The items are all mismatched, personally I love this idea, and nothing could look more individual than crockery that has been specially sourced to celebrate big occasions. I like looking at the ‘picture gallery’ and love the way nearly all mismatched china looks good together if presented in the right setting, with crisp tablecloths and sparkling glass wear.
China Cake Stands
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| Stylish Cake Stand from Marks and Spencers Battenberg - Tea time |
I have noticed though that some tableware and beautiful china is currently being adapted to fit into a particular trend.Making one’s own three tiered cake stand appears to be very popular. Kits can be purchased on line, and holes are drilled into three unsuspecting vintage plates, the fittings supplied help convert to tiered cake stands. I hate the defacing of china plates in this way. What does make me annoyed is when I see these items advertised as the real thing, i.e. that’s how they have been manufactured. Most of the items I have seen are not original.
A far more pleasing sight would be to use a three tiered chrome folding tea shop stand. These can also be purchased online. The plates sit on the tiered stands, as they aren’t permanent fixtures, they can be changed at will. The options to create different looks and colour schemes are limitless, and of course no defacing of china is required.
Candles and Teacups
I have also spotted lots of tea cups filled with wax and ‘converted’ into a candle! I hate this look. It seems really popular right now. To compound the felony the two most despised ‘looks’ for cups and plates have been combined to create a cake stand and cup candle combo, monstrosity!
The sad little wax filled receptacle is perched on top of the cake stand, looking like a one eyed Greek monster, waiting to be defeated. To my eye, the shape is all wrong, and doesn’t look atheistically pleasing.
Why I don't like Flowers in Teapots
How lovely is it to have tea poured out of a fine looking teapot? So, why oh why use them as vases? The beauty of flowers and the splendour of teapots ‘fight’ with each other when placed together in this way. They detract from each other’s exquisiteness.
Using a simple glass vase, coloured or plain, with a few well chosen blooms enhance the table far more, and complement the china, rather than ‘wrestling’ for principle place with it.
I am always looking for different ways to use good looking crocks in interesting ways. But some of these ideas I find lacklustre and uninspiring. When they become trendy, I find them boring. On the other hand these ideas are introducing vintage china and its history to a new audience, this can only be a good thing.
