Around The World In (Almost) 80 Plates

I’m not talking about that Bravo show. I’m talking about my recent trip down South and the number of plates I brought back. H and I had a lovely visit with our friends in May. He played golf and I went sightseeing, shopped, lunched and ate and shopped some more. Much of my time was spent “antiquing” amongst dusty vintage (and not so vintage) items with my patient friends.

Why was I buying plates? Well, I got this thing in my head that I couldn’t let go of. I had read somewhere that it was fun to collect old plates (NICE, old plates) and then when you have the occasion to bring homemade goodies to someone’s house, part of the gift is the “vintage” plate.

I can’t tell you how much more fun it makes going around to antique barns and dingy second hand stores when you have an actual item in mind or something that you collect.

The only problem was that in an effort to "consolidate" my purchases at the end of every day (oh, who am I kidding? I was trying to hide all the galump from H), I didn't realize exactly how MANY plates I had actually bought. It wasn't until I had unpacked all the crammed together parcels and boxes that I found these:

And these:

Oops, I forgot this one:

Oh wait, that isn't a plate. It's a tin tray to go with another one I picked up. 

Oy, this reminds me of something else that I started collected a few years ago - “Silent Butlers”. And I found one that kind of went with that tin tray AND it was a very different version from the others that I have. 





Silent Butlers are usually hinged and handled containers that were used for crumbing the dinner table in more gracious times. In my parents’ day they were often used for emptying ashtrays. (Gross.) But it’s funny how they bring back the past and I just like them. Go figuh! 

You see how this starts? You find one great item of a certain kind and then others just start presenting themselves to you, so really you have no choice but to bring them home. I also want to make clear that NOTHING was pricey. (Are you reading this, H?) 

I WAS hoping to find 2 and 3 dollar plates. They were a bit more than that, but nothing was outrageous. The most expensive thing that I bought (that I'm admitting to here) was a LIMOGES vegetable dish. It's possible that it had a lid at one time, but I really don't mind it lid-less. It would have just gotten in the way. It's quite lovely and will be perfect at Thanksgiving. 

Guess how much? $14! 

Click here to see a similar one (with a lid) for a much higher price. 

I'll tell you all about what we ate down south next time...

And between you and me, I left out a few plates: