Before I start making my Christmas cards (I know crazy right) I wanted to give you a glimpse into my Welsh Cupboard. I have to say it was a job because everything had to come out and be reimagined. Usually when it comes to Christmas I try to just work around my collections but this year I wanted a lighter touch.
Last year I had purchased these pine cone and berry salad plates from William Sonoma for my corner cabinet in my family room but I made some pretty drastic accessory changes (coming soon) in there so these plates had to find a new home.
I also knew I wanted to put them with my Pottery Barn Plaid dinner plates but unfortunately they would only work on the top shelf. Interesting the difference an 1/8 of an inch can make. So I grouped them with my vintage Armatel plates with a wonderful touch mark. Somehow I think it works. When I come down the hall the cupboard is the first thing I see and that has become my touchstone. If I like what I see at that moment then I know I have done a good job.
So what’s on the cupboard. On the very top is a carved swan my dad carved years ago. It actually now belongs to my 19 year old granddaughter but I told her she can have it when I’m done with it. I have waited a long time to enjoy this piece. It is one of my favorites. Wrapped around it’s neck is a beautiful silk scarf with beads and silk rolled flowers so it’s very dimensional. I bought it for my mom a few years ago. It had was so “her”. She never wore it but it looked pretty where ever it landed and that was my intent.
Part of a set of antique books, with a very large antique Fremont County Ledger. The ledger is deep and sticks out from the cupboard quite a bit but it allows me to add a vintage Lang Williamsburg house made from porcelain.
And, it had the advantage of giving me the height I need to get the swan and the house to balance. Of course my antique frog spear is up there as well. You can just barely see the tines to the right on the top photo. I love the craftsmanship of the iron and the patina on the handle. Everyone should have an antique frog spear in there life don’t you think! I then filled in with various faux picks for a lush textural feel. An 8 point star I made of paper years ago hangs from the books. It was supposed to be a 7 point star but I evidently got over enthusiastic. It helps to draw the eye down to the main event.
In the corners I placed my moms Duncan Royal “Pioneer Santa” and “Midevil Santa”. They are both just popping out of the their cubicle into the room. They seem to be coming to join the party. Love that! These Santa’s are vintage from the 80’s before the company went public and are beautifully hand painted.
A small yelloware end of day matchbox with a sweet sleeping dog on the top, a brass bedwarmer salesman sample, from an antique outdoor fair in St Louis, Round out this corner.
With the creaminess of the background of the plates I went around the house looking for everything I had that was black/white.
Antique Grey-Poupon mustard jar and an English Anchovy Paste lidded jar I picked up in Texas pre-Covid. Dundee Marmalade containers.
An antique Adams Black/White transfer ware cream pitcher. A beloved chalk ware sheep I picked up on a wild ride to Shelburn Museum in Vermont years ago. Fabulous gift shop!
Small salt glaze pots with pinecones add a bit of seasonal cheer and of course antique books, there will always be books. My favorite decorating tool.
Voltaire from 1772 and Madame Pompadour 1735 just a highlight. Others tied with Mackenzie Childs ribbon purchased in New York City on a windy & rainy day with my sister. What fun is that!
My treasured English Yelloware colander, Very rare because they broke easily, a Christmas present from my folks.
Reproduction glass whiskey bottles from a shop in Yorktown VA that carried the most wonderful 18th Century reproductions. No longer their I’m afraid.
A wonderful little dome top towle box, hand painted with great patina I picked up in Ohio a few years ago.
and an antique Postal scale rounds out the top with these wonderful
Pewter barley twist alter candlesticks picked up at a fabulous Antique Shop in Excelsior MN.
On the bottom a rare find large Mocha Ware Bowl with pine cones and mercury glass balls, another Christmas gift from my parents.
French Chevalier Leather Hat Box
and a Doulton Salt Glaze Bread Pan my mom brought back on the plane on her lap (back in the day) from San Francisco. Love the cartouche on the front.
These last two pieces along with some of the books I inherited from my folks. Lucky me. All random things but things I love that usually have a fun story behind them. Put together they create a scrapbook of very fond memories and a lovely and interesting display. So, you don’t have to wipe out your every day displays to accommodate Christmas. It makes for a much more interesting display to surround yourself with the things you always love.
