Can you mix elegant china with depression glass? The answer is “Yes, of course you can. But should you?” This post shows one of our most elegant and choice china dinnerware patterns coupled with Cameo Dancing Girl depression glass. You tell me, how does it look together?
Historically hostesses consider china dinnerware the choice for plates and bowls and relegate glass to stemware and accessory pieces like relish dishes and pitchers. During the late 1920s Fostoria led the charge to reshape America’s perceptions and to make inroads into the dinnerware market. Depression glass – the mass produced pretty glass dishes often given away – picked up on that trend and came in complete dinner sets.
These plates are especially interesting. They are Limoges, made by Gerard, Dufraiss & Abot of France and have a secondary mark of J. W. Grant. I bought these in Bay City Michigan and did a Google search for this company. J. W. Grant was a fine jewelry store in Saginaw Michigan about 1911.
It was not unheard of for fine stores to commission special patterns, or perhaps this mark was added after production. Mid Michigan had a lumber boom in the early 1900s and many families became rich enough to seek finer furnishings. French china would have been just the thing.
I’ve used this classic approach with one small addition, the cup and saucer are glass plus the water tumbler. You can see a full tablescape with all Cameo here. This table today is stripped down to just the basics, the Limoges dinner plates, Cameo green depression glass tumblers, cups and saucers, and simple silver plate. The place mats were my mom’s from the 1950s. The gorgeous green crystalline glaze vase is from artist Dave Eickholt.
I figured if this combination works then it opens the doors to many combinations with different colors and styles. These Limoges plates are the style and quality you can dress up or down. They work great for your formal dinners and for more informal dining as with this combination with depression glass. Next week I’ll show a table with the same plates but etched crystal stemware.
In the meantime, why don’t you leave me a comment and give your opinion: How do you like this combination?
My thanks to Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this fun event.