Valentine's Day

Suprising to me, I own a large collection of red transferware dishes. While thrifting at my local Goodwill, I stumbled upon a set of Spode Archive Collection plates priced at $2 each, which I couldn't resist. After bringing them home and researching, I discovered they feature classic Spode patterns like Rome, Warwick Vase, Woodman, and Continental Views. Spode is well known for its beautiful prints, particularly the Blue Italian; however, these patterns are in a cranberry red instead of blue. This collection was produced from the late 1980s to the mid-2000s. Alongside the Archive Collection, I've also gathered cranberry Spode Delamere plates and Homer Laughlin Harvest Plates, which I also love using during Christmas.

Traditional English potteries such as Spode, Royal Staffordshire, and Royal Doulton have all produced or continue to produce transferware patterns. My collection includes patterns in blue, green, brown, and cranberry. During our visit to the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England last spring, we stopped by the Portmeirion Spode outlet store. It was stocked with Spode Blue Italian, but due to suitcase weight restrictions, I didn't make any purchases.

One of my favorite bloggers collects cranberry glass and uses it to craft beautiful table settings. During a visit to my favorite antique shop, which has unfortunately closed, I came across a stunning set of cranberry iced tea glasses. The color is truly amazing! Cranberry flash glass is made by immersing clear glass in gold salts, and the deep red hue comes from adding gold chloride to the molten glass, creating a beautiful pink-to-red tint. Although a Google image search didn't reveal the manufacturer, some websites indicate it was made in 1930.

The plate stack varied slightly because I have several Spode dinner plate patterns; some are round, while others are scalloped. At the bottom, I placed a platinum woven placemat. Following that is the dinner plate. Included in the plate stack are cranberry glass bread and butter plates, which have a clear center and a stunning cranberry-colored border. Atop the bread and butter plate is another transferware pattern, either the Homer Laughlin Harvest design, with a Jeannette cherry pattern depression glass fruit bowl on top, or the Royal Doulton Pomeroy pattern. The back stamp on the Royal Doulton plate reads, "Produced from the original Davenport engravings 1793."

The glassware is that accompanies the cranberry glass is my Waterford Mourne wine goblets. The silverware is Danish Princess "Holmes & Edwards Inlaid IS"

1938, from International Silver. I love the warm silver color of this set, it has aged beautifully. The napkins are plain white with a bit of crochet on the bottom and the napkin rings are a woven red rose, how appropriate for Valentine's Day!

The centerpiece is simple. As I was gathering items for the table, I realized that although I have plenty of red and pink glassware and china, I lack actual centerpieces. I will definitely have to remedy that! Instead, I chose to embrace the crystal theme by using crystal hurricanes and a pink pressed glass footed bowl. At the ends, there are silverplate candle holders with red and green accents, which were a gift to my husband from one of his employees and were made in Dubai. Once the candles were lit and everything sparkled, the setting became very festive and romantic.

The pink bowl in the middle highlights the pink color in the depression glass bowls set at each place setting. The tablecloth was purchased from Homegoods, though I'm not sure of the brand, and the felt hearts are from the Dollar Store.

An ideal table setting for a Valentine's dinner with friends or a Galentine's lunch!