My Grandma's Attic: Her Dinnerware Collection

Six months ago, my dad and I cataloged my late grandmother’s collection of dishes and cut glass pieces. We were pretty amazed at how much stuff that included, as most of this was never on display. Not surprising, I found that most of them were not my style. I love vintage but my taste is pretty specific and there was a lot here that I did not like. However, for our purposes of what to keep and what to donate, I tried to research the pieces I could identify from markings or specific details. It boggles the mind that my Grandmother had so many different sets of china, all styles, and an amazing large set of cut glass…everything! I’m going to post a few images and descriptions and at the end I’m going to show what made that whole afternoon of opening boxes, setting up groupings, and photographing it all worth it. Oh, so worth it!

Here’s the worst of the bunch, in my opinion the worst design I have ever seen on dinnerware and we are now in possession of a huge set of these:

Yes, your eyes are not lying, green and gold faux Victoriana plates from the Taylor Smith Taylor company. These were produced mid-century and manufactured in the U.S. The platters feature Victorian couples in the center surrounded with a deep forest green band with an intricate overlaid pattern in gold. Research shows this pattern has been known by collectors as Victorian Couple, George and Martha Washington, Quadrille, Romeo and Juliet, or Courting Couple. Each size plate, bowl, or cup shows a different scene. I think because of the green and gold colors that it resembles a holiday collection of some sorts. This. I do not like.

My grandmother has one standout set that is very popular and yet still very desirable. The pattern is popular in its own right and I have even seen it used on cell phone cases. The name is Blue Willow and you probably feel that you’ve seen it before, even if just at a thrift store. Like I said, it was very popular. This design or some kind of close variation was produced by many companies, such as Homer Laughlin (of Fiestaware fame), Spode, Royal Dalton, and Wedgewood. Our set was manufactured by Churchill, a British company and is marked so on the bottom of the pieces. However, when looking at the individual pieces I noticed some variation. Many had the inscribed Churchill mark on the bottom but the stamps would look different and the pieces themselves would have little discrepancies. This was not a one-time purchase, she probably accumulated these over time instead. If sold, it should be in groupings so that each set would have identical pieces.

This Ellesmere Furnival tureen is similarly colored but not related and unfortunately I have not been able to find any information more than the name marked on the base of the piece. Also note in the picture above that the two cups with the Blue Willow pattern have differently shaped handles, another example of their being multiple variations of that pattern in the collection.

  

Here are just a few of the unmarked cut glass pieces varying from butter dishes, compotes, salad dressing cruets to tiered dessert plates and hors d'oeuvre trays (not pictured).

Then there were these, the Whitney #5671 from Imperial China and manufactured in Japan. Again, not my type but I can appreciate its beauty. The white dishes with silver trim are surrounded with a leaf scroll design painted on a light gray band. We have a near complete set of I did a little research, I have much more to do, but I found out on one site that an 8 to 10 place setting, during a good market period, could bring in $700-900 depending on condition. So there is hope for our little venture.

Oh, and the items that made that entire day worth it? Feast your eyes on these!

A Blendo summer cocktail set!

Possibly from the West Virginia Glass Company, this frosted turquoise juice pitcher and eight-piece tumbler set, 2 each of bright aqua, coral, yellow, and sage green with gold rims. The company put out variations of these colorful sets where the saturated solid color at the base gradually fades as it rises into clear glass with a gold band marking the divide. Some were all one color sets, others were multicolor in brights and pastels. Check Etsy or eBay for "Blendo" and you will be amazed. Anyone who has seen my apartment (use the Home tag on this blog to see images) knows that these colors fit right in.  I adore this set. Though I have never 'had people over for summer cocktails', I will at least be prepared if the occasion ever does arrive.

I have a strong feeling that these were a gift to my grandmother because, come on, one look at the stuff above and then look at this...not the same style at all, right? Well, they are no longer packed away, though I would prefer that they were. My father put them through the dishwasher (No!*) and now has them on display in his home even though we agreed that they were mine to keep. I asked him to take care of them but I meant for them to stay protected in their bubble wrap. I hope to claim them in the future and display them when a place I live in is no longer considered a "hazardous place for delicate things to live".

SHELTER Sets: Somewhere Pink To Land

With season 6 updates!

The last ever season of Mad Men has aired. While looking at all the retrospective articles, episode recaps, and fashion commentary, I also looked at the interiors of the Mad Men sets. With Joan Holloway-Harris' departure from McCann Erickson, a lot more of her scenes were staged in her little pink apartment. Even though most of the articles mentioned above spoke about how the characters had or had not changed in the last 10 years, one thing that did not change was her home. When I first put together this post, Joan was still a newlywed. Now, despite all her life changes in the past ten years and the fact that now her little boy and mother share the space, it miraculously looks the same. Check out some new pics and updated commentary (in blue) below.

Well, come on in! Welcome to the apartment home of Greg and Joan Harris (nee Holloway), wonderfully sourced and styled by the talented set decorator Amy Wells, production designer Dan Bishop* and their design teams at Mad Men.

It is definitely girly, all done up in coral pink and seafoam green. Or in other words, shades of red and green. You do remember that the former Joan Holloway got married during the Christmas season, right?

Add in some cream, turquoise, gold accents, robin's egg blue in the kitchen, lavender or lilac in the bedroom, and you have Joan's complete interior color scheme for her amazing pink apartment.

