Quail Blue with Yellow Peony Tulips

by Helen Kain | May 15, 2022 | Antiques, Blue, Spring Tablescapes, Yellow

It is almost peony time. The plants have gone from little red nubs poking through the ground to three-foot bushes in weeks. The flower buds are waxing fat, and my anticipation is mounting. I can’t wait! But in the meantime, we have peony tulips to help ease my...

Artisan Fish Plates

by Helen Kain | Jul 4, 2021 | Accessories, Antique glassware, Antiques, Blue, Summer Tablescapes, Terracotta

Living by the ocean, it’s impossible to escape crustacean and fish-themed decor, and I have my share of it in tableware.  These Rosalie Nadeau Fish plates were one of our earlier acquisitions from Tree’s Place Gallery in Chatham, MA. Though the gift...

French Faience with Don Quixote

by Helen Kain | Apr 4, 2019 | Antiques, Blue, Green, Spring Tablescapes, Vintage china, Vintage glassware, White

The Ingenious Gentleman Sir Quixote of La Mancha is the full title of the Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes, but most of us know it simply as Don Quixote, the story of a delusional knight-errant who tilted at windmills. His faithful squire, Sancho Panza,...

Majolica Oyster Plates & Peonies

by Helen Kain | Jun 7, 2018 | Antiques, Grey and Pewter, Pink and Red, Spring Tablescapes, White

Majolica Oyster plates are one of those love ’em or hate ’em tableware items. The typical design incorporates six wells for the oysters and some of them have an additional little round well in the centre, originally for crackers, but we tend to use it for...

Royal Crown Derby Floral Butterfly Plates

by Helen Kain | Apr 19, 2018 | Antiques, Green, Pink and Red, Purple, Spring Tablescapes, Summer Tablescapes

Hello, hello! Sorry for the relative silence over the past few days; I’ve been travelling for business and haven’t had great access to secure wi-fi. Today I want to share a set of Aesthetic Movement dessert plates I picked up a couple of years ago. Soft...

Update on “Come and Dine” at Highclere

by Helen Kain | Mar 16, 2018 | Antiques, Spring Tablescapes

I received a link to Lady Carnarvon’s blog yesterday, giving us an update on how the contest judging is shaping up. They have had some marvellous entries, going by the pictures, and everyone looks to have had a ton of fun putting their dinners together. I...