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Romantic England ~ Purple Transferware Tablescape

Does anyone else out there have it bad for purple?  I do, especially when it's purple transferware

Tonight I'm setting the table with J & G Meakin's Romantic England in purple.  First, I'll tell you a little about this firm and the brothers who operated it.  J & G stands for James and George, the eldest of four Meakin brothers, all who were famous potters, and all the sons of James Meakin, a potter himself.  When James Sr. fell ill, the two eldest boys succeeded him in his pottery business and thus formed J & G Meakin in 1851.  Within about a year their father had died and the boys moved the factory to a new location in Hanley where they remained for 7 years.  The brothers were quick to realize the potential in the export market so George went to the United States to set up the sales market while James remained in England to manage the pottery works and logistics.  This lead to much success, so much that a new factory was built on the side of the Caldon canal and was named Eagle Pottery. 

The Eagle pottery was bold and visionary, well advanced for its time.  Erected on the moorlands on the outskirts of Hanley with access by canal where many potteries often built on the canal side so that raw materials could be brought in and finished wares could be taken for export (the great majority of Meakin wares were made for export to the United States).  In 1887 J & G purchased the Eastwood Pottery from brother Charles Meakin,  becoming the largest potting company in Britain.
The company was passed from one generation to the next for over a hundred years.  1968 saw the merger of Meakin with Midwinter and in 1970 they were taken over by the Wedgwood group.  And just to keep you (hopefully) interested, the Meakin brothers have very famous grandsons whom we know today as Johnson Brothers (producers of famous patterns such as Old Britain Castles, Rose Chintz and Friendly Village).

Ok, ok enough learning and history I say!

Here is my tablescape. 
I began with a gorgeous Ralph Lauren tablecloth from PersonallybyPat.  She has more of these available and lots of other gorgeous table linens and home decor.  Coincidentally, I have drapes made from this fabric in my bedroom, where I display some of my purple transferware.    It's a deep aubergine background with floral bouquets in lavender, purple, red, pink, taupe and green.  The purple looks so nice against it but you can bring out lots of colors with this.


The Romantic England pattern depicts a different, historical English scene on each piece which is framed with a pretty vine and berry border.  It comes in several colors which you can see some of HERE
 The flatware is an ornate set with green marbleized handles by Barenthal.  I have two, new 20 pc. service for four sets available if anyone wants them.  Just email me if so.  I love the look of this flatware and have a burgundy colored set too.
Isn't this purple transferware napkin ring adorable?  It's the only one I have...shhh, dont' tell, but the others I used are all brown.  And the napkins...yes I use them all the time.  They were my Moms and I remember many of her dinner parties having these at the table.  Some of the lace is so tattered and torn on a few of them but I don't have it in me to part with them.
The cool swirled lavender glasses are Anthropologie and come
from Auntie's Elegant Collectibles.   The purple glasses are a TJ Maxx bargain.
The big, lavender/purple pillar candles and the tealights are from Zest Candles....wonderful candle selection here!
The salad plates depict Penshurst Place with deer grazing in the front.  Some of them are slightly square shaped plates and some are more rounded like mine below. 

 The dinner plates depict a horseman passing over a bridge at Haddon Hall.  There is a fisherman sitting on the banks below.  There are two similar engravings for this plate, one has the addition of a little girl standing on the bridge waving her hat in a friendly hello to the man on the horse as he passes by.

The tea cup and saucer shows Anne Hathaway's (Shakespeare's wife) Cottage and the saucer, Holy Trinity Church at Stratford on Avon.

Other Romantic England pieces depict places like Ightham Mote,  Willy Lotts cottage, West Gate / Liecester Hospital and famous castles such as Stokesay.  They are beautiful as display pieces or for use.  I had a lot of pictures to show of my bedroom on my computer (which fried big time a week ago) so I'll have to show you some other time.

Until then, have a great weekend!




