Peacock Modern

Vintage Holidays

2010-10-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

My Etsy shop has been neglected as of late, but I'm looking forward to going on a few buying runs soon. In the meantime, I've gathered up some of my existing inventory that would be a lovely addition to a holiday table.

First up, serving bowls.

Let's look a little closer...

On the left we have a Vernon Kilns Raffia bowl. Next to that is a Santa Anita Ware Covered Casserole, which is large enough that it could easily serve as a soup tureen.

That Franciscan Autumn Leaf bowl is huge - perfect for a big fall salad (I've also got salad plates to match). Next to that is a sweet little American Ironstone dish for nuts or olives or what have you. And next to that is a gorgeous aqua serving bowl in the Granada Matador pattern by Taylor Smith and Taylor. How awesome would that look with some whipped sweet potatoes?

Save yourself some dishwashing with oven-to-table bakeware. Lots of Pyrex goodness.

And plenty of platters and plates for sides and cakes.

A little vintage stemware, and you're good to go!

let's take a walk

2010-06-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

This has nothing to do with ceramics or vintage anything, but I thought I'd share a little bit of my neighborhood with you. We are lucky to live just a few blocks from a greenbelt and small natural open space, preserved by the city. We call it the lookout.

On the way to the lookout, we pass a greenbelt. It's like a little rainforest in there.

The lookout is just around the bend here.

That's Bellevue - across Lake Washington

In the distance you can just make out the Cascade Mountains

Down to the woods.

Let's stop to admire the stone mosaic.

new growth

spring green

hello there!

hope you enjoyed our little walk!

napkin rings

2010-03-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

Today's post at Soule Mama has me on the hunt for napkin rings. Keeping track of whose napkin is whose is a big problem at our house, and I don't know why this never occurred to me. I like the idea of accumulating a collection over time at thrift stores and garage sales, finding just the right one for each member of the family. For the impatient among us, Etsy = instant collection.

This vintage Lillan Vernon pair would fit in with a Hollywood Regency Aesthetic.

And on the complete other end of the design spectrum, I'm rather fond of these folksy painted alpine flower ones.

These orange and red lacquer ones are cheerful.

You can never go wrong with simple teak.

For all you Vera collectors out there...

Or go custom and commission your own.

like these from raedunn.

or these from BROOKLYN Rehab.

on hiatus

2009-06-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

With a new job and another baby on the way, it appears I'm not able to keep this site updated anymore. I promised you a post on weaving, and while I never really did get that pulled together, the whole idea came about from my admiration of Avalanche Loom's products and studio. So before I go, I'll share a few photos with you here - I'm sure they will inspire you as much as they did me.

Wouldn't you love going to work every day if this was where you worked?

And look at what she makes there...this gorgeously nubby winter rug:

And this sassy scarf (who even knew you could weave a scarf? I didn't):

Her products are available online or from her shop in Avalanche, WI.

+++++++++++++++++++

I may have one more post in the next week or so to let you know about a BIG sale at Peacock Modern. I'm closing down the shop at the end of summer for maternity leave, and will be listing some new things and putting everything on sale in the coming weeks. Stay tuned...

white bike ceramics

2009-03-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just discovered white bike ceramics via the April 2009 Food and Wine magazine (p.149). Great stuff. Here's some of her work:

loops and hoops

2009-01-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

Well, so much for posting more frequently. I've actually been working on a post about hand weaving of all things, but it's taking a while to come together, so instead I'll share a little Friday jewelry fun.

I love that Etsy has added the ability to subscribe to an rss feed of your favorite shops, but it's a dangerous thing. Now that I can see all of my favorite shop's new listings right along with all of my blog subscriptions, it's hard to resist the temptation to buy everything. I've noticed that I've faved a lot of jewelry designers who make simple, everyday pieces, and apparently I'm drawn to loops and hoops. Here's just a few...

