Vintage Meets Modern on a Late Spring Table

Today I was inspired by the fading ephemeral flowers of spring to set a table. My vintage plates sprinkled with violets were the obvious choice because I think they're lovely and I don't get to use them that often. But I didn't want to set a vintage table — I wanted to set a modern table that incorporates beautiful vintage touches!

   

The dishware dates from the late 1940s-1950s. They have a lovely gold band that follows the gently scalloped rim around the plates for a quiet flourish. If you look closely at the tea/coffee cup, you'll notice that the pedestal foot is circular while the cup is nearly square.

   

In contrast, the cups are paired with crystal bar ware cut in a traditional pattern. Modern touches include deeply colored placemats with a basket-weave texture laid on a bare table. Beside them are doubled napkins held by ceramic rings with wildflowers.

  

The delicate tracery of flowers are in different shades of violet/purples, with the "bouquet" at the bottom of the plates slighter larger than the other two. The pattern of the salad plates and dinner plates are the same, while the saucer has only two bouquets. The stainless flatware is contemporary, its strong lines perhaps unexpected with the flowery plates.

  

  

I love that the inside of the cups is decorated as well.

  

For a centerpiece, I simply gathered faux flowers and berries in lilacs and whites and placed them in my sweet bunny cachepot. You may remember him holding fresh irises in A Quick and Easy Blooming Tablescape. 

I gave him a bow to match! 

I couldn't resist adding a pair of bunny salt/pepper shakers wrapped in berries!

I've got a growing collection of salt and pepper shakers that include several pairs of bunnies. For a peek at them, see Welcoming Spring with a Fluffle of Bunnies.

  

I often use bunnies on spring and summer tables, particularly when I've seen them playing on the lawn — or eating the flowers in my garden (sigh).

When I doubled the napkins, I alternated which ones were the inner napkins and which were the outer ones. This added extra interest, especially since one was a deep satiny fabric, the other a pastel with a sweet crocheted edge.

You can just tell this guy is a bit mischievous!

I've placed a bunny pitcher for water or iced tea on the buffet beside a set of chrome cocktail glasses and decanter with glass bowls in amethyst. Made sometime between the 1930's and 1950, the stems are made of chrome that clip onto glass inserts that can be changed out for other colors.

 

  

Greg found this set with its matching chrome tray.

  

I find that the interplay of table elements from different eras or in different styles and patterns makes for more interesting tables!

What do you think of mixing modern with vintage?

   

   

   

 

Table details

Dishware | Rossetti 'Spring Violets'

Pitcher, salt/pepper | Fitz & Floyd 'Blackberry Rabbit'

Flatware | Mikasa  'Italian Countryside'

Napkin rings | Williams Sonoma  

Cocktail glasses, decanter | Farber Bros. 'Krome-Kraft'