These Chelsea birds plates were a treasure find that I was so lucky to win at auction. They are antique, handpainted Copelands Spode from the late 19th century. I was lucky to get 11 plates, and 8 of them have different birds depicted. Naturally, a grand night such as New Year’s Eve calls for pulling out all of the stops, and these plates were just the way to celebrate!
By the way, if you have never heard of “Chelsea Bird” plates, let me share with you a bit of why they are called that. The exotic birds that were often hand painted on china in the nineteenth century tend to be generically called “Chelsea Birds” because the most famous ones were done by James Giles in the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactury in England in the manner of Chinese export porcelain that was so popular at the time.
Most china manufacturers in those days had some kind of exotic, fantastical bird in their repertoire, and Copelands Spode, naturally, did too. These “birds” tend to be cranes of some sort, but are not necessarily botanically accurate. They often will feature bright colors and lavish flowers too. Some people also call them “Birds of Paradise”.
Because these plates are so very special, I really wanted to emphasize them in my styling of this table. Therefore, I just wanted to use color as an accent that would highlight the plates without overwhelming them. I went with a green (rather than navy) tablecloth to pick up the green grass in the plates and the green velvet beribboned chairs. I layered an antique, white Madeira topper because I wanted the green “grass” peeking throughout the table.
To accentuate the royal blue from the fish scales in the plates, I went with the Blue Onion or Blue Danube candlesticks that I fitted with sterling shade holders and hand-etched crystal shades. I also featured these antique Baccarat Harcourt goblets in blue, mixed with my red Waterford Clarendon goblets and the antique Libbey Rock Sharpe ones in the Frontenac pattern.
To highlight the plates, I layered them over my MVP, gold-encrusted Pickard plates and the Wallace sterling silver chargers and matching bread plates. The blue accents continued in the Blue Onion or Blue Danube House of Prill Sheffield flatware.
The simple centerpiece of flowers and candles harbored two Colonial Williamsburg pewter patridges (to carry the bird motif!) that happily peeked their way into the table and the New Year! Even if we’re only four at the table (and we all know each other!), I always enjoy using place card holders to add whimsy, color, and texture, so I featured these little brass pears from Pottery Barn, for which I made green leaves with our initials. Partridges and pears? Yes, a little wink to Christmas, indeed!
Finally, to fully carry the exotic bird motif of the antique plates into the centerpiece, I added a few pheasant feathers that tied-in the tablescape giving it some height and texture too. Because a late night meal calls for magical lighting, I also added warm votives in blue glass holders from Pottery Barn over sterling silver and cut glass coasters.
It was a quiet, but pleasant New Year’s Eve with the family, but one that I hope brings blessings for all of us and you too, dear readers and followers! Thank you for sharing my blog with me! I hope you enjoy this table too!
By the way, don’t forget that you can always visit the archived gallery to my old blog! You can click here to view it!
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The Centerpiece Elements:
The Tablecloth & Chairs
The Stemware:
The Flatware:
The Place Settings:
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