I do occasionally buy 'decorative' antiques, but mostly I like them to be useable; preferably at table.
I bought these plates (above) last year. I bought four dinner plates and four soup bowls. I really should have bought more. The seller had a big pile, and I'm wondering, when I return to the same Boot Sale this year, if the nice lady might still have a few left (if, indeed, she's there).
The problem with antique knives is that they are made of ordinary hardened steel, and they stain terribly. When you use them, you can understand why those sand-filled knife cleaners were such an essential part of old kitchens. The knives may look nice, but, frankly, they're impractical; I never use them with salads or anything that contains vinegar. However, the forks and spoons are both silver-plated.
The glasses are classic French antiques, and are a pleasure to use. The salt and pepper cellars are Victorian English.
I should mention that our rustic antique Oak table was bought in the wilds of North Wales, but came with no top. For years we used an old stripped Pine door as a temporary top, which was eventually replaced by a much more presentable version which I had made from thick Oak boards from an ancient dismantled wine making 'Cuve'.
As far as I'm concerned, antiques should be used. If they get broken, so be it; at least they die doing the job for which they were intended, and the pleasure they give is immeasurable.
42 comments:
How beautiful the simple things are.
A beautifully laid table. Food and drink are far more pleasurable when you use treasured utensils
And in many cases, a lot less expensive than buying new!
I much prefer to use old plates, etc, than new.
Nothing very old here. 40 or 50 years = just basic. That looks nice.
They seemed to make everything more beautiful years ago, even things at modest prices.... houses, kitchen paraphanalia, furniture, fireplaces ... even pumping stations were beautiful. Your set table looks perfect Cro XXXX
I don't suppose I use many things that are over 100 years old.
Modern (post Bauhaus) design is always lauded as wonderful, but I see nothing wonderful in things that 'stack', simply as space saving. In fact I think wasting space is much more conducive to good design.
I think they call the new table top a 'marriage' in the antiques trade. I love the sign: We buy junk and sell antiques!
In our case a 'Marriage of Convenience'. You wouldn't know that the top was new, mostly because it's made of ancient used wood.
I use things ancient and modern. I prefer it to someone opening a cupboard one day and finding all things I never used and taking them to a charity shop or selling them on Ebay.
I once read about a man in Manchester who bought Victorian floorboards from old derelict mills and made them into Welsh dressers. I much prefer old furniture made with joints than the glued together 'flat pack ' stuff. Your table looks really good.
An unused antique, unless art beyond use, is a pointless possession. A while ago I was away and my brother was staying at my house and friends called. He made old-fashioned lemonade (it was summer) and use an exquisitely light lemonade jug and glass set which had been a wedding present to my parents. When the friends commented my brother told them the history and they were horrified he was using them. "What happens if one gets broken?" "There will be one less." responded my brother. They survived everyday use every summer through our childhood and they have survived every summer since. One day they won't. C'est la vie. C'est la mort.
I have to admit that I have tablewear that is brought out on special occaisions. I now realize that at our age we should use the 'best' and enjoy it, whoever clears out our place in the end will not want our old stuff. I am now using the tea towels that I have been given ages ago with Bears and Dogs on and enjoying them instead of them being folded up in a drawer!
Exactly. As long as things are still useable, they should be used. What happens to them when we are no longer here, is another matter. I keep finding small things, and think to myself "I wonder if they know it's worth £200?".
I knew someone who did the same, and his dressers were superb.
My late mother was known for buying very nice glasses at the annual Harrods Sale. Invariable there were breakages, and we still have several sets of FIVE.
That's it. Use all that stuff you've been saving for 'best'. We should all do the same.
My sister argues similarly. Use the antiques and if they break, so be it.
No antiques at the Highrise, I add. Except for the occupants.
She's right!
Antique knives, being made of carbon steel hold an excellent edge.
Come off it; I know you're only 28.
It's swings and roundabouts. Carbon steel = sharp and stained. Stainless steel = blunt and clean. You can't win.
My granny had an old Welsh Dresser. It was lovely to see all the old crockery on display. Naturally it was there for visitors who were always treated to the best cups and saucers. The kettle was an enormous black thing that spluttered and hissed on the coals whenever we were there.
I like hitting the vide-greniers too. Last year I bought 11 salad plates and a few dinner plates (similar to yours only pink) for €2. When I said I didn't want to pay €2 a plate she just said "no for the lot, I just want to get rid of them"!!! There is a lot of that style of stuff going isn't there. And yes, use it and if it breaks so what!
Those plates are very pretty. I love old crockery but only if I can put it in the dishwasher!
There's nothing nicer in an old fashioned kitchen than all that decorative crockery on a Welsh Dresser. As far as I'm concerned, you can keep Ikea stuff.
I can't remember what we paid for our plates, but I think it was €1 each. I do hope she's there again... I have a feeling she will be.
I don't know how to operate our machine, so I do everything the old-fashioned way.
I have a hodge podge collection of vintage dishes, mostly from my mother, that I use on a daily basis. My mother told me many years ago to use my very 'best" dishes daily. She said "what joy is there in viewing them behind a glass cabinet"? Tea somehow tastes better in my antique cup :)
In two hundred years from now, there will be little left over from this time except plastic.
My antiques mostly are cooking utensils, passed down. I don't call it the spaghetti pot, I call it Mom's spaghetti pot.
Agree about using antiques.
When I was a child our 'everyday' knives and forks were always taken outside and stuck into the garden soil overnight after being used. Presumably that is why.
I definitely agree that things should be used... and enjoyed. We have been married 51 years and have used all our nice china, crystal, etc. a lot. The kids and grandkids were even allowed to use the crystal, etc. as I thought it was good for them to enjoy it too. Of course there's not a lot left now... but that's OK.
I often use a Deco jug or teapot
My plates are old like yours and my knives are my grandmother's from the 1940/s
Absolutely right. In years gone by, people used to keep their 'front rooms' for special occasions only. How crazy was that!
Many families now eat whilst watching their TV's, and don't even use plates, knives, or forks.
I have much of my Mother's old things, because I was already fully equipped. However I do have a bottle opener, and one or two other small things. I like that continuity.
I still do that today with my Opinel pocket knives. I don't leave them overnight, but push them in and out of the soil until they're clean.
I agree about children using them too. I don't like to see them given plastic cups at table when everyone else is using crystal (unless they are very small, or in a bad mood).
And I bet you really enjoy using them every time!
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