A number
of you have remarked on the scarcity of table settings that I have shared over
the past year. There’s a reason for that. Generally, as you may have noticed, I
set tables for four when I share them. But a lot of the dishes that I use regularly,
I only have in two place settings. In many cases that’s all I could find or
afford. I noticed, during lockdown, that many bloggers have been sharing tables
for one and two as a result of their living alone, yet still wanting to dine in
fine fashion. I decided to join in.
This is one of my most beloved china patterns. It is Staffordshire Hunting Scene,
and I bought it back in the 80s. Once a week I used to go shopping with my
mother. I would get a babysitter, and she and I would head out for a day of
shopping and lunch. It was heaven! We had our favorite stores that we visited
and re-visited, one of which was a high-end home decor store. I can still
remember the feeling I had when we walked in one day and saw a magnificent
table set for 12 with this china. The centerpiece was a large ceramic huntsman,
surrounded by ceramic hunting dogs and one lone fox. Immediately, I wanted
everything. My wallet said no.
Over the course of the next few months, I tried to buy a piece each time that
we went. Eventually they changed displays, and I was out of luck. I know that
it is available on eBay, but the prices have gone up considerably. So, I will
share this lovely English hunting scene table for one.
The runner is from Pottery Barn, placed on top of cranberry yardage from JOANN.
The pitcher is from Fitz & Floyd, a purchase I made at the same time I
started buying the dishes, and, according to the bottom of the pitcher, that
was 1986.
The flatware and charger plates once belonged to my mother; the stemware is
from Avon’s Cape Cod collection. The knobby brown dinner plate is from Pier One’s
“Spice Collection.” Sadly, in the course of a number of moves, I lost track of
the cup that goes with the saucer, so have used it to hold one of those
ubiquitous Mottahedeh Musée de Arts Pots de Crème Cups.
Lastly, my Limoges box of the reclining soldier seems the perfect addition to
the bowl.
I
can hear the hunting horns now!
