birds and foliage are very restful, all except the rather vibrant male pheasant. He’s pretty darned lively!
To chime with Mr. Vibrant Pheasant, I added a bit more pizzaz with the last of the dahlias. Next week, we head home. I must dig up the tubers and store them before we leave, so sayonara until next year, dahlia flowers.
The Gingerbread Apple Bundt Cake with Boiled Cider makes a toothful centrepiece. Baked in the Jubilee pan, it looks a bit like a nest, doesn’t it?
The runner is another offering by Williams Sonoma this year.
Chestnut’s two ends are different coloured chestnut leaves and pods, with a subtle lattice pattern in the centre.
The feather napkin rings were purchased from Pier 1 several years ago, and the antique gold Venetian swirl glasses are from Elise Abrams Antiques.
Let’s take a look at the last two birds, shall we? I believe these two quail.
This one is a mystery to me. He might be a black quail. But I’m open to suggestions. Anyone?
One last look from above.
Happy Thursday, all.
I love every element of this table setting right down to the feather napkin rings! Perfection!
Thank you! I had a lot of fun setting that one. The napkin rings remind me of feather dusters.
Dear Helen,
Your mystery bird is a lapwing, a ground-nesting wader. I didn’t think they were edible, so I looked it up: They were hunted almost into extinction In ’20s Britain as both eggs and birds were considered a delicacy. I love all that gold and glass! The candlesticks are particularly lovely. This is one of the prettiest fall tables you’ve laid. Minus 1 last night…time to lift the dahlias here, too.
I knew I could rely on you, Beatrice! Thank you – I’ll update the post.
Williams Sonoma have certainly upped their game this year; the linens for the table made all the difference.
We’re into freezing temperatures here in Canada now, also. It’s been a glorious week of unseasonably warm weather, but it’s drawing to the inevitable close now. The Japanese Maple has turned the brilliant scarlet it does just before the leaves drop in a flurry.