April 29, 2008

Tin Picnic Plates

Over the weekend, Kitchenography and I went to a neighbourhood yard sale, where in the past I have had major scores, including this barristers bookcase, and a stack of handmade quilts from the 1920's. After I had scored a toile French market flower pail and the most incredible bunch of lilacs, I spotted several tin picnic plates. A number of years ago, I got some of these great plates that are far and above your usual styrofoam plates - they're copies of Sèvres plates, but they're tin! They're so lightweight and good-looking, that they're a joy to take along on a picnic. And even better, they're "green". You just wash them and use them again and again. I liked the four that I had, that they were one of the things that I kept when I moved. When I turned them over, I realized that they were from the Wallace Collection in London, just like the ones that I had at home. I snapped up the three of them instantly, and when I got home, I checked the patterns. My original ones were the Garland of Roses pattern and the new one was Flower Basket. The two other plates came from the collections at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. These plates are also adaptations from Sèvres plates, but in different patterns. Mottahedeh carries these plates in several styles and they run about $45 to $65 for four plates. Regardless of where you get the plates, they're all made by Elite Gift Boxes in the UK, suppliers to stately homes... amongst others. It looks like Elite Gift Boxes will be doing a line for Nina Campbell in the fall. Stay tuned!

21 comments:

  1. meg, btw your dresser is beautiful :)

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  2. love the lilacs! You have a knack for great finds!

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  3. Courtney... I love that dresser and am looking for another one like it to put next to the front door.

    Be... I have had to put the lilacs out back several times, since the scent is SO strong. With the gardenias blooming at the same time, it's a bit overwhelming.

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  4. Score, score quadruple score! Beaut.

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  5. You lucky duck! I love that they are all different. And ditto ton the dresser with the lilacs and your new vase....a wonderful vignette! :)

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  6. hahah!!! I HAVE those tin dishes - I even have both the top and last one you posted. great minds think alike, No?

    Joni

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  7. ps I agree with Courtney. I love that dresser, very pretty picture

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  8. I'm in heaven! Everything is so lovely. Old china is a weakness for me... and my wallet.

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  9. Now that looks like my kind of picnic. Nice find! I'd never heard of tin picnic plates 'til now ... I'm ruined, noting else will do.

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  10. It's going to be an elegant picnic! You found some great stuff. You really do have a good eye.

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  11. I love china and platter ware, these pieces are amazing! Very beautiful, I love the colors and the details in them.

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  12. Great post - I love these tin plates! I bought quite a few for my mother when I worked at the Met!

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  13. The first time I ever saw these tin plates was in Vogue, in an article about the marriage of Annette de la Renta's daughter. The tin plates were used at the wedding luncheon (maybe dinner) and looked fabulous!

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  14. Ah! The charming plates! Thanks for an informative post. Now I will treasure mine all the more.

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  15. I love those tin picnic plates based on various china designs.. Do you have any idea where they can be purchased in New York?
    Thanks

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  16. Anon... you might try the metropolitan museum's shop. otherwise http://www.mottahedeh.com/ has them. you have to poke around the site a bit to find the. but museum stores would be a good place. let me know if/when you do find them and i will post an update.

    Pig...

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  17. I am in love with these- nothing better than a pretty picnic and these would more than do the trick! Hope you've been able to give them a run!

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  18. I love these tin plates! Do you know of a store in the DC area (preferably Northern VA) that sells them? I saw the ones on mottahedeh.com, but they are made in China. I'd rather get the ones from the UK.

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  19. Blondie... I just saw them at Halcyon House Antiques outside of Baltimore. I know that some museum shops carry them - wondering if Mount Vernon would have some.

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  20. They are so lovely but I might check out those from the Wallace collection and see but I am trying to. E good as I have a bit of porcelain and it is a lot to move About!

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