Coffee Table Dinner For One Tablescape

"I'd rather have flowers on my table than diamonds on my neck" ~ Emma Goldman.

I often eat alone at this coffee table in the family room.  This room is comfortable and well worn, with a big stone fireplace, a leather sofa and chair, antiques, and long ago photographs of my family going back to my great grandparents' generation.

The china is Blue Rose/Blue Bouquet by Johann Haviland.  It was another great antique store find, with 12 place settings and several accessory pieces.  The place settings include a dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, coaster, soup bowl, berry bowl, and cup/saucer.  The accessories include two sizes of oval platters, serving bowl, soup tureen, round gravy bowl, sugar, and creamer.  What a nice set this is.

It is always fun to find out something about the history of antiques and vintage items.  During my research about this china pattern, I found out that the well known Haviland maker started with David Haviland in 1853.  His sons and their descendants continued the family business with many splits along the way.  Jean/John/Johann was David's grandson and moved to Bavaria (Waldershof, Germany) in 1907 to begin the Johann Haviland Company.  The Johann Haviland Company was comparatively short-lived, ceasing production in 1924.  The name rights were eventually purchased by an Italian Company, and later by the Rosenthal Group in 1937.  Rosenthal began producing fine china for export to the United States that was marked "Johann Haviland, Bavaria, Germany."  In the 1970s and 1980s, many patterns were sold in grocery stores as premiums, distributed by the Johann Haviland Corporation of Des Plaines, Illinois.  I haven't been able to narrow down the exact vintage of my Blue Rose/Blue Bouquet pattern - could be anywhere from 1937 to the late 1980s.


The Elegant Glass from the Depression Era is New Martinsville/Viking Prelude.  My grandmother gave me a set of parfait glasses in this pattern when I was a young teenager.  I brought one with me to my first Depression Glass show, where someone from the DelMarVa glass club identified it for me, and the hunt was on.  Over the years, this is the pattern that I have collected extensively.

Oddly enough, I have never collected flatware.  I have always just used my every day Oneida, completely replacing it about once a decade when most of the forks have mysteriously disappeared.  That is about to change, starting with this 1847 Rogers Bros Daffodil pattern.

This violin was my grandfather's when he was a boy.  It had been stored up in my grandparent's attic, and was unearthed when they were cleaning the house out in preparation for their move to a retirement home in Florida,  It was in sad shape, with a coat of grime and multiple cracks in the body, considered worthless, and put out with the trash.  Mike saw it, knew how much I love things for the sentimental value, and rescued it for me.  The candlestick was from a Depression Glass show.  I think it is Duncan Miller, but I can't remember.  One of these days, I'll get all my hard copy notes and receipts organized on the computer.  It would be wonderful to have the inventory records right at my fingertips, not to mention the volume of physical space that I could declutter!

This is one of my favorite family photos.  I am on the right with Cousin Judy on the left - early 1970s.  On my mother's side, I am one of 19 cousins.  Growing up, we had many family get togethers, and Cousin Judy always had something creative up her sleeve.  I remember this occasion was a music recital for the grandparents and the aunts and uncles.  All the cousins dressed up - notice the long dresses, 1970s style.  None of us were musically talented, and it warms my heart to think of how patiently and attentively our audience listened to what must have been absolutely agonizing to sit through :-)

Ending with a general view of the family room.

Table Details:

Blue Rose patterned china Dinner Plate, Salad Plate, Berry Bowl, and Cup/Saucer:
     Johann Haviland, Bavaria, Germany Blue Rose/Blue Bouquet (Discontinued Actual: 1937 - 1980s)
Blue Rose patterned china Pitchers:
      Colonia Pottery Stoke England Avon
Clear Elegant Depression Era glass Wine and Cordial Glasses:
     New Martinsville/Viking Prelude (Discontinued Actual: 1940 - 1986)
Clear Elegant Depression Era glass Candlestick:
     Duncan Miller?
Placemat and Napkin:
     Pier One, pattern Hemstich Smoke Blue
Flatware:
     1847 Rogers Bros, Daffodil

Participating in Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch