Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) - Plate - Mfg by Wedgwood and imported by Van Husen Charles Company. This is one of a total of 120 pieces selected by the First Lady. Actually, Mrs. Roosevelt merely chose a Wedgwood pattern from among several English and porcelain samples. This resulted in a border design of simple, radiating gold lines with the only dramatic change being the addition of the Great Seal of the United States. (with thanks to AmericanHeritage1.com)
I think the Colonnade pattern stood out because of it's graphic nature and modern look for the time. So when it came time to do the traditional china registry, Black Colonnade was chosen. I was fortunate to receive four full place settings as gifts, and the three companion pieces that you see here. The coffee pot, tea pot and small creamer. I haven't bought any additional pieces since 1989, and really have hardly used it, which is a shame.
Recently Mr, Inky and I found a lovely oak sideboard that coordinates with our oak dining set from the 20's/30's. We were fortunate to find it for an excellent price due to some condition issues - you can see that handles are missing and there is a small crack in the left beveled glass mirror. But it is so beautiful and the small size perfect for our dining room - and frankly, I do not like old pieces of furniture that are so precious you are afraid to really use them, so I consider "issues" to be signs of life and love and use. Plus there's the fun of hunting for new handles!!
The real true benefit of the sideboard has been clearing out a large cabinet in the kitchen and moving the Wedgewood , silverware and other serving pieces to the dining area where we can see them and best of all - USE THEM! Luckily, Mr. Inky loves the Colonnade pattern as much as I do and it holds no sentiment as being part of a previous life. It's just china, after all ;)
I am going to finally add to my collection soon - the sugar bowl for this lovely pattern (its no longer in production, but a fine company I have bought from before, Replacements, has a piece on Ebay). Isn't it the sweetest??
So tell me, do you you have any fine china in your collection and do you use it?
14 comments:
No fine china.. just fun china! And yup I use it all!
MaryD
The old man bought a full service of German china (can't remember the brand name)it's lovely, but we don't use it very often as it has gold print on it & we can't put it in the dishwasher, otherwise we would use it more often.
I always say - you bought it, you wash it! Doesn't seem to work though!
Your sideboard is lovely Inky, and so's the china! Your dining room looks so nice. I have some china made by Community called Deauville, made to match their silverplate pattern of that name, and we do use it, although not as often as I would like. I like looking at it, too, though!
No "fine" china, but I have more dishes than anyone should. I try to rotate the patterns in and out, but tend stick with the sturdy vintage restaurant ware because of the careless teenagers in my house. I have a soft spot for 1940s Winfield China from California, and try to use each set a couple times a year. Then there's the violet Melmac set...sigh. You see my dilemma? :-)
I have Cath Kidston polka dot plates, which are currently in storage at my mother's as I'm living in a houseshare at the moment (so no real opportunity to express my vintage love in my home - the only reason I would want to get my own place)
I have a mix of real and fake Blue Wedgwood, all of it given to me. My mother-in-law was shocked when she dropped a tea cup and found it was the real deal. "We only use ours for special times" she told me. I don't see the point on spending the money if you aren't going to use it.
I love the sideboard, the mirror is a nice touch.
Love the look of the china on the sideboard! I don't have any special china, but i do have some crystal that was given to me by my grandma. I can't wait until i can actually display it someday!
I have some china, but nothing fine or expensive! Mr V's mum has some nice pieces though, but i would never use them for fear of breaking them!
What a fabulous sideboard you found! Looks lovely in your dining room!
I'm a huge fan of what I like to call "functional antiques" - it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it's useful, usable, and interesting. ;)
Gorgeous china you have there too! I don't really have true fine china, but I do have my grandmother's W. S. George set that I use once in a blue moon. More often, my Crocus pattern Hall China heads to the table for special dinners/occasions.
I can see why you chose that pattern. It's beautiful!
I had some china that was my mom's, but I sold it because I never liked it. Still looking for that perfect pattern to start collecting...but no dice.
The only dishware set that I love and have is a six piece tea set that I bought in Russia. It's white with huge pink roses and gold detailing. It looks vintage! LOL Unfortunately, they're so delicate that two cups have broken. It came with a tea pot, and sugar and creamer set. *sigh*
My mother-in-law recently gave us her china from when she married my father-in-law. They are divorced now. I am so afraid to brake a piece that I have them in storage for the time being.
The pattern you have is very classy! I love it!
:-)
That's a beautiful pattern! And yes, I have fine china...my wedding pattern (which I still adore) was Minton's Belle Meade. I also have a small service of Lenox's Winter Greetings for Christmas.
I use them occasionally.
Your sideboard is lovely, too!
(((hugs)))
I have one set of 12 place settings (Royal Doulton Gold Lace), another set of 6 place settings (Royal Albert American Beauty), and another partial set of something I can't remember the name of, and I don't use any of them. Which is stupid. Thank you for your post, because I am going to start using them, slowly, once a week or so.
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