Friday, March 16, 2012

The Flowers of Tiffany & Co.





Years ago, Tiffany & Co. used to have the loveliest floral print china. Tulip lovers and wildflower fans alike could find a pattern that struck their fancies. That must be a thing of the past because a recent search on their website yielded only one such pattern.

I admit that if I were allowed to have only one china pattern, it would not be floral. I would have to choose a Chinoiserie pattern. However, I do find floral patterns to be very charming. Can't you see using floral print dinner plates for a Spring or Summer dinner party or ladies lunch? What about serving dessert on a set of flowery dessert plates? A berry dessert would look lovely against the backdrop of delicate flowers.

I realize that to some, floral china looks old-fashioned. And in a way, it does, but that's the charm of it. I searched the internet high and low for photos of discontinued Tiffany & Co. floral china, and if you ask me, I don't think any of the patterns look old nor stodgy.





I've always loved Sybil Connolly's Mrs. Delany's Flowers for Tiffany & Co. The black background is a nice twist.






Tiffany Tulips




Fleurettes, Tiffany Private Stock





Wildflowers





Famille Noir





Tiffany Garden



Image at top: Tiffany's Biedermeier earthenware; photo from Tiffany Taste; the other two tabletop photos from New Tiffany Table Settings.

23 comments:

  1. The Famille Noire group is fantastic. thanks. Mary

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  2. I just LOVE the lilies of the valley at the top. If this is a complete place setting, I bet the cup and saucer are beautiful!

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  3. I have to confess that I find eating off of "busy" (for lack of a better word) plates off-putting. The confusion between the food and the design - I feel they detract from one another (if that makes sense). I am fine with patterned borders, but I just prefer the center area to be plain.

    That being said, "Tiffany Garden" is lovely and has always been a favorite of mine.

    I have a floral set - "Florence" by Pope Goesser that I love, but I use it only for dessert or tea/coffee service.

    Weirdly yours,

    Pamela :D

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  4. Mary and Tristan, You two have very good taste! ;)

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  5. Pamela, Actually, I don't find what you say weird at all. I think your solution of using a floral service for dessert only makes sense. I admit that dessert and salads look better on floral china than does something like meatloaf!

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  6. Lovely options you've shown here (and the same goes for the covered butter dishes!)I have been trying to find a set of dessert plates with a delicate pattern of violets. Ina Garten has a set I've admired on a few of her Barefoot Contessa episodes, which inspired me to find my own. Ina can do no wrong in my book.

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  7. Boxwood- I agree that Ina can do no wrong. Love her! I'm going to start paying extra attention to Ina's show in hopes of catching a glimpse of the violet pattern dessert plates. They sound lovely!

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  8. For floral china I think it's hard to beat Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica (but who can afford it?) http://www.royalcopenhagen.com/en/shop/shop-series/1/dinnerware/129/flora-danica

    or for everyday, Botanic Garden by Portmeirion http://www.portmeirion-botanic-garden.com/. Thanks for the fun Tiffany tour. I'll eat anything off floral china, anytime!

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  9. Charlotte- Oh yes, Flora Danica is the ultimate!! Truly lovely. The Portmeirion is awfully pretty too!

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  10. The Charlotte store has these HUGE silver and gold urns that they use for their arrangements. They are absolutely amazing. I asked about them once and cannot remember who collaborated with Tiffany on them. Meissen or Limoges, someone like that. They weren't for sale lol.

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  11. The bright flowers on the black backgrounds are both beautiful and dramatic, but I don't like to eat on dark plates, so I would keep them for display or serving pieces.

    My grandmother collected light-green Limoges plates painted with daisies, so those flowered plates carry many happy memories.

    --Road to Parnassus

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  12. I have Royal Cauldon Englad flower dinner plates. I mix them with other china. I adore that mix. The lilies of the valley at the top is stunning. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  13. Anonymous3:49 PM

    I bought one of Sybil's "Mrs delaney's flowers" plate years ago at Tiffany's in London. I hung it proudly on my wall in Paris and within ten minutes it fell off and broke into smithereens! I still keep it in pale blue box. I've since bought one of her pleated skirts... A true protagonist of the Irish American Dream!

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  14. I am not a big fan of floral, ub definitely make an exception for these! What great detail!

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  15. Matters of Style, those urns sound magnificent!! Might need to make a trip to Charlotte just to see them!

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  16. Parnassus- I love the idea of daisy china! Now that I think of it, it's not often that one sees china with daisies on them.

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  17. Peggy, I'm going to Google your china so that I can see what it looks like. Sounds beautiful!

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  18. Anon- Now that's a heartbreaking story! Can it be repaired?

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  19. Haus and Home- Glad you like these!

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  20. In the early 90's I called on Sybil Connolly in her heavenly house on Merrion Sq in Dublin she couldn't have been more charming, she had things for sale I bought an open top basket for tissues she told me Hubert Giverncy was a great fan of these baskets so of course I had to have one.Her dear old butler took me on a complete tour of the house and guest house at the bottom of the garden where all the Tiffany people stayed, the whole thing was total bliss,have never spent such a happy morning full of riveting stories,you have bought all the memoris back,thank you!

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  21. Bumble- How wonderful! I've seen photos of her Dublin house, and it looked absolutely charming. Those open top tissue baskets sound so clever; I'm trying to picture what they look like. Gosh, what an experience!

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  22. Anonymous5:53 PM

    Just found a Tiffany Private Stock porcelain multicolor floral piece with brass hinge and band. It is a round top and bottom--signed on the bottom. Any idea for it's value????? Also a large black eff with a rabbit on the top plus other painted designs. ??Value. Both in very good condition with wear on the brass.
    Harlan
    hrwstm@aol.com

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  23. lori w2:21 PM

    I own a set of 4 tiffany wildflower salad plates and matching mugs...... any one interested in buying???

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