Clearing out the dining room in preparation for painting it, we are then having the floors sanded and polished.
Leon pulled up the carpet today and I removed my Mum's dinner service from the sideboard where it was stored. The sideboard has been dismantled and is out in the garage ready to be restored. It is currently black, but before long will be antique white.
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| The Skip is full of the timber from the old timber decking, the sitting and dining rooms carpet and other junk. It was a spur of the moment thing to get the skip in but now there is no more debris left. |
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| This is the dining room with the carpet and underlay stripped ready for sanding and polishing. |
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| Now this I will enjoy doing - a restoration of our federation era sideboard |
I have loved this dinner service from when I was a little girl. Why it's mine I guess. I have an early memory of Mum letting me dry one of the soup plates. Soooo carefully! Tea towel handed to me separately.
It is Royal Doulton and Ms Google tells me the marks on the back indicate 1932. Mum and Dad were married in 1935 in the depths of the depression. I have an unsubstantiated feeling that they might have got it as a first anniversary present. Anyhow, it's pretty old. It was always her "best" and subsequently is in very good condition. (Never seen the inside of a dishwasher!) My mum didn't have very many nice things, so this must have been doubly special to her.
The pattern is called Orchids D 5215. I washed it all today in preparation for packing it away until all is done. I have no idea how many pieces are in it. It has everything you could ever need for 6 from eggcups to tea and coffee pots. It was a labour of love
Tomorrow is Australia Day. We are going to a BBQ at a friend's house. Quite probably be some sort of lamb on the menu.....but it won't be the same. And it certainly won't be on a beautiful Royal Doulton plate!
Words by Sue
Photos by Leon
Beautiful and precious. In the UK we live very close to Stoke-on-Trent, where Wedgewood, Sopde and Royal Doulton were made. Sadly much is now manufactured in China.
ReplyDeleteHow true Gaynor - same here in Australia, how much manufacturing is lost to China.
DeleteThat sideboard looks beautiful -- looking forward to seeing the transformation.
ReplyDeleteKeep posted N and A. We will be giving it a lick of Antique USA white to compliment the old oak dining table and the distressed white cross-back and whicker chairs for the dining room.
DeleteLove your precious dinner set!!
ReplyDeleteMy parents were married a bit later than yours (1945), but their financial situation was just as horrible. So I am assuming no family received a complete dinner service as a single gift. Your parents probably told people they were going to have Royal Doulton Orchids D 5215 (or whatever pattern they chose) and people would give what they could. At the wedding, Auntie Sarah might give the salt and pepper shakers, Uncle Dave the two sugar bowls etc.
It took my parents _years_ to get their complete dinner service together! But we still love it and use it for special dinners.
The history is a little unknown as to how it came into the family but it will be handed down to the next generation Hels
DeleteYou're having a productive summer!
ReplyDeleteProductive and a lot of fun Walt, and when you stand back and look at the finished product, it is very rewarding. The deadline is September this year to complete the house for putting on the market.
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