I'd like one of everything in Kusu's shop, but I particularly like her not-quite-round hoop earrings:

From Dreams and Jewelry, a simple gold circle on a chain:
Set of 6 slender bangles from Kira Ferrer.
And finally another simple circle on a chain, this time in silver, from Kenton Beadworks:

New Year, New Focus

2009-01-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

I started this blog with a very narrow focus - ceramics design. And while I'm still quite inspired by ceramics design, it hasn't exactly resulted in frequent blog posts. So I've decided to broaden my focus in 2009 to cover more of what inspires me - fiber crafts, jewelry design, food, nature...

A real post is coming soon....stay tuned.

mix and match

2008-12-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

I've accumulated so many dinnerware patterns, both at home and in the shop, that I thought it would be fun to play around with some groupings. So I hauled everything out of the basement and kitchen and spread it all out on my living room floor. If anybody had unexpectedly stopped by, I'm sure I would have looked like a huge weirdo ("Why is her floor covered in plates?") But I had fun, and it gave me some ideas for possible mix and match options in the shop.

vintage ceramic reindeer

2008-11-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this little guy, and I'm looking to find him some friends.

I thought Ebay and Etsy would be filled with white ceramic reindeer this time of year, but so far all I've found is this charming duo from Etsy seller Jolly Time One.

whirl ornaments

2008-10-23T11:56:00.001-07:00

Check out these fabulous hand-thrown porcelain ornaments by Kim Westad:

$16 each with your choice of a gold or red cord for hanging. Lovely!

Etsy Find: PrinceDesignUK

2008-10-06T10:37:00.001-07:00

I’m loving these sweet lovebird bowls and poppy flower bowls from Etsy seller, Prince Design UK.

Emilia Ceramics

2008-09-25T10:29:00.001-07:00

When I wrote about Bitossi ceramics recently, Emily from Emilia Ceramics commented that she has visited Aldo Londi’s hometown of Montelupo, and that she imports ceramics from Motelupo for her shop. So of course I had to look up her shop, and not only is it filled with beautiful handmade ceramics from Spain, Italy, France and Mexico, but she has a wonderful and inspiring story of how she’s followed her passions and started her own business. I asked Emily if she would answer a few questions for me about her business, and she was gracious enough to oblige.

What kind of work were you doing before you started Emilia Ceramics? Was there a particular moment when you decided to take the plunge and start your own business?

After college, I lived in Seville, Spain for a year. There is a ton of ceramics in Spain of course, but it was actually on a weekend trip in Portugal that I got the idea of importing ceramics. I met a great Portuguese potter, who invited me to experiment on his potter's wheel (I have taken ceramics classes at various times of my life). The experience made me realize how exciting and fulfilling it is to connect with people from other countries through their artwork. I learned that for most family-run pottery workshops, it's not just about the ceramics itself, it's also about their heritage, family traditions, and culture.

That's where the idea originated, but it was five years later while working in advertising in San Francisco that I decided to take the plunge. I had been back to Spain and Italy to visit and felt increasingly drawn to the laid-back way of life. I really resonated with the way Europeans seem to put people first -- spending hours over meals, enjoying each others' company and the simple elements of life: good food, wine, friends. In my mind, handmade ceramics is closely linked to these values, in that the technique of crafting and painting has been passed down through generations and the intention is that the pieces be used among friends and family. While the ceramic artwork I import makes great decoration, the truth is it is meant to be used... it's functional art. I want it to feel approachable, like the friendly and welcoming cultures from which it comes.

So finally, to answer your question...when I realized that I wanted my own business someday, it suddenly occurred to me that there was no reason to wait. While it seemed a little crazy, I decided it was best to jump into it when I felt the most excitement and the most passion for the endeavor. I knew the only thing I'd regret was not taking the chance.

How often do you travel looking for new artists or checking in on your favorites? Do you have other ways of finding new artists or do you mostly find them through your travels?

I did a lot of research before going on my first buying trip. I searched online, contacted international trade offices, and asked for suggestions from well-travelled friends and relatives here and abroad. It's easy to find the big manufacturers, but I wanted to work with local, independent artists... those that haven't done much or any exporting and are passionate about doing work that is truly original. These artists are a lot more difficult to find, and given their size, they are much more challenging to work with too. But is is all worth it when I'm able to share their beautiful artwork with friends and family here. I love the connections I've made with each artist -- it makes promoting and selling their work easy because I know that I am forwarding the careers of these talented and friendly people, as well as the cultural traditions of handmade ceramics and a slower-paced lifestyle.

