10 April 2011

Milk Glass Chickens



Don't these just remind you of your grandmother's house?

When I was growing up my Mom had a little milk glass chicken candy dish. It was about four inches long and had some cold painting of the details. The chickens also were made in a larger size and in different coloured glass. My great-grandmother had one of the larger ones in gold. And though they were very popular back in the first half of the 20th century, some of the hens are considerably older.

Fast forward to when I was in college, sometime in the 1970s. One day I was looking in a magazine and saw the larger chicken dishes in different colours being used as bowls with place settings on a Thanksgiving table. That idea stuck with me and as time passed I collected some of the chickens and used them that way. They were great for serving chicken soup - just the right size! But as more time passed, my kitchen got kind of crowded and as I wasn't using the chickens, I got rid of them.

More time passes and I took up tablescaping. You know what's coming next! This time I decided to go with milk glass chickens as they reminded me of the one my Mom had (not sure whatever happened to that one). And I would like to say, the hens on nests are wonderful to use for their intended purpose: candy dishes. I really like the milk glass ones during Easter season for candy.

As is my wont, I am always looking for vintage tablecloths. One day this one showed up on eBay.

Milk glass and chicken dishes! What could be better for my actual dishes??? And as Easter is just around the corner and the chickens are busy having chicks, it is a perfect time for this table.

I really like the colours in this tablecloth. Obviously it could go bright or more subdued. I chose a more calm colour scheme today. The grey dishes pick up the colours in the fabric and go nicely with the milk glass chickens.



And look how well the glassware coordinates:


For the centrepiece I used some odds and ends that seemed to go together:








Pyramid candleholders - my favourite Fiesta shape:


Napkins, rings and flatware are some I have used before.


On the table:
Post-86 Fiesta in pearl grey
Vintage milk glass nesting hen dishes
Treble Clef flatware by Gourmet Settings
Vintage peanut butter glasses
Napkins from Williams Sonoma
Wooden napkin rings I've had a long time
Mushroom made from vintage shaker - Etsy artist
Pair of ceramic chickens - I bought those at Chambord in France last month. (And I have to say, the Guy was not excited to see me buying cows and chickens to bring home! At least they were on the smallish side. Cows to make an appearance on a future tablescape. The chickens are going to go great with scarlet, chartreuse and lemongrass dishes, too.)

Join me this week with:
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
Drowsy Monkey @ Mellow Yellow Monday
MaryT/TheTeach over @ Work of the Poet for Ruby Tuesday
Marty @ A Stroll Through Life for TableTop Tuesday
Jenny @ off on my tanget for Alphabe-Thursday where today we are having Alphabet Soup and my Letter is "C" - C is for Chicken
Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Suzanne @ The Coloradolady for Vintage Thingy Thursday
Sandi & Bill @ Whistlestop Cafe Cooking for Friday's Favourites

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

namasté,
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38 comments:

Pat said...

I LOVE hens on a nest, I have a ton of them, and it all started with one my aunt gave me at Easter with jelly beans in it when I was little. Would love to see more posts with hens on nest. I haven't even done one yet.

Pat

Southerncook said...

WOW, Becky, this table is gorgeous. I LOVE everything about it. You have quite a collection of tablecloths and I couldn't help but laugh when I read how you had collected the hens, weren't using them, got rid of them and then decided you needed them again. DH would have said to me, "You have GOT to be kidding me???" I do the same thing all the time???

LOVE the way the glassware looks so perfect with your whole tablesetting. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this post.

Carolyn

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

This is sooo... gorgeous! Loved all your colours!
Have a nice week ahead:)

Sanghamitra.
http://rainbow-thecoloursofindia.blogspot.com

The Tablescaper said...

So cute. So fun! Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Jim said...

A great collection.

From the Bookshelf said...

My Grandmother had a milk chicken candy dish. She kept licorice nips in it.

Barbara Rosenzweig said...

Beautifully done!
I always love looking at your posts!
Barb

Cafe au lait said...

Great job! You have a beautiful collection

My entry.

Daphne said...

Your hens are adorable, Becky! And you did indeed find the perfect cloth for them!

Have a good day,

Daphne

gengen said...

So pretty shots. happy MYM!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

lovely collection.

maryt/theteach said...

More than beautiful! Stunning table setting!

Kim, USA said...

Love love your tablescape very inspiring!

MYM

Ruby Tuesday

Mel_Cole said...

What an inspiring easter theme :)
My Yellow Monday

Kai Rui said...

i love your table settings...and the color combination and designs...visiting from Ruby Tuesday...Im your newest follower, hope you'll follow me back

mine's here
http://lovingoutliving.blogspot.com/2011/04/summer-break.html

Craig Miyamoto said...

In our Hilo home, we had some smaller milk-glass chickens that we ate our soft-boiled eggs in. Lift the setting hen and find the egg, crack it open, scoop it out into the bowl and there ya go!

xoxox Craig

Anonymous said...

This is so cute! I love the chickens. I have one but it's clear. I have a couple little milk glass ones. I love your tablesetting and the tablecloth is so cute. Love your chickens too.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

forgetmenot said...

Such a lovely table setting--cute little rooster too. Mickie :)

Liz said...

Love your collection.

My Ruby link.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Lovely tablescape and lovely with the red and white. Happy RT and all your other memes too!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh what sweet memories. My mom had one of those little milkglass chickens and I loved it. Fabulous tablescape with one at each placesetting. Love it. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

Coloradolady said...

I remember relatives having these hens in nests. I for some reason, don't have a single one. they are so sweet, and your table is amazingly set. Happy VTT!

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh...I LOVE this post!!! What a beautiful table you have set...gorgeous! And I love the milk glass too--it is so nostalgic....I came over from Alphabet Thursday.
XO

Marlis said...

Love your hens! Sure wish I had some. Your table colors are so perfectly inviting. Fabulous.

Pondside said...

What a pretty table. My mum had lots of milk glass, but I don't know where it's gone.

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

Your vintage tablescape is so cheerful and precious...love that little mushroom and that tablecloth too...everything looks so pretty :)
I have one of those milk glass chickens too, and love it! Happy VTT!
Big hugs,
Queenie

Purnima@a creative project said...

I love those hens..so pretty!! I love collecting French hens as well!!! Pretty table decor!!!

Unknown said...

It would be so wonderful to hide a wonderful meal beneath one of those lovely chickens.

Theresa Plas said...

Really serendipitous how that tablecloth showed up on ebay:)

Linda said...

So that's what those hens are intended, candy dish. Never knew that, and I too have a few. I love all your vintage wares and theme. That tablecloth brings back some old timey feelings of being a kid. Love that feel and look.

Linda

Susan Anderson said...

Terrific table!

My mom used to have one of those milk glass chickens, too.

=)

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

lovely, lovely, lovely....,

GardenOfDaisies said...

OH!! I LOVE your milk glass hens!! Your table looks so cute with one at each place setting. My post was about nesting hens too... we must be on a similar wavelength.

Anonymous said...

What a fun table! Your chicks look so great!
Tammy

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

What beautiful collections that make for a stunning tablescape. ~~Sherry~~

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

That is just the cutest tablescape. It reminds me of the phrase "winner, winner; chicken dinner"!
Thats'a friday's favorite for sure :-)

Cheryl D. said...

So cute!

Unknown said...

Oh, I love, love, love this!

What a neat tablecloth and those chickens did take me back to my Grandmothers house. She always had two...one filled with black jelly beans and one with those pink spearmint chalk-like candies.

Your setting is so happy and fun!

Thanks for sharing it with us on this little journey through Alphabet Soup!

A+