Welcome to the 887th Tablescape Thursday! Recently, I had someone ask about these pierced charger plates that you’ve often seen me use in table settings over the years.
Of all the table-related items I’ve ever shared, I’ve received more questions about these charger plates over the years than about anything else I’ve used in a table setting.
I purchased these charger plates from Horchow online in 2008. I was just starting to have friends over more often for small gatherings/dinner parties, and had discovered (most likely from watching HGTV) how pretty charger plates looked in a place setting.
In 2008, I probably owned 4-5 sets of dinnerware, and I remember thinking that if I just had a set of white charger plates and a set of cream/ivory charger plates, I would be set for life and would never need any other chargers. White and Cream would go with all my dish patterns forever and ever. Ha! Things have changed a little since then, but that line of thinking is still pretty true. A set of white, along with a set of cream charger plates, should work great with almost any dish pattern, although it sure is a lot more fun to have a variety of options.
When I purchased these in January 2008, I was right in the middle of having a front porch and a screened porch added onto my home. I was looking forward to having a lot of porch dinner parties. I had not yet discovered blogs, or even knew what a blog was. It wasn’t until I tripped across HGTV’s website, Rate My Space, and one of the lovely ladies I met there mentioned blogging, that I found the magical online world of blogs.
I’ve always thought that these chargers were some type of special buy that Horchow tripped across or perhaps had made especially for their store. When they arrived, they had no markings or branding on the back. I remember that even the boxes they arrived in were plain, with no branding.
I still have the receipt after all these years. It shows the cream-colored pierced chargers that I ordered, plus a set of white chargers that I ordered at the same time. Each set contained 4 charger plates, and I ordered 3 sets of each for a total of 12 chargers in each design. It’s been 17 years since I ordered those charger plates. $476.36 seemed like a fortune at the time, but looking back now, that’s really not too bad for 24 chargers.
These are the white charger plates that were listed on that receipt. I loved (and still love) their wicker/lattice-looking design.
I thought they would provide a great backdrop for my dish patterns that were mostly white in their design.
These photos are making me miss my gardenia shrub back in Georgia.
White charger plates really go well with a lot of spring/summer table settings.
After I replied to the comment a few days ago, the one asking about these pierced charger plates, out of curiosity I did an online search to see if I could find anything similar. I’ve always hoped that someone would start making them again. I was surprised to come across chargers that looked like the same ones I bought so many years ago! You’ll find those here: Cream/Ivory Pierced Charger Plate. Unfortunately, the cost is not the same as it was 17 years ago, but at least someone is still making them. I have never ordered from this site, but it appears to have good reviews. Tip: When ordering from a place you’ve never ordered from before, use a credit card for payment just in case you run into a delivery issue. I like to use American Express since they offer great customer service and support if anything goes awry with a purchase.
Update: Per Hetty in the comments, use the code WELCOME20 to save 20% off your first order. Thanks for that tip, Hetty!
Looking forward to all the wonderful table settings linked below 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.
Hi Susan! You posted a solution to cleaning up items that had become gummy. Maybe??? a hair brush. I would be so grateful if you could send me that product name. I should have put in my Amazon cart immediately. Love, love, love your new little doll house and I hope it brings you lots of love and happiness! Thanks, Kym
Oh, yes…I know which post you mean. It was this one: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/remove-the-sticky-deteriorating-rubbery-residue-from-tool-handles-surfaces-other-devices/
I used 70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol. Hope it works for you!
FINALLY! Yes, I’m one of those long-time followers who has asked (repeated, I admit) about those chargers. My order has been placed!
lol Well, you were definitely not alone. Let me know what these are like…I hope they are exactly the same quality as the ones I have.
Those pierced chargers are so beautiful! Thanks for finding them again, and sharing with us. I love looking back at all your beautiful tables with them too. 2008! Seems like a lifetime ago! Thanks as always for hosting – hope the rest of your week is great!
Thanks, Barbara! I know, how did so much time fly by! Scary how fast it’s going!
How exciting!! For anyone interested if you click on Susan’s link, scroll down and then click on “About us”. Scroll down and you’ll see the code WELCOME20 to save 20% off your first order. Happy shopping!
Wow, that’s great! Thanks for letting me know, Hetty! I’ll add that to the post.
Wondering why I have to have Google email to post now. I ran into this on another site too.
Ummm, I’m not sure.
Figured it out. Thanks!
Oh, good! 🙂
Oh no! I love those pierced chargers so much, and 10 years ago, I would have been all over them. Now, I’m thinking I need to start de-stuffing. I’ll have to think carefully on those though. Thanks for the tip, Susan.
They are pretty, def a favorite, which is why I use them a lot. Have a great weekend, Pam…it’s almost here.
This is slightly off-topic, but are you using two (or maybe three?) napkins in your napkin rings? (some of them look multi-layered?). Is this awkward when guests go to use the napkin? I think it looks great – maybe you could explain how you did that – ?
Normally, I just use two. One always feels so skimpy inside a napkin rings and hardly fills it out. Dinner guests normally lay one across their lap to protect their lap/clothes and use the other as their main napkin.
Once in a blue moon, I will use an organza sheer napkin over the top if I think it adds something nice to the setting. After guests remove them, I will sometimes gather them up and set those to the side. I just did an online search to see what the organza sheer napkin is called since I’m never sure what to call it. Here’s what AI said:
“A sheer napkin placed over a solid napkin is typically referred to as a table overlay or topper. While a napkin is used for wiping, these sheer fabrics are decorative table linens meant to add color, texture, and visual interest to a table setting.”
I love how they add a touch of airiness to the place setting. I guess organza napkin topper is the best name for those. I found the ones I use while antiquing many years ago. They were in a booth that had a lot of tabletop goodies, but they are available in a lot of places online.
That’s great info – thanks. Are you aware of the Facebook group “Beautiful Table Settings”? Lots of great tips and beautiful photos there.
I’m never on Facebook, but that is good to know! Thanks!