When I first began collecting transferware, I was buying only red pieces. I had started off with Old Britain Castles and then discovered Vista by Masons. I began selling some of my pieces in order to trade up to some of the Vista pieces I wanted. Then one day while perusing the internet I happened upon this platter and I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!
The platter I purchased came from a dealer in South Africa. Once I'd confirmed my purchase, he emailed to say he had other pieces in the pattern for sale. I have such an affinity for pieces with bucolic scenery so this pattern, named Byron, by Spode instantly became my favorite.
I've been collecting this pattern for about 10 years now, selling the duplicate pieces I've acquired along the way.
Tonight I set the table for all 8 of us and set up the buffet for dessert and coffee/tea.
I don't have 8 of these cream soups and saucers but wanted to show them to you.
This is the scene inside the soup bowl and a close up of the saucer it sets on. Most of the
Spode Byron pieces each depict a different scene, pastoral in nature.
I found the vintage tablecloth and 12 matching napkins sometime back for a few dollars. I am not particularly crazy about it but when I saw it I knew it would be a good match for my Byron dishes so I've saved it for tonight. It's a creamy white linen with shades of gold and brown embroidered flowers...just the same as the hand painted portions around the border.
I layered up the napkins using some sheer green organza napkins from Always Elegant, bead trimmed gold napkins from Tar-zhe' (Target) a few years back and the ones that match my tablecloth. The organza gives it a little extra color plus some subtle shimmer. The brown beaded napkin rings are also from Always Elegant.
I stacked each setting with several sized plates.
First the dinner plate:
Next came the 9" plates (these are really luncheon plates)
and then 7" salad plates
A little more layering underneath the plates came with the pretty Heritage Lace placemats from Priscillas Lace and Linens and for an extra hint of sparkle and to allow the plates to really contrast against their background I added brown, hand beaded chargers that I got from Always Elegant.
Bread plates were also at each setting and have a sweet scene with girls who've been gathering wheat. One of the girls has perched herself up on the fence and a little dog looks curiously on.
I could not resist these hand blown glasses...they are absolutely the perfect color combination of amber/gold, brown (inside the stems), and green (swirled around the foot) for my Byron dishes...not to mention they add a bit of contemporary flair to the setting. I just love 'em!
I had the table set for a couple of days pondering a centerpiece and then it donned on me that I had this darling figurine. He seems to blend perfectly with the depictions on the dishes. I scrunched up a sheer voile panel that has a crushed effect with added embroidery and thin lines of satin color onto the center of the table. Over that I draped two garlands of fall foliage with small pumpkins and gourds and placed the boy and his dogs figurine amongst it all. It looks like he's wandering through a pumpkin patch. Two candelabras with votive candles from Zest Candles were placed at either side.
Who doesn't love the soft flicker of lit candles?
I've posted about Spode Byron before and given a bit of history on this pattern. You can read (and see) more at these two posts:
Here's a peek at the buffet. I'll post this sometime next week.
Wherever smoke, wreaths Heavenward curl-
Cave of a hermit, Hovel of churl,
Mansion of merchant, princely dome-
Out of the dreariness
Into its cheeriness,
Come we in weariness,
Home.
~Stephen Chalmers
This week I'm joining the following:
Vintage Thingy Thursday
The Shabby Chic Cottage
French Country Cottage
Color Outside the Lines
Between Naps on the Porch
Centerpiece Wednesdays
Freckled Laundry
Funky Junk Interiors
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