Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Cherished Collections

 

Welcome to everyone who is visiting from Elegant Musings for the Cherished Collections Bog Tour!
I'm having so much fun seeing all the wonderful things different people collect and I hope you are too!

I'm going to share with you a collection that happened somewhat by accident. I collect silver and silver-plated compotes.

What's a compote?  
A compote, or compote dish, as they are sometimes called, is a footed dish, often used to serve sweets or nuts. 

So, how did I end up with this collection?  It started with one piece that had been a wedding gift to my in-laws and they had never used it:

I brought it home and polished off 30 years worth of tarnish and added it to my small Revere bowl, which is a shape I've been enamored with since I was a child.  Slowly the collection grew.

I have tall ones, short ones, simple ones, fancy ones, pierced ones and some that aren't technically compotes because they don't have a pedestal and foot, so they're really bowls, but I love them just the same. Each one is different and I know exactly which ones I already have at home and refuse to duplicate even if it's a really good deal. I've become pretty discerning about adding to the collection and a new one has to be pretty special and priced just right to make it, which is why I've been holding at 11 for a while now.

I love that they add a little touch of drama to everyday. The tallest one in the photo above came from the estate sale of the husband and wife who founded the theatre I work at. I think it's kind of neat to have it. I have a few that were gifts from very special family members, including one of the little bowls (it's just peeking in at the lower edge of the photo) that was originally a gift to my husband Joe's grandparents on a significant wedding anniversary.

A little part of me cries every time I see a lonely compote at a thrift store because I know I could give it a good home, but I am NOT the Angelina Jolie of silver compote adoption! I have learned to say no. 

I polish them pretty diligently, except just before Halloween when I let them tarnish a bit to add to my creepy decor!  The photos were taken in December & yes, those are disco ball ornaments- I always glam them up a bit during the winter holidays! 

Be sure to visit the other blogs on the tour by visiting Elegant Musings



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4 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous and unique collection (and practical, too). They would make the perfect candy dishes for a glamorous candy buffet, like the kind you sometimes see in lieu of favors at weddings. I am also impressed by your discipline in not buying up every single compote dish you find :-).

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  2. That is a very nice collection which I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to use them.

    In answer to your question on my blog, I do not own any vintage maternity patterns. I did come across several of them in the antique and thrift stores, but decided against purchasing them because with my being 46 I figured this was my last pregnancy; so I didn't want to spend so much time on something I wouldn't get much wear out of.

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  3. What a lovely collection! I like how you showcase the colored candles in them!
    Laurie...thanks for stopping by my blog...visting from the blog tour!

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  4. What a lovely collection you have. Isn't it funny how something just has to come home with you one day.

    I have a crystal candy dish that was my grandmother's.

    Thanks for sharing

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