What would you say to your family if you only had a week to live? For my MIL, that week came, and one of the few things she said to me was that she wanted me to keep her dishes, silver, crystal and good furniture. Although it may seem odd that her focus was on her dishes that last week, in a way, this request didn’t surprise me at all. I knew it was important to her that we like love her stuff. She wanted us to cherish her things long after her death. She wanted her things to be handed down to her grandchildren, and then to their grandchildren. This was no small order, since she had 6 sets of dishes. Yes, six, and I have 5. Even I realize that 11 sets of dishes is too many. So I had to choose the ones that were the best. I selected the white ironstone and Johnson Brothers dishes.
The Johnson Brothers white gravy boat is part of the set of Johnson Brother’s dishes we inherited. This set is vintage, and not nearly as old as the antique ironstone pitcher and bowl. My MIL never bought anything second hand, so I knew that all of the old things in her house had to be handed down to her from her family. This pitcher and bowl are old family pieces.
The family tureen is also an antique. Sadly, it lost it’s lid long ago, but still has lots of patina and charm.
Here’s a closer look at the Johnson Brother dishes. The purple plate underneath was made in Portugal. I used these plates in other tablescapes, here and here.
These crystal stems are also from my MIL, although these are some of the newer ones. I’ll show you the crystal from the 1940’s later.
This dough bowl is one of two that were my MIL’s. They are also family items.
Here’s a look at the whole table.
The small lidded tureen is a vintage one purchased form eBay, and the new tablecloth is Waverly.
~Tablescapes By Diane~ says
September 12, 2011 at 23:29Hi lovely lady.
I love your all white Tablescape so lovely.I just post my new Tablescape today for fall, if you can come take a look.
I hope your day was a good one.
XXOO Diane
Penny @ The Comforts of Home/Flea Market Makeovers says
September 12, 2011 at 23:31What a beautiful tablescape..and how wonderful the dishes carry memories with them.
Ann@A Sentimental Life says
September 12, 2011 at 23:34I am sure she is smiling down at you right now. I think it is wonderful her pieces are all family pieces and that you honored her wishes and they will be passed on to her descendants years from now.
Doniene says
September 13, 2011 at 00:07Lovely!!! I love ironstone!!!! An I AM A DISH FANATIC!!! What a treasure!!
Blessings
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
September 13, 2011 at 00:28Anita, this is just beautiful and such a sweet post honoring your mil. Love all that ironstone.
The White Farmhouse says
September 13, 2011 at 00:32My husband doesn’t get the whole dish thing. For him one set is good enough. Love all the pieces that you inherited. Lucky you to have a MIL with such good taste. I think it is sweet that she wanted you to have them.
Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch says
September 13, 2011 at 01:15I know men do not get the dish thing. I tried to explain it one time. I said that it has to do with hospitality and having people over and making them feel welcome and loved. That’s as close as I got. He seemed to accept that answer, and said, “Oh, why didn’t you say that before?”
Stephanie says
September 13, 2011 at 02:06LOVE, LOVE the tureen!
Betsy (BB) says
September 13, 2011 at 02:12Anita, I love your MIL’s china! How precious that she thought of this! Southern women and their china, crystal and silver!!! My mother had this many patterns too! I love every piece of it because she is always there when I set the table! I lost her, to cancer, 21 years ago. It makes these items even more precious! Thanks for sharing such a touching post!
Amy Kinser says
September 13, 2011 at 03:10What sweet gifts to be passed down. I love that old soup tureen. Just perfecty aged!
God bless you. Amy
Garden Antqs Vintage says
September 13, 2011 at 12:17You kept some really great pieces and love the patina on them. I love ironstone and buy it every chance I get. Most I don’t keep for myself though. It goes to good homes. Have a great Tuesday, T
S says
September 13, 2011 at 13:18Very pretty – I love the punch of red on the table.
Bella Vista Cottage says
September 13, 2011 at 16:15Anita, you had my attention at the roses….totally gorgeous. I love it.
Barb
Designs By Pinky says
September 13, 2011 at 20:42Anita, how wonderful that your MIL wanted you to have her dishes, crystal etc.! I ahve SO many dishes and probably will never have grandchildren so God only knows where they will end up!!! I love your ironstone, in fact I was looking at a set in Home Goods today! Your pieces are true treasures. XO, Pinky
Cozy Home Scenes says
September 13, 2011 at 21:24So sorry about your MIL, but she gave you some beautiful things. My grandmother is a collector of everything and started giving us stuff a few years ago. Partly because she was downsizing, and partly because she said she wanted to see us enjoying her lovely things while she was alive. I got a few more things last year when she learned she was going blind.
Even with that, there will be a lot of sorting when she dies.
I know you and your loved ones with treasure all these things that no only are beautiful, but have so much family history.
Audrey says
September 13, 2011 at 22:48Anita, your table is so pretty. Love the tablecloth. I have a sister to your tureen [http://eleganteconomies.blogspot.com/2011/09/you-got-to-have-white-stuff-baby.html].
How sweet is that?
Audrey
KAT says
September 14, 2011 at 01:18they look loved and so wonderful…so great of you to cherish your MIL important dishes. We people are a funny silly lot…we are so attached to our things
peace to you
and to MIL
KAT
Sarah says
September 14, 2011 at 17:35Anita, no doubt many of your readers have multiple sets of dishes too. 😉 I hope my nieces will want my things someday. There will be plenty of dishes to share. LOL
Michele Smith says
September 14, 2011 at 20:17Anita this is just a beautiful post. I also want the same of my family when my time comes. I want things passed down and the memories with them. I wish I had some of my nanny’s things but my Aunt has most of it…in Houston.
I love that tureen, it is gorgeous!
Kathleen says
September 17, 2011 at 03:20I am sure you were honored she wanted you to have them!
Lovely table! And I loved the story above too! Wonderful old photographs.