By far my best leads have come through my uncle, who is a ceramic artist in Los Angeles and has worked in Italy a lot, and friends who have spent a lot of time in Mexico. Then there are a few that I've just come across unexpectedly on my travels -- those have been the most thrilling moments of my job: discovering an amazing artist at a market in Marseille or when lost in a tiny town outside of Valencia.

At the moment I'm too consumed with the business part of the business to travel as much as I'd like. It all began out of my love of traveling and connecting with the artists in person and I hope that someday that's what I spend most of my time on. But right now, my focus has shifted to learning about websites, photography, online marketing, and accounting.

On your website you mention that you run your business out of your house. I'm curious about how that works - where do you keep all of your inventory?

It's a bit crazy right now. I try to stay organized, but I am fighting an uphill battle. When I get a new shipment, I have to do inventory to be sure everything arrived in one piece and then I have to photograph it all for the website. At that stage my apartment is usually covered in pottery... every shelf, table, and much of the floor space is littered with it. I have boxes stored in a few places, but I keep a lot of pieces displayed in my home for people to see in person. Plus, that way I get to look at it everyday!

So far, what has been the biggest challenge/surprise of running your own business?

The biggest challenge is juggling so many moving parts at the same time. Every day I have to decide where to focus my attention and I know it is all important -- from communicating with my artists, organizing my inventory, updating the website, and gift-wrapping presents, all the way to creating marketing collateral, cold-calling vendors, and updating my accounting. I have learned about 50 new jobs in the last year, but I've yet to master any of them and I feel like there are 50 more that need learning as well. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, but then I remind myself that I'm getting to do exactly what I want to be doing. I wake up in the morning excited about all that I want to and have to get done that day. And I make my own schedule, with no bosses to answer to but myself.

What's next for Emilia Ceramics?

At the moment I'm really excited about expanding my gift registry. A handful of friends have registered for wedding gifts with me and it's been a huge success. Our pieces make a great compliment to the more traditional registry items you find at larger stores. More than anything, people love buying a gift that's unique and personal -- that the bride and groom will remember and cherish forever. I am really excited about the potential for Emilia Ceramics Registry.

Thank you so much Emily for sharing your experience and best of luck to you with Emilia Ceramics!

All of the ceramics pictured in this post (and many more) are available in the Emilia Ceramics shop.

Bollywood mugs

2008-09-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

I love these Bollywood inspired mugs by Charan Sachar. Each mug is decorated free hand in patterns inspired by Indian fabrics and embroidery.

Both colors are available in Sachar's Etsy shop, Creative with Clay.

Ceramics-inspired designs by Skinny LaMinx

2008-09-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

The new LAVA tea towels by Skinny LaMinx (AKA Heather Moore) are all over the blogosphere this week, and for good reason. Inspired by mid-century West German ceramics, the tea towels come in petrol (below left) and hot lava (below right.)

Earlier this year, Skinny LaMinx came out with a set of tea towels inspired by her own collection of vintage mugs. The mug tea towels are available in blueberry (below left), raspberry (below middle), and gooseberry (below right.)

It's great to see how ceramics design can influence designs in other mediums. I can't wait to see what Heather comes up with next!

Heart of Ireland Ceramics

2008-09-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just discovered these gorgeous "pots with bellies" from Etsy seller heartofireland. Handmade in Cork, Ireland.

porcelain pots with little bellies

Pair of pots with bellies

beautifully photographed too.

JBJE Ceramics

2008-09-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

JBJE is Jeremy Bert and Jennifer Elek and together they make some pretty amazing ceramics.

photo from jbjeartists.com

Their work was recently on display at Gather in Seattle's charming Columbia City neighborhood. The exhibit is over, but there is a photoset on Flickr. JBJE makes cups, wall pieces, and the nesting bowls pictured above (which can be purchased individually.) I'll take one of each, thank you.

Speaking of displays...

