Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Pink China -- New and Old


You know how I love blue and white china and blue and white china abounds at Linderhof -- we use it for both company dinners as well as every day. My breakfast coffee is drunk from blue and white and my afternoon tea is poured from a wee blue and white pot.

But, I do have other china loves . . . Oriental china -- again in blue and white and the porcelain known as famille rose. Alas, I have no real pieces of famille rose at Linderhof, however . . .
I do have these --

It's by Spode and the pattern name is Famille Rose. I have six cups and saucers which I've had for a long long time. In the cupboard and almost forgotten until I did January cleaning this year. I moved them to the front of the cupboard so that they would not remain forgotten.

Also, there are six tea plates (or bread and butter plates). Bought on line after I rediscovered the cups and saucers and decided that I needed tea plates to go with!

It's a great tea cup and has such a pretty design in the bottom of the cup. When you finish your tea, the design makes you smile!

And I do love the pink flowers -- Oriental mums or poppies (you decide) -- and the other flowers as well. And it has some of my beloved blue in the design.

A salad plate -- it's by Crown Staffordshire and called Rock Bird. The same pink flower -- enhanced by a bird. These six salad plates and a platter were an Estate Sale find last summer. I was drawn to them by both the design and the price (a really good buy!).

When I rediscovered the tea cups and saucers, I thought that these might make a good mix for the Spode.
And then I found the Wedgwood. Again, a set of six. This pattern is cuckoo and it is the same Famille Rose type design with the poppy, some blue and like the salad, a bird. It's fine china and Wedgwood is so special.

I like to mix and match and these three patterns seem to go together very well.
It sets a very pretty tea table (the Spode cups and plates for tea -- the Wedgwood on the curate for tea goodies)
And the Rock Bird for salad plates with the Wedgwood cuckoo underneath waiting for the main course at a dinner party.

Alas, I yearn for a teapot in the Wedgwood Cuckoo pattern. Replacements HAD one listed but when I ordered it, they found that it was not in stock (sigh). I'm still yearning for one and am constantly searching ebay for this elusive and coveted teapot.

It's Saturday which means that Beverly is hosting Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound. Join her and see what other pinks there are this Saturday.

15 comments:

Pondside said...

While I, too, love blue and white, a touch of pink and green is beautiful too. I hope you find your teapot!

Blondie's Journal said...

I love the cups and saucers you found hidden away. They are sure to bring happiness at tea time! And all of the pieces go very well together.

xoxo
Jane

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh what a delight to see such a pretty design inside the cup. The dishes are all just fabulous and such beautiful colors. They mix together just perfectly. Love them. Hugs, Marty

Mary Bergfeld said...

What a perfect post for Pink Saturday. Your china is beautiful. Blessings...Mary

Allie and Pattie said...

Oh, you KNOW how I love those Martha! I drool every time you post them- just lovely
xoxo Pattie

Southerncook said...

Oh Martha, I absolutely LOVE your new china. What an amazing find and the newly found plates work perfectly.

Carolyn

HollyC said...

I love all the beautiful colors of these dishes!! They all compliment each other wonderfully!! Thanks for sharing.
~Holly

Peg said...

Your pink Spode is pretty too, but my favorite will always be your blue and white! I'm still thinking of buying some myself.

BumbleVee said...

They are beautiful....love the Oriental theme.....

benchwarmer said...

hello martha! i'm living my new love for china thru you! such beautiful pieces! hope you find the teapot you long for.

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

you got quite a collection! all so beautiful! Like you I understand the feeling of happiness when using our fave tea cups and plates for our tea time.. or any other time.. thanks for sharing.. happy PS!

Tina said...

Beautiful china! I'm a blue/white lover as well, with my everyday Longaberger pottery dishes in white and blue. I did inherit a lovely pink rose tea set from my Swedish grandmother. Perhaps I should set a table and take some shots...

Bernideen said...

Must say these are lovely!

Gail said...

Love the dishes, such a fresh design and they do bring a smile. Happy PS

Tea in Texas said...

I always enjoy your wonderful descriptions of your table. I love the old Spode but I haven't seen your beautiful pattern before. The Spode China factory would use a lined transfer pattern and then hand paint in colors with beautiful enamel paint. If you use a strong magnifying glass, you probably will see brush marks on your cups. I believe you mixing different china patterns is perfect and makes the table even more exciting! I,also, love teapots and tea parties. Pam!