March 2013 - 18th Century Merchant

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Entertaining Tales
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abby
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rissy &
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A Grandmother Tabby, Prissy &
Peaches Tale for March
It was early March and Prissy had traveled to Green Valley to visit with her sister Peaches
and their grandmother, Tabby. The three always liked to get together early in the year
so they could discuss the holidays that had just passed and what was coming up for
this year.
Prissy and Tabby were just finishing up breakfast at Tabby’s house when Peaches arrived. Tobias (Tabby’s husband) was getting ready to go to work. Tabby started running water into the sink to do dishes. Prissy made the comment that she should just
put the dishes in the dishwasher. Tabby admitted that she never used her dishwasher
because her various dinnerware patterns were all elegant and were all so old that she
thought she should hand wash them.
Prissy and Peaches could not believe they had never noticed that Tabby didn’t have everyday dishes
that could go into the dishwasher. So they decided
that a trip to their favortie dinnerware store, The
Sign of the Pineapple, was in order to look for some
everyday dinnerware for Tabby. Tabby said she
didn’t need much-- just enough basically for her
and Tobias for breakfast and casual meals. And she
The Sign of the
Pineapple
FINE GIFTS & TABLEWARE
Est. 1981
continued
©2013
18thCentury Merchant
3591 Forest Haven Lane • Chesapeake, Virginia 23321
knew that she loved English china with its patterns and colors.
And this point, Tobias, who had been listening to the conversation as he gathered his
paperwork for the office, came into the kitchen and expressed his opinion. “I don’t
care what dinnerware you buy, but just be sure you get mugs. I’m tired of drinking out
of dainty little teacups. I want mugs.” With that final declaration, Tobias kissed Tabby
goodbye, bid good day to all, and headed off to work.
Tabby stood there with her face scrunched up. She loved teacups, and was quite concerned that she would pick a pattern that didn’t offer mugs. “Well,” she finally said,
“This ought to make my shopping interesting.” Peaches suggested that maybe she
could just find some other mugs to coordinate if the pattern she selected didn’t have
mugs. But Tabby liked matching dinnerware...
Prissy sighed and said that she, too, needed to look for some dinnerware. “The truth
is,” she said hesitantly, “Thomas and my two teenagers have been using paper plates
lately. They are all getting tired of me constantly telling them to be carful with my expensive china.” Peaches couldn’t help but laugh but laugh out loud. “Paper plates!”
she exclaimed, “At your fancy penthouse?!” In a second Prissy, too, was laughing at
herself and Tabby soon joined in. “It is kind of ironic, isn’t it?” conceded Prissy. “I really need to buy something, but you know how I like nice dinnerware!” The ladies all
smiled at this, then Peaches told her dinnerware tale of woe:
“My problem is the opposite,” said Peaches. “I have all casual dinnerware and now
that Rufus’ business is growing, we’re having dinner parties more and I really need
something other than stoneware and pottery. In fact,” she continued further, “Rufus
and I discussed this a few times and we decided we are just not “fancy” people. So
while you two are shopping, I might as well shop, too. Although I don’t know how you
find ‘entertaining’ china that isn’t ‘fancy.’ She gave an exasperated sigh.
So the ladies set off for The Sign of the Pineapple to see what their dinnerware choices
were.
They all saw so many things they liked. They oohed and aahed over many beautiful
dinnerware patterns. However, so much of what they liked just would not go with
their homes or lifestyle. Tabby commented on the lack of patterns in traditional Engcontinued
©2013
18thCentury Merchant
3591 Forest Haven Lane • Chesapeake, Virginia 23321
Click here for more information about
“Blue Canton” dinnerware by Mottahedeh
lish china and was told that many English
companies were updating their looks to
something more modern. But the ladies at
the Pineapple were determined that they
would find something that would fit Tabby’s
needs. Several patterns were spread out
on the table and, finally, Tabby’s eyes lit up
when she saw “Blue Canton” by Mottahedeh. It had a fascinating history and, best
of all, it had matching mugs! The store ladies packaged up a few of the pieces of the
“Blue Canton” for Tabby to take home and
try in her kitchen.
Meanwhile, Prissy had been looking through
the shop for durable dinnerware she could let
her teenagers use. She suddenly came upon
a large selection of Pillivuyt French white
porcelain. Prissy thought the clean, simple
lines would fit right in with her contemporary
decor. She was thrilled that there were so
many choices in shapes -- round, square,
rectangular -- as well as sizes in both plates
and bowls. And it was indeed very durable
and dishwasher and microwave safe. She
decided to purchase a few plates and bowls to
take home for her family to try, and then she
would buy more after she determined exactly
what she would need.
Click here for more information about
Pillivuyt White French Porcelain
Peaches had been wandering about, when not giving her advice to Tabby and Prissy,
and wondering how she was ever going to find a dinnerware that would look “special”
in her farmhouse style home. Then the shop ladies showed her “Tuscan” by Arte Italica. Peaches clasped her hands to her mouth in delight! She loved the white porcelain
with the pewter border. It was the perfect combination of stylized yet rustic. Peaches
had a few pieces packed up to try at home.
©2013
18thCentury Merchant
3591 Forest Haven Lane • Chesapeake, Virginia 23321
continued
Tabby, Prissy and Peaches were excited to
arrive back at Tabby’s. They unpacked the
pieces of Blue Canton and tried them in her
kitchen. They looked right at home there!
They tried them with various linens, and
with Tabby’s flatware and glassware. Prissy
mentioned to Tabby that she had various
pieces of blue & white ware throughout her
house and why didn’t she bring them together in the kitchen and redo the display in her
kitchen hutch with blue & white. So after a
Click here for more information about
“Tuscan” by Arte Italica
quick lunch of soup and sandwiches, the ladies
busied themselves transforming Tabby’s hutch,
removing her multi-color floral dinnerware and displaying her collection of blue &
white wares. Tabby’s kitchen was a pale yellow and the blue & white looked very good
with it. Tabby was delighted with the results and they sat down to figure out exactly
what pieces and how many of each she would need. One of the pieces that she knew
she would have to get was a pitcher or vase in which she could place yellow flowers.
And Tabby was especially pleased that this pattern offered both teacups & saucers and
mugs!
It was still early afternoon, and the three were having such fun that they all drove over
to Peaches’ house. They unpacked the white and pewter “Tuscan” dinnerware and sat
it on her dining room table. Her large wood farm table was the perfect compliment,
and it seemed to match all the various linen colors that Peaches had. Once again, the
ladies sat down to figure out what Peaches needed. Dinner plates, soup bowls, and
salad plates topped the list.
Then they all agreed that when Prissy arrived home at her penthouse, they would all
log in online and watch her set out her dinnerware in her kitchen!
Tabby, Prissy and Peaches decided this was the most fun they had had in a long time.
They agreed they needed to go shopping together more often!
©2013
18thCentury Merchant
3591 Forest Haven Lane • Chesapeake, Virginia 23321