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Using Vintage Silver in Country French D?cor

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT: Using Vintage Silver in Country French D?cor I’m excited to once again join the Country French Design group for our monthly share…this time focusing on silver! I have to say this is one of my favorite topics because I adore vintage silver…especially antique silverplate! And it doesn’t have to be from France to add that wonderful Country French look to your home! There is just something frenchy about a footed tray! The beautiful vintage pattern of tiny grapes and delicate tendrils gracing a fork just says France to me! I love the patina of vintage silverplate flatware with those fabulous blunt blade knives… …and the way old silverplate trays reflect everything around them! But I think my favorite thing about vintage silverplate is the wonderful array of pieces whose use is sometimes a mystery…although years ago everyone would have known instantly that this is a roll top butter dish! And, of course, to go with it, there must be butter knives in a variety of patterns! You may have already guessed my favorite…the one in the foreground with the grape motif and that unusual twist handle! But best of all is antique quadruple silverplate! Once you learn to spot it, you will know instantly that the piece you have in your hands is over 100 years old since it wasn’t manufactured after 1900! And here’s where things become a really interesting guessing game. It’s pretty easy to figure out that this antique castor set with its shakers and cruets was used for seasoning the dishes at the table. And this must be a sugar bowl…made of quadruple silverplate that has not fared very well… …and has the most wonderful whimsical duck head holding the handle in its mouth! But now it’s getting a little harder! Do you know what these are? They have entirely disappeared from modern use, but would have been on every well-dressed table a century ago! They are master sugar spooners, the one on the left having lost its lid long ago. I adore the little bird on the lid of the other! It’s a demi-tasse spooner, a petite version of its lidless big brother. I love the way it adds elegance to afternoon tea! And here’s a piece of quadruple silverplate whose use has definitely fallen out of favor. Baby Kitty wants to know if you can guess what it is! Here’s a closer look after it was all polished up…funny little legs, intricate flower and ribbon trim and a carnation engraved in the center. Any guesses? It’s an antique calling card holder…playing a very important role in society a century ago! But today, it’s serving as a little tray to hold my earrings at bedtime. My favorite thing to do with old silverplate is to use it in an unexpected way! Soooo…the lidless spooner becomes a little vase on my bedside table. A baby porringer can be repurposed to hold lemons for tea. Or a vintage coffee carafe… …can double as a pitcher for serving lemon water! One of my favorites…pop a violet into a creamer for an elegant little planter! And finally, add vintage flatware in unexpected places to add interest and a frenchy touch to your home. A candle wrapped in Proven?al ribbon and decorated with old forks…left tarnished for a rustic touch…greets my guests when they enter! And there you have it…some fun with one of my favorites! And just in case you missed any of my posts on previous topics in our Country French Design series, here they are… My Favorite Tips for Adding Country French Style Collecting…Country French Style Country French Style…My Vintage French Favorites Dining Outdoors…French Style Decorating with Country French Fabrics Please be sure to head over to visit my fellow Francophiles to see how they use silver to add a Country French touch in their homes! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing my vintage silver! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants. Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for the Show and Share Party , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday, Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday See you next time! ? la prochaine! Also find me at… Enter your email to have Plate Addict’s blog posts delivered Delivered by FeedBurner