2008-09-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

I highlighted some great tabletop and mantle displays the other day in my post on ceramic animal figurines. I'm always in awe of people who can arrange things so beautifully in their homes, since I tend to fall in love with objects, but then I'm useless at displaying them in creative ways. Which is why I was delighted to see this post yesterday by Chez Larsson, a Swedish visual merchandiser. She give a simple overview of some basic display techniques used in store displays, like:

Group items in a triangular shape

and repeat similar items in odd numbers

I especially like her trick #5: "Keep it simple. Don't try to display all your nick-nacks at once. Store some and bring them out to switch your displays around." This is something I really need to work on - I tend to put things out and then leave them in the same spot forever.

Check out the full post on Chez Larsson for more pictures and tips from a professional!

End of summer sale in the Peacock Modern shop

2008-09-09T10:38:00.001-07:00

I am running out of space and need to make room for more stuff! So, for the last few weeks of summer, I'm offering a half-off the second item sale. Just purchase one item at regular price and then get a second item of lesser or equal value for half-off! Get all the details in my shop announcement. And if you mention that you heard about this offer on the Peacock Modern blog, I'll even give you a third item for 1/2 off. So go shopping!

The awesomely cluttered sale sign shop, via the justified sinner on flickr.

Ceramic Animal Figurines

2008-09-08T10:28:00.001-07:00

For some, the thought of ceramic animal figurines, might conjure up thoughts of grandma's cluttered curio cabinet, but when used sparingly, a cute little animal here and there can add whimsy and warmth to mantels and tablescapes. I recently purchased this pair of peacocks from Etsy seller VintageEye, thinking that I might use them in my shop photos, but I think they're a little big for that. So now I'm looking for the right spot to display them, and I went to Flickr in search of inspiration from some display masters.

Sfgirlbybay is constantly re-arranging her home and never seems to run out of new ideas. Here's a collection of deer atop one of her Keep Calm posters.

Another sweet deer, this one tucked in among some colorful dishes, by type.wright.

Lena Corwin displays a pair of proud doves atop a stack of books.

A colorful deer gang (or is it a flock? or a herd? maybe a posse) adorns Just Jenny's mantle.

And who wouldn't want to sit down to work with this little owl collection by Decor8 at your desk to keep you company?

To find some little friends to liven up your own displays, there's plenty to be found on Etsy:

How about some owl salt and pepper shakers?

L: Vintage owl salt and pepper shakers from thirteen leaf home; R: Vintage Grey Owl Salt N Pepper Set from Ugly Betty Vintage

Or a deer?

L: Ceramic Deer with Antlers Figurine from The Aviary; R: Vintage Deer Figurine from The Constant Gatherer

Or maybe some swans?

L: Vintage Swan Vase or Planter from How Now Design; R: Vintage Andre Richard Salmon Pink Ceramic Swan Figurine by Vintage Eye

So many cute animals out there, just waiting for a home....

Rimini Blu by Bitossi

2008-08-29T10:48:00.001-07:00

Rimini Blu is an Italian ceramics line characterized by intricate hand-embossed patterns and layered blue and turquoise glazes, reminiscent of the sea. The pieces were designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi, and many are still in production today. The pattern can be seen in vases, lamps, ash trays, bowls, platters, and, my favorite, animal figurines.

Bitossi horse from Kate Spade via Decor8 on Flickr.

Designed in the 1950s, some of the animal figurines are available in a re-editions line at Unica Home.

Rimini Blu pattern detail by Anne Cooper on Flickr.

And even though these aren't Rimini Blu, I just had to include these unusual pink Bitossi vases by quekie - manusje van alles on Flickr.

Want to start or add to your own Rimini Blu collection? Lots of tempting finds on eBay...

Top L: tray from modern cactus; Top R: bowl from aashee; Lower L: vase from camillehervier; Lower R: vase from MotherEarthGifts

And if you're lucky enough to be in London in September, the London Design Festival is having a Rimini Blue exhibit from September 17-23, 2008 at SCP West.

Friday Etsy Finds

2008-08-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

Some muted pieces to echo the gray weather we've been having in Seattle this week...

