A herd of vintage cream and sugar sets

This is one of those collections that I didn't realize I had. While sorting through a cabinet I found three sugar bowl and creamer sets and thought of a few more in the basement and attic. A few? I found almost a dozen.    

My sentimental favorite. Russel Wright was a popular designer of mid-century tableware and furniture that had a distinctive modern look. In the 1950's the Ideal Toy Company produced a set of plastic dishware based on Wright's American Modern pattern.

 His signature appears on each piece.

This is what's left of a childhood tea set by Banner. I'm often surprised to find that some of my more obscure 1950's toys -like this one- are available on eBay.

A 50's classic... My dad bought a set of Boonton Melmac. It was advertised as being unbreakable and he enjoyed demonstrating this to his friends. Must have happened frequently if I still remember it.

Discontinued Lenox Colonial Collection pattern.

Belleek Ribbon and Bow. This set has the second green mark, dating it to 1955-65. I should have used something as a reference for size in the photos. This petite pair could be used on a breakfast tray.

Rose and Daisy china by Pickard. The manufacturer's mark was used from 1925-1930.

A similar pattern by Stouffer. I'm not sure of its correct name but it's also referred to as Rose and Daisy.

Etched and frosted glass set. Very sparkly.

I have two more sugar bowls in this pattern.

When I was getting married brides generally only registered for tableware including everyday and formal china patterns. Today's bridal registries are so much more practical and realistic. Most of my china was never used. This is my everyday, Fireglow by Royal Doulton.

Part of a silver-plate tea set, another wedding gift that was never used. It's been stored in the attic for 40 years.


There are at least two other sets lurking somewhere as well as odd pieces without mates. This is one of those times when I think about opening an Etsy or Artfire shop. There's just too much here for me to enjoy or display properly.

Family photos late 1800's to 1920's

 One of my favorite mementos of my family is a collection of old photographs. Several decades ago I went through hundreds of unsorted photos, identifying the people and places, figuring out the chronological order and placing them in albums. I knew there were lots of photos but never imagined they'd fill four albums. One is dedicated to nothing but mystery pictures. And all were taken prior to 1950.

There aren't many individual photos from my dad's childhood but I have his baby book and high school annuals. 

My father's family from south Georgia.

My dad, late 1900's. His light blue eyes were so distinctive that I can find Daddy in group photos taken when he was an adult.

 Infants and toddlers, both male and female, wore dresses.

When they were older little boys wore outfits that resembled a sailor suit.

One of my favorites. Daddy had beautiful curly red hair.

This was in Dad's baby book. It's a mystery picture with nothing written on the back.
It looks to me like it was taken during World War 1.

Class photo, 1923 high school yearbook.

(I've noticed that some pictures in newspapers and books don't scan well.)

 When my father attended school there were only 11 grades so a high school sophomore was in the 9th grade. Twelfth grade was added nationwide during the Great Depression. Boys wore knee breeches (britches) with long socks and switched to long pants when they were high school seniors.

After graduating from high school my father attended Georgia Tech for a year before receiving his appointment to the Naval Academy. Dad joined Sigma Chi fraternity and this is a picture of his pledge class. He's the second from the left. Heh.

               I love the cars in the background. In 1926 Atlanta didn't have paved roads.    

                         

My mother's family.

Mary Catherine (Mimi) was my grandmother.

Informal shots from the 1910's.

When I was younger I looked just like my mother.

I was in my mid 30's when my mother told me a shocking family secret: her parents had divorced when she was a child. Back then it was shameful and always the wife's fault.
Yeah. Right. My grandfather divorced the mother of his five children to marry his mistress.

Ocean City, Maryland 1913. My mom, her brothers and sister seated in order of age, and their mother. Mom was the youngest and is at the bottom hiding her face.

 60 years later the five siblings recreated the photo.  


 Seeing this photo enlarged made me laugh. I saw the splash but never noticed the diver! The bottom of his/her swimming outfit blends in with the dock. "Me" is my mother. 

Early 1920's, probably taken at Annapolis. Mom is on the far left, my aunt Bert is holding the parasol and my grandmother is on the far right.

I love the fashions in old photos. My mother looks like an awkward adolescent in this picture but later photos show that she blossomed into a stylish young woman.

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I've almost completely recovered from a week-long bout with the flu.
Helpful hint: attempting to write a blog draft with a fever isn't a good idea, although it might be hilarious when you read it later.