Welcome to the 901st Tablescape Thursday! I have a wonderful tablescape to share with you today! Elena created a beautiful table setting for her family for Christmas that would also work wonderfully for a New Year’s Day celebration. Elena wrote, “My whole life, I have always LOVED everything Victorian!! Back in the 1980s and into the 90s, there were Victorian influences in everything from art, architecture, and decor, to fashion and jewelry. Think Ralph Lauren, Jessica McClintock, and Laura Ashley, and even more avant-garde designers like Betsey Johnson and Karen Alexander.”
“Leading the pack was jewelry designer Wendy Gell. Her over-the-top designs included glass stones, faux pearls, and more. Her signature bracelets that she called “wristies” were on designer runways and adorned all the major fashion magazine covers. As I absolutely ADORE cherubs, her cherub brooches have always been my favorite! I have been trying to figure out a way to incorporate them into a table scape for ages, and I finally figured it out!”
Elena tried different ideas for her centerpiece, incorporating both antique collectibles and newer pieces. So, as you enjoy the images in this post, you’ll notice some changes occurring in the center of the table.
Black tablecloths create such dramatic backgrounds in table settings. (Black tablecloth is available here: Black Tablecloth.)
Elena said, “I used Mud Pie white cherubs for the center of the table, including candle climbers, and I filled them with gold ball ornaments.”
“Then I changed it up and used some of my antique cherubs with vintage satin ball ornaments.”
“Although I found the cherubs on eBay, and was going to make napkin rings in a similar way to the seashell ones I’ve made in the past, I decided to use my collection of her (Wendy Gell) cherub brooches on velvet ribbon bows instead. I mean, how many times would I use huge cherub napkin rings? (Stupid question!)”
Ha! I love Elena’s sense of humor! If we lived near each other, I know we would be great friends and terrible enablers when it comes to buying treasures for table settings! It’s amazing how different Elena’s tablescape looks with just a change in the centerpiece.
This feels so festive and perfect for a New Year’s Eve setting.
Enjoy these close-up images of the treasures Elena chose for her New Year’s Day table setting.
Let’s take a closer look at the place settings themselves.
Elena incorporated her beautiful Wendy Gell cherub brooch collection into her table. Elena sent additional photos of how she created her napkin rings with her cherub collection. I’ll share that tutorial in an upcoming post real soon. The cherub napkin rings are perfect with the precious cherubs around the edge of the salad plates (Wired-Edged Velvet ribbon is available here: Wired-Edged Velvet Ribbon in 11 Colors.)
The charger plate Elena chose for her table is Mikasa, English Countryside. I love the trellis design! So pretty!
Elena said, “The dinner plate is an antique by Omeco, unknown pattern. How I wish these were charger size!”
The salad plate is American Atelier in the Heavenly Host pattern. What a gorgeous design!
Elena wrote, “Funny story—I recently purchased two boxes of four champagne flutes at TJ Maxx. When I looked at them at home, I thought I must be out of my mind since I have so many glassware sets already, and no place to put them! So I took them back. They were the same as the Wendy Gell ones in this tablescape!!! Hmm, wonder if they are still at TJ Maxx?!” Elena, go back and see if they are still there! Those are beautiful!
Thanks so much to Elena for sharing these wonderful, elegant tables for this week’s Tablescape Thursday! Looking forward to all the beautiful table settings linked for this week’s Tablescape Thursday!
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then copy and paste the address showing in the address bar, into the “url” box when you link up. You’ll need to include a link in your post back to the party to link up and participate. That’s so visitors to your blog will be able to find the party and the other Tablescape Thursday participants. Requiring a link back also prevents businesses and scammers from linking up to sell their products. Please, don’t add your post name/blog name ALL IN CAPS…it tends to create big spaces between the rows of links. Please do not link up table settings that were just recently shared in the last few weeks for Tablescape Thursday.
Elena’s table is elegant and gorgeous! I too love Victorian-influenced style. Thank you for sharing her amazing table and for hosting Tablescape Thursday!
Thank You Janet!!!
Just beautiful…tablescapes are SO FUN!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!
franki
Happy New Year to you too Franki!!!
Black, gold and white make such a dramatic table setting! Add crystal and it’s almost theatrical. Like something you’d see on a movie set. What a strikingly vivid setting for New Year’s dinner, Elena.
I particularly like the way the little cherub looks against the glass stem in the penultimate picture. There is something so cute about that, with the pearls and crystal on his head. I hope you had a dinner as delicious as your table setting, Elena.
Susan, you made a good p0int! While it wouldn’t take much pressure to enable me, perhaps it’s best we’re not all neighbors. I remember years ago campaigning for you to create a message board where we could all chat and get to know each other. And yes, I suppose, if we found we lived close in real life, we could meet up. How dangerous that could have been! I probably would have had to move 6 times since then, to bigger and bigger houses. Although, I do remember that incredible dish pantry. Was it Bonnie’s? I’m sorry, I am not sure of her name, but I remember seeing the pictures of the most wonderful (and organized) dish closet. It was so big! There was room for everything. Dishes, serving pieces, all manner of flatware, napkins, napkin rings, etc. It was wonderful! I always keep that in the back of my mind, in case we ‘ever build.’ 😀 I suppose it’s best we haven’t done that. 😀 Now I’m wondering what Warren did for New Year’s this year. Maybe he’ll share too!
Thank you SO much for the kind words Pam!!! Buying a black tablecloth was my husband’s idea and I have used it more than I ever thought I would! The champagne glass with the cherub is a Wendy Gell original………
Wow on everything used for the table setting! I especially think the black table cloth is perfect for New Year’s.
Thank You Kathleen!! Of course I totally forgot the over the top black candle holders I have that are cherubs! They are always sitting on the server so I completely over looked them!
What a fun, stunning table and so unique! I love the candle cherub climbers and the sweet creation of napkin rings. There is just something about the artistry and workmanship of the Victorian era. I love the cherub salad plates as well. Beautiful and so fitting and fun for New Years! I wonder how a babies became the symbol for New Years? So cherub angel babies is perfect!
Oh these are beautiful! I love the black tablecloth, especially – it’s so dramatic with the other pieces. Nice work Elena, and thanks for sharing it, Susan! Hope you’re both having a lovely holiday. Happy New Year!
I love all the cherubs! I love the simple but elegant look of her table designs. I also have the Mikasa English Countryside dishes for my everyday dishes. I use the plates as the base for table settings then add seasonal plates with lots of color on top. The white design in the Mikasa plates always compliments the salad plates or bowls . Great design, Elena!
Thank You Linda! So glad you liked it! Happy New Year to you!
She did a fabulous job with her NYE tablescape. Who wouldn’t love to dine there amongst all that classy beauty? Thanks for sharing, Elena and Susan for posting.
Thank You Michele!