Set of two porcelain bowls by Stepanka

Set of four porcelain cereal bowls by Barb Dunshee

Weathered gray bowl by Bridgeman Studios

Altered gray bowl by Jenny Blasen Pottery

Restaurant Ware

2008-08-14T13:16:00.001-07:00

I've only recently discovered restaurant ware, and I'm far from an expert on it, but I could easily see starting a collection. One of the hallmarks of restaurant ware is it's sturdiness. These dishes were designed to stand up to the harsh conditions of commercial kitchens and dining rooms, and they have a nice, thick heft to them. Many pieces are inexpensive to collect and they come in a variety of patterns.

I love looking at all of the old logos of places that are long gone (and some that are still around) and wondering about the meals that were served on them and the diners who ate off of them.

Library Fashionista has a nice collection of logos:

Prima Seadiva has been collecting restaurant ware for over 20 years, and has quite the collection. Her collection includes some fabulous logo plates:

As well as some interesting pink and white motifs:

Here are some great pairings. The one on the left and top right are from Suzy Sputnik. Lower right is from Prima Seadiva.

For more inspiration, check out the Flickr Restaurant Ware group.

To learn more about restaurant ware, the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network is chock-full of information with active forums and a pattern ID guide.

And if you're ready to start (or add on to) your own collection, here are a few pieces I found on Etsy:

Top Row L: Syracuse dinner plate from Passion for Vintage; R: Syracuse platter from geopillow

Lower Row L: Pyrex teacups from earlygirl; R: Homer Laughlin plates from Peacock Modern (me!)

Coming soon to the shop...

2008-08-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

I was excited to find those Homer Laughlin restaurant plates, since I'm working on a post on restaurant ware. Stay tuned....

Friday Etsy Finds

2008-08-08T11:42:00.001-07:00

Today I'm digging on these dark, mod patterns in shades of brown, olive, rust and mustard.

From Kultur:

From ModishVintage:

And one from my shop:

Shop Find - Clio

2008-08-06T12:46:00.001-07:00

In the issue of Food and Wine that I was all ga-ga over, I noticed Clio listed as a source for some of the ceramics, so I went to look them up. Clio is located in Soho, but also sells online. If I ever got the moxie to open my own brick and mortar shop, it would probably look at lot like Clio.

From their about page: "Representing a variety of styles from rustic to modern, Clio offers a treasure trove of plates, glasses, bowls, serving pieces, flatware, vases, table linens, lamps and more—all with an emphasis on design." Clio is run by a husband and wife team, who by opening the shop "...have realized their dream and are happy as clams." Don't you just love stories like that?

Anyway, they have some great ceramics in their shop:

Think Pink

2008-08-04T11:15:00.001-07:00

The September 08 issue of Food & Wine magazine just rocked my world with this article entitled, "the new (almost) vegetarian." The article celebrates the fact that "a vegetarian life doesn't have to mean fake-meat dishes made with soy derivatives and animal protein knockoffs. Now, people who crave powerful flavors, surprise and subtelty in their food can eat brilliantly at restaurants, whether or not they order meat." Amen to that! The article features eight (!) recipes by none other than my hometown hero Jerry Traunfeld, who recently left the Herbfarm and is preparing to open Poppy on Capitol Hill. But I actually didn't even notice what the article was about for a few moments, because look:

Pink dishes! I wouldn't normally be drawn to pink, but there is something ethereal and almost earthy about these pieces. The artist is Christiane Perrochon, whose website describes her as "Obsessed with color and possessed with a sixth sense for discovering and developing hues that have rarely, if ever been seen in stoneware..."

This was nice too:

From the same article, but not pink, and by a different artist, Daniel Smith, whose works are available at Ochre. Ochre also carries Christiane Perrochon, but interestingly they only seem to have her work in blue, while they have some Dainel Smith works in pink.

Port Elizabeth ceramics at Anthropologie...and a little more about South African ceramics

2008-07-31T12:07:00.001-07:00

The other day I was browsing in Anthropologie when I noticed a very large earthy bowl and pitcher sitting alone on a shelf amongst the clothing. I picked up the bowl and turned it over (isn't everyone compelled to do this?) and saw that it was made in South Africa. I got that little rush of excitement that you get when you discover something new and came home to do some research.

