Ladies Who Lunch, Table For Four

Good Morning! I hope you are well and that today is filled with many happy surprises...



With Christmas right around the corner [I wrote this back before Christmas so please just pretend!], I decided I would do a tablescape using some elements that are pretty much standard fare for a centerpiece on one of our Christmas tables from year to year...



For fun, I'm going to play with two different china patterns. The first is my mother's gold and white Theodore Haviland pattern, Floreal...



And the next is mine which is a gold and white Royal Doulton pattern, Royal Gold...



To which I like to add accent plates in Tiffany's Holiday...



Or if children are present, something more playful such as these "Dear Santa" plates from Italy...



While I generally have a variety of centerpieces on various tables throughout the house, I have always used a family of brass deer on one table...



The family includes this handsome buck...



A graceful doe...



And their little fawn...



I always use my flatware which was also my mother's (and one sister's and one niece's) pattern, Chantilly by Gorham...



This little Tiffany dinner bell is another standard feature on our table each year. A gift from a special friend, Bobby, the bell forever has a place of prominence in memory of him and jump-started the addition of my Christmas accent plates...



Crystal varies depending on the mood I'm trying to create. Here is Gorham's King Edward shown with a tall champagne flute in a Gorham pattern called Martelle...



Gorham's Lady Ann is seen here with another Martelle flute...



I love the cut on Martele as it reminds me of antique glasses from the Georgian period...



Another thing I use each year are little silver frames (very reasonably priced and easy to find online)....



The red and white wrapping paper insert is cut on the diagonal. If I'm using place cards, guests' names replace the Ho! Ho! Ho! inserts. I have used these place card holders for years, shown here with Floreal...



The vases that you see here are also heirlooms, and they are some of my favorites...



The holly in which the deer are standing is real, just sprayed gold, and it has held up well over the years...



And while I prefer to use live berries, I used faux ones here because that's what I had on hand...



One thing I enjoy changing (and collecting!) are napkin rings, and over the years, I have acquired a large variety from which to choose, such as these red ones...



These large corded tassels...



These bundles of cinnamon sticks, berries, teeny tiny pine cones, and Scotch plaid ribbon...



And these gold ones purchased in Ponchatula, Louisiana, many years ago...



Generally, I put the pointed end of the napkin nearest the edge of the table, but the design on these napkins dictated otherwise, as seen here with this Santa napkin ring that is one of a set given to me by an old friend...



You might also notice that Santa is joined by a whimsical spreader I'm using as a butter knife...



It's part of a set of four...



Sometimes, I use those or others, like this spreader from Reed & Barton...



And this one that are both part of a set of eight I received as a Christmas gift...



But I also like to use the matching Chantilly knives...



Now, here's a look at the setting with the Tiffany accent plates...



I like the little Christmas "bundle" as a napkin ring because it reflects the border of the plates (sorry there's a bit of a glare)...



Here's another shot, this time with the napkin ring partially decapitated by my rushed photography, but I think you get the picture! ;-)



I actually prefer this combination better for Christmas dinner itself (I used it last year), hence I would opt for Mama's Haviland if I were having four friends in for a ladies lunch...



Mama used this pattern on every holiday table and at every special occasion as well as for dinner. Spode Christmas Tree was her everyday Christmas china used throughout December...



I tried Floreal with different napkin rings like the red one to pick up the pop of red in the place cards and berries...



This gold one...



And the tassel one...



I opted for the tassel one, and I also opted for the Lady Ann goblets along with the Martele flutes. And if you see that little fellow peeping through, trying desperately to balance a vase of berries...



That would be my little golden friend who has been with me for a number of years...



Part of a set of little friends who I thought would be fun to add to this table for the additional pop of red...



He is working hard to balance that vase...



And at times it seems to be getting the best of him...



But he is a trooper...




Determined to present his guest with a lovely token of affection as she enjoys her lunch...



Looks like he dropped some berries on the butter knife, but it's only a reflection...



Stockings are attached to the backs of chairs and contain Christmas crackers from England that add a festive note to any holiday meal...



Just like the light does when it dances off gold china...



Now, if you will excuse me, I must be entertaining my guests...



But I'll leave you something to think about...



If you leave off the red...



Remove the gilded leaves...



And replace the Christmas accoutrements with fall pieces and the gold leaves with fall foilage...



The deer would actually work well throughout the fall season...



But for me, they will always say Christmas and are a gentle reminder of the most wonderful birthday ever celebrated!



Now, I'm going to join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, a fun meme she graciously hosts each week. Please join me in visiting Susan and the rest of the tablescape participants by clicking right HERE .



Thanks so much for visiting me today. It's always such a treat to read your comments, and I appreciate them so much. I look forward to visiting you as well as I like to see what is going on in your life! :-)

Warmly,

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)

Accoutrements:

Linens: Vintage
Napkin Rings: From various places, collected over the years
China: Floreal by Haviland, Royal Gold by Royal Doulton, Holiday by Tiffany, and imported Santa plate made in Italy and purchased at Marshall's about fifteen+ years ago)
Bell: Holiday by Tiffany
Cystal: Martele, Lady Anne, and King Edward by Gorham
Flatware: Chantilly by Gorham
Silver Spreaders: Reed & Barton
Candy-handled spreaders: Marshall's (years ago)