Morning Coffee for Two on the Terrace

Well, it's time for another Tablescape Thursday with our hostess, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch! Please visit her beautiful blog to see her wonderful tablescapes! Make sure to visit all the other participants.
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Hi Everyone,

I had planned on serving "Afternoon Tea for Two on the Terrace" (nicer alliteration!) but, by the time I'd selected the items for this "still life" and picked the daisies, the light was gone. By the way, if you want to see gorgeous late afternoon photos of a beautiful tablescape, check out this post from Pat of Back Porch Musings .... JUST spectacular!

Anyway, back to morning coffee, I decided to take some of my favorite "onesie" antique chairs outside and set up another simple little table for two. I promise --- this will be the last white/cream gold-rimmed china I'll use for a while. If you saw this post, you know the look is a favorite (a weakness, an addiction?) of mine.

Is the look below affordable? Absolutely ... if you shop carefully!

The crisp, ivory colored cotton "tablecloth" you see puddled on the swept (but not scrubbed) flagstones is an old sheet. Well, it's an old Ralph Lauren sheet (so you know it's comfortable with being used this way). The floral cloth is from a yard sale I stopped by in a nice neighborhood in nearby Brownsville, TN.

The coffee pot below came from a recent local estate sale. Happily, it was a "living" estate -- the widow of my son's pediatrician (when son was a baby). She was moving in with her daughter and selling many possessions she would no longer be needing. The pot was reduced to $8 on the second day of the sale! It's in perfect (probably never used) condition. It's not a famous maker, but Replacements, LTD has it listed for $89.99.

Most of the dishes, including the monogrammed cup below, came from a living estate (downsizing) sale of a retired local doctor and his wife. They'd collected beautiful antiques for decades, and it was a fantastic sale! People came from as far away as Texas. In fact, two ladies (who own an antique shop in Dallas) drove to Tennessee, found the sale location, and slept in the car ... so they'd be first in line! I saw them checking out, handing over a huge stack of cash, and walking away with wonderful items, including an original Tiffany piece.

The cups are Haviland Limoges. I love the ornate monogram, don't you?

Why not use Shasta daisies with fancy dishes? I think their simplicity is a nice contrast. The vase is from another estate sale (also $8 I believe .... reduced on day 2). It's Fostoria in the hugely popular American pattern.

The sterling creamer and open sugar are also estate sale finds. Details are here. The silverplated cocktail shaker was completely black with tarnish when I found it in a local thrift store. It wasn't priced, but I knew I wanted it. I can usually tell if silverplate is in good condition by feeling it for rough spots, and checking for greenish places (a sign the copper underneath is exposed and oxidizing). I asked the price and the shop owner told me I could have it for $2! Do you think I was happy???

I thought it would be nice used outside as a "covered" water pitcher. I used it for serving refills of Mimosa cocktails at a recent brunch.

The old concrete garden statuary on the far right is also from an estate sale ($5). I like old concrete items much better than new ones. Some of you might look at this area and feel the urge to grab a power washer and get busy removing the mossy patina. I can respect that, but I much prefer that certain things have a look that's timeworn and natural.

The napkins were purchased at a local thrift shop. The Rogers Bros. silverplated napkin rings were new-in-the-box at Goodwill.

The Fostoria "American" water glasses came from an antique shop in IL ... the same one where this lamp was purchased. I negotiated the price of six down to only $22! I see them in every antique mall I visit, and I've never seen them for less than around $12 each. I don't plan to collect any more of this pattern. I like the shapes of the water glasses and plates better than many of the other pieces. Did any of you inherit, and/or collect, "American?"

The silverplated flatware is by 1847 Rogers Brothers. The pattern is "Eternally Yours," introduced in 1941. It was made until 1973, but the wooden case this set is in would indicate that it's from the 1940's. It's considered a collectible pattern. When it was introduced, it was promoted as being the first pierced design in silverplate. Prior to that, only certain sterling flatware patterns featured cutout areas.

How many flowers do you see in the picture below?

I'm kidding --- I don't know how many, and I don't want to count to see if you're correct!!!

I think these monogrammed berry bowls are very beautiful. I only wish I'd had some berries to serve you today!

Do you think the tablecloth is too masculine? Hope not --- that's not the look I was going for today!

No fly on the lemon slice this time! I'll admit there were a few gnats and mosquitos flying around, but they're extremely difficult to photograph!

The plate below is by Rosenthal (the doctor's estate sale ... cheap). My first name starts with a W, so I tried to convince myself that's what the initial is ... but I guess it's an M.

The small gold-trimmed plate with roses is by RS Prussia (same sale).

No flies at all! Unlike this day .....

The chair was around $35 at a local antique shop. It used to live in a church -- probably in a choir loft.

Finally the sun is coming over the wall..... The concrete fruit came from .... you guessed it ... an estate sale.

The dinner plates are Bavarian. The gold rim on this one is worn from years of washing in soapy water .... and drying with cotton dish towels.

I very much like that it WAS used ... and didn't spend decades sitting in a china cabinet ... waiting to be sold for a few dollars at the estate sale ... too nice to use .... waiting for that special occasion ... the one that never quite came along .....

Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to hearing from you!