I wasn't familiar with South African ceramics, but I learned that Anthropologie buyers have been traveling around South Africa in search of unique handmade goods.

Poppytalk highlighted some of Anthropologie's South African ceramics here.

And Sophie highlights more finds and discusses the potential humanitarian benefits of purchasing South African goods at her wonderfully-titled blog, Breakfast at Anthropologie.

I also discovered that the pattern that piqued my interest is called Port Elizabeth, which is a town on Africa's southern coast, and it looks like only the pitcher is available online.

In searching around for South African ceramics, I found out about the Light from Africa foundation, "a non-profit organisation (NPO) that aims to empower historically disadvantaged South Africans - and especially children affected by HIV/Aids - through the creation and sale of handcrafted African ceramic artworks." They have some great information on the history of African ceramic arts, as well as lots of handcrafted ceramic art pieces for sale.

I'm quite fond of these candle holders:

Left: large virgin; Right: Peace birds (above, below)

Handcrafted Ceramic Jewelry

2008-07-29T10:44:00.001-07:00

You don't often think about ceramics in jewelry, but the same qualities that draw me to ceramic dishware (color, weight, smoothness - to name a few) make ceramics an ideal medium for jewelry. It can also be a more affordable way to purchase a handmade piece of art from one of your favorite ceramicists. There are all kinds of ceramic artists out there making wonderful jewelry. Here are just a few:

Mette Scherning

Mette Scherning is a Danish porcelain artist whose works are available in Europe and Japan. I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of her earrings last fall during a visit to Amsterdam, and they're just about the only pair of earrings I wear.

Tasha McKelvey

From Tasha's artist statement: "I realized that small scale ceramic work provided infinitely more opportunities to experiment with clays, glazes and firing techniques than larger clay work. My ceramic jewelry soon took on a style of its own, separate from my pottery. I now create hand-carved molds using geometric and botanical designs specifically for my jewelry line..."

She's also having a jewelry sale in her Etsy shop!

Kim Westad

Kim Westad is well-known for her graceful vessels and whirls, but she's also designing some amazing pendants. Check out the textures on these!

Judy Tavill

Judi Tavill brings her background in fashion design to her aesthetic as a ceramics artist with these whimsical pieces.

Surly

Surly is quite prolific and has designs ranging from skulls and coffins to hearts to flowers and trees. Here are a few of my favorites:

Michelle Swafford Pottery

Michelle "strive(s) to create colorful, elegant pottery and jewelry pieces that will dress up your table or your body!" How fabulous is that ring?

I hope you enjoyed perusing these ceramic jewelry works as much as I did, and maybe you'll find a little special something for yourself or a loved one!

The Bellevue Arts Museum 2008 ArtsFair

2008-07-24T13:38:00.001-07:00

The Bellevue Arts Muesum's annual ArtsFair is this weekend. The ArtsFair is a juried exhibit of 325 Northwest and US artists with a variety of mediums represented, including ceramics, of course!

Some of the artists I plan to check out include:

Michael R. Hughes

Marge Margulies

And the one I'm most interested in checking out is Gregory Story, whose works remind me of mid-century West German ceramics. His website is done in Flash, so I can't link to any of the photos, but you should go check it out - he's got some amazing stuff! Here's his brochure piece:

The Details:

ArtsFair2008

Friday July 25 - Sunday July 28 (9:30am - 9:30pm Fri and Sat; 9:30am-6:00pm Sun)

Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA

On the Bookshelf: Lee Bailey's Southern Food & Plantation Houses

2008-07-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

I saw this book on display in bookstore recently and was immediately smitten by this fella Lee Bailey on the cover and by the title - "Southern Food & Plantation Houses." Is it a cookbook? Is it a home book? And then the subtitle gets even better - "Favorite Nachez recipes - by Lee Bailey and the Pilgramage Garden Club."

A book about southern food and plantation houses written by a guy in a straw hat and an entire garden club? How can you go wrong?