So, let's start with that sumptuous floor pillow Joanie is lounging on above. This would be easy to replicate with some damask fabric and the same kind of trim which can still be found at any fabric store, some 30 decades later. How about a mix and match of the two below from Wrights trims?


Wrights trims

In this view, we can see the green graphic patterned drapes alongside shorter cream or eggshell colored sheers; a gilded oval mirror, candle sconces, and her cream painted dining set with cane back chairs. Notice that her walls are in a deep coral (or salmon) and that the trim is that color that landlords still stick you with today, Antique White/Apartment Beige (or as it's called in the U.K, Magnolia). At least she has the wall-to-wall seafoam green carpet to augment her color scheme.

• The painted piece near the dining table stands in for a bar and seems to have a faux shagreen finish on the sides and gold detailing. Anyone know what this piece is called or what the furniture style is?

• Gilded gold round coffee table with inset glass resting on three chunky legs.

General Electric refrigerator for S. 3 and newer one for S.4

• Season 3 had the most adorable refrigerator ever! It took quite a while to source this one! Luckily, it was distinctive because of the vertical handle, separate freezer compartment on the bottom, slightly raised middle section on top and the deep channeled detailing down the center. It looks like it could be either a General Electric Deluxe PB6-40 or just a B6-40. Now whether or not they kept the same designs for years, may mean that this model is as old as the 1940-50s. Perhaps MM noticed that too because Season 4 shows a different, less-cute refrigerator.
  
  

  

  Season 6

• Season 6 shows an even newer refrigerator, in bright blue! What was Joan doing to those things? That seems to be a lot of wear and tear in just ten years.

• Remember those nubby sofas? What was that fabric and why was it so hard to clean?
• Here we see a coral armchair in a different style than the cream damask club chair seen in the earlier picture.
• I love that pale wood TV cabinet on hairpin wire legs and the lovely turquoise bowl/ashtray on top.
• Also do you notice the painted street scene? A very similar one is seen in her new office this season, I wonder if she brought it from home or bought herself a new one?

Season 6

• In season 6, Joan still has the same sofa. It is over ten years old and still covered in the same fabric. I find it hard to believe that with the huge increase in her salary this was never replaced. Every other character on the show has changed homes, some numerous times. However, Joan not only did not move but she had never changed anything in her apartment except a kitchen appliance or two? Puh-lease.
• Those turquoise drapes do not seem to have faded and the carpet has changed from a pale seafoam blue to cream, despite there being a child under ten living there.

Season 6

• Gilded faux bamboo bar cart with turquoise and gold tipped glasses. Of course, this made it to season 6!

• An unique folding buffet tray for appetizers. I used to have a wooden sewing basket that was constructed just like this. Here's one by Karoff that I found online at A La Modern. I'm tempted to believe it's the same one that Mad Men bought. Others can still be found on eBay and Etsy.

Karoff buffet tray

• A better look at the abstract patterned barkcloth curtains at the back of the room next to the plant.
• A closer view of those nubby, uncomfortable sofas? We had two otherwise lovely Danish armchairs recovered in that fabric (almost the same color too) when I was a teen. They originally were in tufted black leather...le sigh.
• Notice Joan's gold-tipped tea service and canape server. You can tell that she studied entertaining from her copy of Emily Post.
• I wish we could see those hanging light fixtures better though.

Red pearl Crucianelli accordion.

• I found many similar looking Italian-made Scandalli models before I could find a picture of a Crucianelli model like Joan's. Isn't it truly gorgeous?

Update: Picture of Joanie's bedroom, just ignore the exhausted diva in her jammies.

Lookee! Here's Joanie's color scheme from a 1952 print ad for DUCO paints from DuPont.

Images: Courtesy of Tom and Lorenzo (Thank you SO much guys!), A La Modern, AMC, Retro Renovation

*Links to two online versions of Etiquette: in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home, 1922.
** He's a VCU alum too!

Excellent Advice at Any Time

While I loved the original WWI slogan and image, this cheeky update on the message really speaks to me. I mean, who can be panicky and stressed out while contemplating a luscious cupcake?

Available from the Everyday is a Holiday shop on Etsy.

Esty Art for the Home

These Etsy artists have caught my eye. At the time, I don't have the money to buy any of these (although they are incredibly affordable) but I thought someone should! They would make great additions to a home wishing to add something timeless to the mix.

A few months ago I saw images from Oh Kirby. The images are mostly of historical dress as in her Historical Ladies of Fashion series and have a vintage "paper doll" quality. In fact, the artist produces some as individual figurines in her Paper Doll Girl series (unfortunately, without the extra outfits.)

Then there is the melancholy beauty of annejulie. Her images are strong and lush, yet delicate in their handling. Note the lacey dragonflies as eyelid and lashes in the lovely Souvenirs. See more of her beautiful imagery at her website, Ma petite theiere. Don't worry that the site is in French as she publishes an English translation under each post.


These are Canadian photographer Jennifer Squires' images. Jennifer sent me a sweet email about her photographs of spring flowers (yes, months ago!) but I was more intrigued with her photographs of less typical images, such as the shopping cart and the image of a smoked salmon sandwich.



I fell in love with the images of johanna wright a few years ago. I swear I will buy one of her pieces soon.



Last night, I discovered artist Jennifer Judd-McGee's Swallowfield shop. She offers beautiful archival prints of her collages and drawings and these two are my favorites.

So, go on and buy yourself your Etsy art, because I can't.