Gaudy Welsh for Lunch, 2014

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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Gaudy Welsh pottery pretends to be something it is not...inexpensive pottery trying to pass itself off as china. It was produced for working class families from the late 1820's until the 1860's, and it originally sold for pennies. The name Gaudy Welsh was actually coined by an American professor who wrote about it in the 1970's. The Welsh preferred to call it Swansea Cottage, cottage ware, Welsh Lustre, or peasant enamel. It was collected by more Americans than Brits. At that time, a growing middle class could suddenly afford finer things. The working class couldn't afford the same fine things, but they could furnish their homes with inexpensive items like Gaudy Welsh.

Some time ago, I found a set of 12 English Gaudy Welsh luncheon plates, identified as English Gaudy Welsh by Adams on eBay. I haven't tried to authenticate them, and I don't know if mine are considered highly collectable or not. I just know that I like them, and they were in pretty amazing condition....

...Today I set a table for 4 in the living room.

The red and white stripe tablecloth added some interest without overwhelming the dinnerware.

The Pottery Barn navy linen hemstitch napkins are held by the Coalport Countryware napkin rings. I used my everyday stainless steel flatware, Towle, Antique Bead.

Ready for the details?

The Bormioli red glass charger plate, found at Gordman's, provided a pop of red...

...to frame the cornflower blue of the Spode Blue Room Collection, Warwick Vase, dinner plate...

...placed beneath the cheerful and friendly Adam's Gaudy Welsh luncheon plate...perfect for a May Day luncheon with friends.

A quartet of antique blue and white miniature plates were called to duty as salt cellars for today's meal. They were a birthday gift from a friend many years ago.