But wait - isn't this supposed to be a ceramics blog? What does any of this have to do with ceramics? Trust me that I will get there eventually. But first I have to give you a little background.

According to Bailey, Natchez, Mississippi is "the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River...(with)...a concentration of carefully restored antebellum (pre-Civil War, 1861) houses greater than any other comparable place in the country." He describes Natchez food as "representative of the best Southern cooking" and "when you see the settings - that magnificent classic nineteenth-century architecture in the midst of tumbling flowers and towering trees -- against which all this delectable food is served, you can't help glimpsing, for tantalizing moments, the glorious and fertile past that originally spawned such irresistible sensory treats."

So the book is about food and place and how magical it can be when the two are in sync. Published in 1990, it seems very relevant in today's "eat local" climate and it reminds me that eating local can be about more than just the food, it can encompass the whole setting and history of place in which the food is enjoyed.

Each chapter profiles a different plantation house along with a menu and recipes for a meal at the house, with chapter titles like: "Lunch in the Belvedere at Monmouth", "Lunch on the Screened Porch at Hope Farm" and "Dinner on the Gallery at the Elms." Each profile include glorious photos of the home, the grounds, furnishings in the home, and (here is where the ceramics comes in) the table settings. As is appropriate for grand meals in grand settings, the tables are typically set with fine china, silver and crystal. Not really my style - I'm more of a mid-century modern kind of girl, but I still appreciate these layouts. I'm always inspired by thoughtful design and attention to detail.

My favorite table settings are from the "Elgin Barbecue." I'm fond of green in dishware patterns, but who can resist ceramic ducks as part of the table setting?

Look how they've stacked a tray of pecans on top of that footed compote (?) dish to give it some height, even though it doesn't really fit perfectly. Love that!

More of that green and white dinnerware. The other great thing about this book is how he throws in photos of flowers and architectural details about the homes.

This is from the "Informal Dinner at Stanton Hall". I love that simple oval gold-rimmed bowl for serving fried chicken (even though I'm a vegetarian!). And there seems to be a light shining down from above, like it's holy fried chicken or something.

Here is a "porcelain shepherdess among the camellias", also from Stanton Hall.

Goodness! I really didn't intend to go on and on about this book that's not even directly ceramics-related, but I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at these lovely southern table settings as much as I did!

Coming soon to the shop

2008-07-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Inspired by H is for Home, I grouped today's shopping finds together into a single photo. While theirs looks straight out of magazine, mine looks like....a bunch of stuff on my dining room table. But what great stuff it is!

Vintage Mikasa

2008-07-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

Mikasa is one of my favorite makers of vintage ceramics. Over the years they have produced hundreds of dinnerware patterns, which makes them readily available and affordable thrift store finds. With so many patterns and designers, I can't say that there's a particular Mikasa style, yet I always seems to recognize a Mikasa piece before I flip it over to find the tell-tale Mikasa logo. Another nice thing about collecting Mikasa is that it's usually marked with the pattern name.

I like the colors and shapes of these simple designs:

Left: Pink Duplex by Ben Seibel; Upper Right: Yellow Trellis by Ben Seibel; Lower Right: Ironstone creamer (pattern unknown)

Some styles have luscious nature and botanical themes:

L to R: Strawberry Hill, Hilltop, California Poppies

And some just have the most amazing graphic patterns:

Top L: Light N Lovely Windmill from Etsy seller Modish Vintage, Top R: Coffee pot from Etsy seller Ginchy Gear, Lower L: Mikasa Cali Bou from Kultur*'s Flickr photostream, Lower R: Duplex Granada from VisuaLingual's Flickr photostream.

Mikasa has been in business since 1948, and is still in production today. You can read more about them here.

Check out the Flickr Vintage M ikasa and Pyrex group pool for more great Mikasa photos.

Welcome!

2008-07-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there!

Welcome to Peacock Modern, the blog. This is a companion site to my Peacock Modern Etsy shop. I plan to use this blog to share my love of well-designed ceramics, both vintage and contemporary. There are so many wonderful things out there to collect, and since I don't have room for them all, I'm hoping this can be my virtual collection! Enjoy!