Thank you, Susan, for hosting this event each week!!!
While in my guest room, I saw a picture on the wall.........a print from La Mode Illustrée that I had bought many years ago at an estate sale. Truly, not even thinking of the tablescape, I wondered if this print could be the "real deal", an etched fashion plate, .....LOL.....let's see, I had paid a couple of dollars for it.......probably not the original etching.
After looking at the picture closely, I realized it was signed by the artist and even had the issue number of the fashion magazine written under the title of the publication.......wow....Adele-Anais Toudouze (Paris, 1822-1899) was one of the major artists for La Mode. She belonged to a most talented family of artists and engravers. Maybe this is one of those fabulous finds at a sale that you buy for nothing and it turns out to very valuable. Google, here I come.
Getting more excited, I decided to take the print out of the frame and check for the details I had read that made it the "real deal"......imperfect edges, pale pastel coloring, very thin paper that would seem almost sheer, and a date in the lower right hand corner. My print had everything listed except the date, sheer paper, pale coloring, and imperfect edges. It was now obvious that I had a reproduction. However, after reading a little further, I found that the repos were done in the 1940's and 50's. This print is no "newcomer"....LOL....it is only a little younger than I ! Certainly, it has to have more value than the two dollars I paid for it. After a little more research, I discovered that my lovely print is worth about forty dollars. And now the frame has been cleaned, the glass shined, and the all put back together good as new. I seem to do my best cleaning when not expecting to do so.
While hanging the picture back in the guest room, I saw some objects that looked as if they had jumped out of the print......a porcelain dresser doll powder box, holding a beloved Peke ......(remember I have Millini Magnolia, an eleven year old Peke.)
an altered book in the same colors,
some crochet,
a milk glass goblet.......pattern, Della Robia by Westmorland Glass Co. (circa 1940). Milk glass was lovingly used in France in the 1800's, and considered to be a treasure.
.......NOW, I know what my trayscape will look like!!!!!!
I have always loved our wedding china and felt that we made the right choice 47 years ago....not just us as a couple, but our china pattern as well. It is Haviland "Bergere" which was discontinued soon after our marriage. The pale blue and lavender corn flowers are so delicate and the fluted swirled edges always please my eyes. Note the tiny cut glass salt dish behind the plate with the Francis First salt spoon. A very dear friend of my husband's gave me 8 cut glass salts that had belonged to his mother. He told me that I was the only woman he knew that would use them and love them. They are very special to me!
The La Mode print was photographed and reduced in size, printed from my laptop on my printer and placed on the tray to "tie" the trayscape in unity.
Della Robia by Westmorland Glass Co. is the pattern of the goblet, the cobalt glass is one that I bought in a thrift shop. The color of the cobalt blue drew me to it and the stem also added to the attraction. The sterling sculpture of the cat on the chair is an Ebay purchase. It came from England, and I know little about it.
The goblet is resting in a Bergere coaster that matches the china. The sterling flatware is Francis First by Reed and Barton.
Blue placemat and napkin are part of a set of four..........linen and beautiful French lace.
Thank you for visitng today, and you know, that you are always welcome here. Be sure and visit other tablescapes here at Tablescape Thursday as there are so many that will inspire you to use some of your own lovelies that are stored in closets, china cabinets and drawers. Have a great week and until next time.......Tea Party Everyday......why not?