Ability will never catch up with the demand for it
~Confucius~

A Stroll Thru Life
Brambleberry Cottage
Bargain Hunting with Laurie
Publish Post
Common Ground
Vignette Friday
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch


Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations 
Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor

Comments

  1. Another incredibly beautiful table! Everything just works together so perfectly as always. I only have blue and white, but would love to add some other colors someday. Gorgeous as always!!

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  2. I'm not sure that I've ever seen purple transferware...it's beautiful! I love it, too, but foolishly gave a lot of it away to charity a few years back when I was going through a "pay it forward" mood. I keep thinking that someday I'll walk into a thrift store and see that someone has once again put it out there. :-) Yours is just gorgeous! I really like the stemware, too!

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  3. Oh my goodness, just so wonderful. Every little piece.....detailed. You my friend are a true talent!
    machelle

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  4. I'm so sad about your computer. I had to part with mine for a day last week to have a new keyboard inserted. I must admit, I got quite a bit done around home that day. The purple transferware is so very special. Your mom's napkins are a treasure, and the minor imperfections only make them more so. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

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  5. Hi Nancy, I love reading your fascinating histories - I live only about 20 miles from Stoke on Trent and the names are so familiar to me, but the histories remain unknown.
    I love the purple transfer ware, but rarely see it in the UK so it's so nice to see it as part of a completely beautiful table setting.
    Thank you for sharing :o)

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  6. I love purple and have never seen transferware in this color. Just stunning..everything in your tablescape. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  7. Nancy, thanks to you I have fallen so in love with purple transferware! Just gorgeous! I love the flatware and really wish it were in the budget- lovely!
    xoxo Pattie

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  8. Nancy, the purple is just beautiful and I've never seen it before! You've set an absolutely wonderful table, with that tablecloth and all the accessories. Love the napkin rings and the flatware. I always enjoy my visits here- so much inspiration~
    Sue

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  9. Thank you,I enjoyed all of it.The tablecloth is wonderful.I never tire of purple transferware.

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  10. Purple is my favorite transferware.
    did a wonderful job!

    Stop by and collect your clues. The largest giveaway in Decor To Adore history will be revealed next Friday.

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  11. Just beautiful!!! Love all the purples, esp. the glasses, great find!!! Wonderful tablecloth and setting.....hugs, Cleo

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  12. That is a truly gorgeous table! Everything is so different, but you make it work beautifully. I love the purple transferware with that tablecloth....

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  13. I love you snippet of history..and the purple transfer ware is just lovely..I am a "Potteries girl" the places you speak of are just up the road....but I have never seen purple here...

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  14. The purple is just awesome. I love how you give us the history and share your passion for English transferware with us. I have given you a blog award. Please forgive me if you don't particpiate in these.
    Here is the direct link:
    http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-award.html

    Sherry

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  15. I just love reading your blog Nancy. It's beautiful to look at and I learn something about my passion - transferware. Thank you!

    Have a great weekend.

    Eline

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  16. Count me in on the purple transfer awareness for the first time. Thanks for posting your beautiful tablescape.

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  17. Love the deep color of the tablecloth against the purple transferware.. it's all quite stunning.

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  18. Is there any other word that I could use besides STUNNING? This is by far my favorite of any tables you have done...purples are not even close to being my favorite colors, either...something about this table just keeps drawing me to it.

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  19. Hello, dear Nancy! I' haven't been around for a few weeks but I have thought of you and missed you. I seem to be behind on EVERYTHING, lately. (It might have something to do with the zombie-like early school morning state that I've been in....) Anyway, I've come to just look and skim a few words and to be inspired. It's so lovely to be back!!! I scrolled a ways and just want to say the obvious - you have such a gift for setting a beautiful table! Also, I just can't help but mention that your "dogs" are priceless!

    Love, Katy xo

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  20. As always I love the purple and you do it perfectly nancy. I am trying to sell my nh home and with that all my purple will come back to my boston house...then I will have to figure out how I am going to display or use them. I'll be looking at your posts to help me figure that out.

