Violet Hues by Wallace

Welcome to the lush garden at summers end.

Tonight's table is a tale of two sterling patterns,

and how they came together.

I invite you into my garden to learn about

Violets, and so the table is set in pretty purples

amid the still green garden.

A vase of summer flowers begins our violet draped

table, surrounded by purple chairs.

It is an old fashioned table we are setting today,

filled with heirloom silver, fresh garden flowers

and antique gloves.

The plate stack is purple and white and garden fruits

to go along with our theme.

The star of the table is this heirloom silver

that was my Aunt Ionia's.  She used this as her

everyday flatware, but since she was all by herself,

it did not get heavy use.  

I fell in love with it as a girl, and was able to

purchase it from her estate.  I had what I thought

was a matching piece - a large berry spoon,  that belonged

to my parents, which I inherited.  I thought the spoon

and the flatware matched, and so I did a lot of research,

trying to fill in the missing pieces of my aunt's set.

The spoon was Lily by Frank Whiting, and the size of

the spoons were unusual.  I finally found the five spoons

and two forks I needed to make a set of twelve,

but when I received them, I realized they were

not the exact pattern.

Although similar, Lily by Frank Whiting is more ornate.

After more research, I realized I had been collecting

the wrong pattern.  My aunt's pattern was Violet

by Wallace!  But I think they go nicely together,

so I am keeping my Lilies, and they match my

spoon from my parents.

Violet was produced in 1904 by W. R. Wallace.

The knives are the Old French Knives, and the

blades are silverplated with a sterling handle.  I

was afraid they would have to be replated, but 

after a good cleaning, they are still in beautiful shape.

I am thrilled to have Aunt's Ionia's flatware, that she

enjoyed every day, and that I fell in love with as a young girl.

Violet thus became the theme of the first tablescape

you will see them on.

Although it is too late in the season for violets,

lovely purple flowers take their place tucked in

the napkin ring.

More fresh flowers grace the center of our table, fitting

for an heirloom table.

Thanks for visiting our table and enjoying

my new heirloom sterling as summer closes

and fall begins.

I am afraid that I have a new obsession with

sterling!  Alas, reports are that so much of it

is being melted down.  That just breaks my heart

as I hold the same flatware that my loving

aunt ate on, and either her parents or

her cousin before her (not sure who she inherited

it from.)

I hope you enjoyed your stop today at

Purple Chocolat Home, where there is always

a new adventure, and many times in purple!!

I will be posting with

Share Your Cup Thursday

Tablescapes Thursday

Mosaic Monday

The Scoop