Midsummer Common

We do things a little differently around here. It’s just our nature to combine patterns and styles and textures. For us it’s all about the mix.

So when we set about building a collection of antique and vintage table top wares for event rentals we considered the options. The idea of using multiple patterns together fit our concept. But in addition to the current practice of incorporating all colors and endless patterns into one vibrant array, we wanted the ability to color co-ordinate individual tables as well as groups of tables, to achieve a more coherent look.

Thinking it through we hit upon the idea of combining multiple similarly patterned and colored sets of dinnerware with classic white with gold rimmed service, alternating patterned plates with plain. The possibilities using this method are almost endless. Any color combination can be adopted and expanded upon, with larger groups accommodated.

In our showroom are stacks of white plates with gold rims, much of it antique gold encrusted. There are additional sets of white plates with gold rims and bands of color, pink, or green or blue, to mix and match, further expanding the numbers. And corresponding glassware, pink, green, blue and clear.

But the mix, the mix! So many Staffordshire patterns, so little time! And the Imari, will it be cobalt, rust and gold or black, red and gold? Okay, both. Then pink and green, pink and white, green and white, and all manner of floral combinations. What about blue and white? Everyone loves blue and white! There can never be too much blue and white! In the end we usually buy it all, and then some.

With the plates come soup bowls, and serving platters, sauce boats and covered tureens. We have colored glass egg platters and cake stands to mix with antique porcelain desert and tea sets.

In time, all this led naturally to linens and silver. There we paused to consider. Rental companies across the country offer both modern and traditional stainless and silver plate flatware patterns as well as an amazing range of table linens and napkins. Much of it is lovely.

No one wants to launder and iron fine linens. Polyester is practical. Wash it, dry it, no ironing, no fuss. It’s the same with stainless flatware, and vintage silver plate is supposed to be a bit dulled down. It’s the look. No polishing required.

But we really, really like Irish damask linen and we really, really like sterling silver. So while our inventory of silver flatware is limited, we are working on it, and for groups up to 32 we’ve got you covered. (And yes we have serving pieces.)

Meanwhile, as for napkins, there are stacks. More than 200 at last count. And they are all white, or off white. It helps that Julie loves to iron, who knew?

And yes along the way we now and then scoop up linen table cloths. Some are damask, some embroidered, some cutwork. A few are large enough for long dining tables and a number would work as table toppers for round tables to seat eight. Others are perfect for desert or cake tables at weddings. It is an evolving collection so check with us if you have something specific in mind.

To provide a little glamor we offer a collection of silver candle sticks and candelabra. And yes, they are silver plate or we would be bankrupt by now, but they are ever so pretty and give any table a finishing touch.

For flowers we have a collection of large Victorian Ironstone and transfer ware pitchers. And there is a selection of over-sized industrial wide-mouthed glass jars from English factories, perfect for large arrangements.

So, as noted, we do things a bit differently. That’s not to say better. There is an enormous array of glorious items available in the world of event rentals and we offer only a small slice. But whether your goal is an event entirely designed to reflect an earlier era or to just add a vintage twist to a buffet table, we are here to provide that something extra.