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  21. Hi Nancy, LOVE that purple, and the tablecloth is just gorgeous! And I so enjoyed hearing the history of Meakin and the Johnson Bros. Thanks so much for joining in with VIF!!
    xo,
    Debra

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  22. What a real lovely fall tablescape Nancy! You're ready for Thanksgiving. Stopping by from SOYCM.
    -marie

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  23. I have never been to your beautiful blog before but I saw this gorgeous purple transferware and had to comment. I saw it in person for the first time this past weekend and fell in love with it ~ I may just have to start collecting it also - but I fear I have run out of room for any more collections ~ Im sure you know the dilemma:)

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  24. This table setting hs been stuck in my minds eye for a few days. I couldn't see that I had the Penshurst Place among my collection but I remembered it. Today I was de-cluttering my someday craft room and stumbled onto my plate. I bought it at an antique store in Iowa in 2002; it wasnt' in the best of shape when I bought it and was chipped when I unpacked it from the trip. So it lay there forgotten until I would get my husband to work his magic with glue. It has one piece that is intact enough to glue and then I will fiind womeplace to display it, chipped or not. I collect pink transferware and own green transferware for my every day dishes. I like this pattern so much and am still struck by similarities around the border with other patterns.

    I thank you for your lovelly blog, I love your dishes...every single color! Alas, so many dishes not enough room for it all!

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  25. I love your blog. I have one piece of the Penhurst Place pattern in pink. I bought it damaged, but it was too lovely to put back on the shelf. I bought it in 2002 while on vacation in Iowa...and seeing this lovely table scape I knew I had that pattern and today I found it. although it is damaged I creatively display it. The borders are so similare to other patterns that I wonder if the artists were influenced by each other over time. The leaves and fruit are so lovely. Thanks for sharing your love of transferware so beautifully.

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  26. Gorgeous transferware, Nancy! I just love your tablescape, everything is so pretty from the tablecloth to the dishes to the centerpiece, etc...Christine

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  27. Absolutely beautiful Nancy! Until I found your blog I never saw purple transferware before-love it!

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  28. Hi Nancy!

    I love that purple transferware. It is just gorgeous. And that table linen is beutiful!!

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  29. Totally gorgeous! Because of you I am looking at and appretiating all colors of transferware!!!
    Linda

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  30. I always learn so much about your beautiful transferware. Your table is stunning, and I love your linens too. Everything is done to perfection. Thanks so much for linking to TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  31. Your tablescape is breath-takingly gorgeous! Everything is perfect. The placemat charges give a nice texture. The floral tablecloth adds a bit of informality. A perfect combination of refined and approachable.

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  32. I liked hearing the story of the Meakin brothers...fascinating! And I love your transferware, just over the top pretty.

    Thanks, Nancy!

    XO,
    Janie

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  33. Gorgeous Nancy! I have never seen purple transfer ware before. Yours is very lovely.
    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful table with us and your very pretty tea cup.
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  34. Hi: I think your table is so stunning. I just love the look, so romantic. You have out done yourself. Thank you for sharing. Blessings, Martha

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  35. Nancy, I don't think I've ever seen a transferware collection I have envied more than yours! Where dooo you store it all?

    Thanks for linking to my party. I would love to have you join me each week.

    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  36. Hi Nancy,
    What a rich and luscious table setting!!
    Just beautiful, just love those rich colors,
    so very pretty and elegant.
    blessings, Nellie

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  37. Amazingly Nancy, I ended up choosing Romantic England in the red! I am so excited! The first three dinner plates I got are the older ones. I have more coming, but they are newer, and I'm hoping they will work with the older ones. I also got four sets of the older cups and saucers, but they seem to be hard to find in my price range. It is such a beautiful pattern and I'm glad I kept searching until I found the perfect one. The men in my family love it too!!

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