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Christmas Color History of Red & Green with a Transferware Tablescape

This is a very traditionally colored Christmas tablescape inspired by reading up on the two colors we correlate with the season. 
It is just inside the front door at the shop.



It's all decked out in layers of red and green transferware

 I used several different patterns alternating between red and green plates.
This green dinner plate by Spode is the bottom layer.
Next comes Johnson Brothers Chippendale in a square shaped plate.
Teacup saucers in green by Wood and Sons in a fruit & flower motif' were added
 and then topped with red teacups.

 These cute bubble glasses are from Walmart.  They're quite heavy and very inexpensive...about $10 for a set of 16 if I remember correctly.  I think they still sell them.   I think they're charming and have an old fashioned look.

 I get more compliments on this flatware.  Every time someone is in the shop they usually pick it up and admire it.


 Do you like my napkin rings?  These are actually little gift boxes that did  hold two chocolates in each oneThese had been placed on a table at my nephews wedding.  Trevor obviously got more than their fair share of chocolate, along with his cousin Garrett.   I wondered why the party planners kept restocking that table!   The green bows were already tied on the boxes so I simply slipped my napkins through the ribbon on the back of each box.

Yes, this little tree is decorated with transferware demitasse cups.    In yesterdays post I showed the larger, red teacup tree at my house.
These smaller cups better fit the proportion of the table top tree.  Each cup holds a either a green or red candy cane floating candle.
Inexpensive glittery green Poinsettia and red ball ornaments were also hung on the tree along with green ribbon and silver beaded garland.  Last, a few generous helpings of faux snow were sprinkled all over the tree and table.




Next to each place setting a green candy cane candle rests on a red transferware butter pat.  I couldn't find the lighter to light them...shucks!
 I really like the feel of this table...festive and fun with a little whimsy.  Shawn wants to have our Christmas table in these colors. 





Green and Red
The Colors of Christmas
  We are all so seasoned (no pun intended) to think automatically of Christmas when we see a red and green color combination. 
The red and green colors we see at Christmas time are so deeply woven into our society that the majority of us don't ever wonder about its origin.

The color green is a natural representation of eternal life, specifically the evergreen tree which survives through the winter season. For Christians, green represents the eternal life of Jesus Christ. The color red symbolizes Christ’s blood which was shed during his crucifixion.

Back in the 14th Century, churches presented Miracle Plays which were religious plays used to educate the illiterate public. Each December 24, the church presented The Paradise Play, the story of Adam and Eve and of the Garden of Eden.  Since apple trees were not available in winter, apples were fastened to the branches of a pine tree. Using a pine to represent the Tree of Good and Evil became a common practice among churches and they began incorporating the tree into their Christmas displays each year. Following the church’s example, people began assembling pine trees in their homes and decorating them with red apples. This act introduced two modern traditions: the Christmas tree and our seasonal colors, green for the pine tree and red for the apples.
 I'm joining:

A Stroll Thru Life
Between Naps On The Porch
Shabby Chic Cottage
Three or More Tuesday 
Second Time Around Tuesday
Thriftyville Thursday 
Vintage Thingy Thursday
My Cottage Charm 
Pink Saturday

Publish Post

Comments

  1. I am in awe of your beautiful presentation & decor, Nancy. So love the way you came up with such wonderful touches rather than traditional ...

    Have a lovely winter's day ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  2. Stunning. Love the red and green and the tree with the cups is amazing. Gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  3. Very festive! And it's snowing on your blog!!!

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  4. Everything is so very beautiful and I love how you used your imagination more than money to create such a lovely setting.

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  5. I just love transferware!! Why didn't I think of putting teacups on my tree in the kitchen before? Thanks for the idea!

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  6. Lovely setting and what a creative way o trim the tree!!!

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  7. Oh, what a beautiful festive table. Happy VTT!

