For years I had dealt with a level of guilt when it came to the glassware, china and linens that belonged to my Mom. Unwanted by the family, and devalued in a market that has no interest in fine tableware, they have been stored in the back of my closet since she passed away in 2005.
Mom used these vintage pieces every Thanksgiving. Yet, each year November came, and November went, and the boxes remained in the closet. Try as I might to overcome it, the delicacy of these family heirlooms intimidated me. I mean, what if something got broken??.
Do you find yourself in the same dilemma? Possibly this is the year to unpack the boxes and give your family a vintage Thanksgiving dinner. You know, the kind that Grandma used to make.
Among Mom’s things there were several boxes of ruby and clear glass. There was not much that matched, but still it was an interesting conglomeration of cake stands, salad plates and a punch bowl set that hadn’t been used since my high school graduation party.
Feeling uncertain as to how to use this hodgepodge of glass, I lined it up on the dining room table to study what I had. There were several pedestal cake stands that, when stacked by graduating size, formed multi-tiered servers for my finger foods and holiday pastries. There were just enough pressed glass serving pieces for my meat and cheese trays, and the punch bowl filled with sangria made the perfect centerpiece for my hors d’oeuvre table.
Few things can transform a meal into a celebration like a beautiful tablecloth and cloth napkins. As with many from her generation, Mom always used a fine linen cloth with napkins to match. These had been stored for so long that they needed to be freshened. A cold water wash on a gentle cycle will quickly bring your linens back to life. Remember to flat dry them until they are slightly damp and then toss them in the dryer on low to finish them.
Be it Haviland, Pope Gossard, Copeland, or table settings from one of the other 20th Century porcelain factories, fine china can be the most intimidating of all family heirlooms.
Personally, with its delicate beauty, the thought of it getting damaged puts me off. That excuse was bashed when I remember that Mom served Thanksgiving dinner on it for over 50 years, without incident! So, I decided to give it a try; after all, it would make for a lovely table.
I expected a few “oohs and aahs”. What I didn’t anticipate was the conversation at the table as each person in turn shared their memories of the dinners served at Grandma’s house.
Our Thanksgiving dinner was filled with a lot of laughter, a few tears and it was a day we will long remember.
Maybe this year is the year you unpack Mom’s things? Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett was a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates.