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  8. Festive table, Nancy. Love the idea of using the demi cups on the little tree. Happy Holidays! ~ Sarah

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  9. Hey Nancy! First, thanks for linking up your lovely tablescape to Treasures and Trinkets..it's always so fun to see what you're up to! :) Second...I enjoyed yours snow! lol
    I too have some of the Johnson Bros plates, only mine aren't square....I would love to find some square ones though..they are just so pretty!
    Every time I think of red and green at Christmas, I think of green for a tree..but I think of the cross/tree Jesus was crucified on and the red is the blood He shed on the cross for all of us. I had never heard of the plays before...that was very interesting.
    Hope you have a VERY Merry Christmas my friend
    Missy

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  10. I'll have to invite my dad to dinner at this red and green table. He is a true traditionalist and would love this! He has no use for my pink at Christmas!! Lovely details as always, I am fond of the teacups in the tree.

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  11. I love everything about this, but that should be no surprise!! I love the square charger, and I think I will try that with a round plate. LOVE the Johnson Bros plates. I had looked at them on ebay last year. Love all the plates, and the whole table is just gorgeous!!

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  12. What a fun table!!! Love all the small details.

    Merry Christmas!

    xo,
    cristin

    ps- here from the linky party #150!

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  13. Nancy...another wonderful table! So festive in red and green! I love the idea for the napkin rings...filing that idea away for another day!

    CHRISTmas Blessings!
    Gail

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  14. Nancy, people must feel that they've entered a wonderland when they go inside your shop. It's completely fabulous and I wish you the greatest success with it.

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  15. Gorgeous table...those dinner plates are so pretty. Love the way you decorated the tree with demitasse cups.
    A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Nancy!

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  16. Nancy, love our red and green... then again, everything you do is beautiful. Thank you so much for the kind comments on my blog - so glad you love my snow covered house 'header photo'... that was last February - so far - only a few flakes that we've had to squint to see! But we ARE supposed to get snow tonight and tomorrow! Can't believe I'm looking forward to it but I AM. I finally finished decorating my tree this morning and put some greenery on my mantel... made some Christmas cookies with 2 out of 3 of my kids last night so I feel like I'm catching up with my list of things to do before Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your big, wonderful family ;)

    Michelle
    New England-Style

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  17. I just have to get to Tulsa to visit your shop! What is the address? I have a precious friend who lives in South Tulsa. I'll bet she'd be close to your store. Wonderful tablescape! Thanks for sharing your lovely design. Merry Christmas! Cherry Kay

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  18. Of course another lovely table. I would love to visit your shop one day! This is just gorgeous as always. I especially love the green Spode dinner plate. I didn't know that about the pine boughs and the apples. Maybe I will have to make one for Christmas Even and teach the family (not that any of them are illiterate!) Have a very Merry Christmas

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  19. That is so pretty! And I am green with envy over your GREEN flatware. Need that for ST. Patrick's Day!
    Merry Christmas!

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  20. Oh, a tea cup tree. How beautiful--these with the candles and in the blog below with the red bird sitting in a cup. Love birds. The tablescape is beautiful and warm.

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  21. Nancy I am truly loving this table! I love the idea of alternating the colors of coordinating china- makes a great impact.

    Lovely lovely!!

    mary

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  22. Oh Nancy, what a table!!! Such an incredible mixing of patterns. Love that green Spode dinner plate. Just gorgeous.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

    - The Tablescaper

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  23. Nancy, I love the red and green china used together...wonderful contrast of colors. Your transferware is beautiful. Have a Merry Christmas...I'm sure dinner at that table will be spectacular!

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  24. Nancy,

    I just discovered your blogspot after visiting your etsy shop and I'm so glad I did! Your tablescape is beautiful! I collect transferware (brown and white) and look forward to visiting your blog again soon:).

    Merry Christmas,

    Kim

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  25. Sending Merry Christmas blessings and Happy New Year wishes from Frog Hollow Farm. What a lovely post! You have such a knack for putting together beautiful tables with such wonderful transferware pieces! Ciao, bella!

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  26. Your tabletop gave me goosebumps for Christmas - thanks for sharing the beauty!

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