In 1990 we had just moved from Syracuse and were now close to both of our families; we had bought a house with a huge dining room and a 12-foot table to fill the huge dining room, so I was hosting my first Thanksgiving. I was both excited and nervous while I made my lists and started preparing. I made progress with grocery shopping, cranberry-orange relish making, and pie baking. I had a little trouble finding a tablecloth for a 12-foot table, but my sister-in-law's sewing skills saved me. I did run into trouble when I realized that my stainless service for six wasn't going to work for the 14 people that were coming. While browsing through an antique mall I stumbled upon the perfect solution, a set of Oneida Tudor Plate flatware for 14 in the Queen Bess pattern for $35, and thus began my slight obsession.
It was a set of the basic knives, forks, and spoons, but I decided I needed a few serving pieces. I got several serving spoons, a pie server, cold meat fork and a gravy ladle from ebay, but continued my search after Thanksgiving.
Over the years I acquired iced tea spoons, jelly spoons, butter knives, and the elusive butter spreaders, seafood forks, and demitasse spoons.
And once I saw the baby and youth sets, of course I had to have them!
I was captivated by the idea that this pattern was part of Betty Crocker's coupon program. Housewives saved coupons from Gold Medal flour and other General Mills products, sent them in with some money, and were rewarded with a new teaspoon or place setting. You could buy one or many pieces at a time depending upon your budget. A teaspoon cost 34 coupons and 5 cents or 2 coupons and 20 cents! The date usually given with this pattern is 1946, but I'm not sure if that's when it was introduced or discontinued. With one of my ebay purchases the kind seller included the original paperwork from when she had sent in her coupons. My growing set began to feel like a family heirloom, one that started with me.
But wait, there's more! I eventually found out that hollowware had also been offered in this pattern. These pieces were much more rare, but I enjoyed the hunt for ones I could afford. After 15 years or so I owned a butter dish, serving tray, water pitcher, vegetable dish, gravy boat, candelabras, and my biggest find - the complete tea set. It's engraved on the back, but that engraving put it into my price range and I do think about the ladies of Emmanuel Shrine #4 while I'm polishing it.
This is probably the only thing I've actively and intensely collected over many years. I had fun finding pieces, but I'm enjoying polishing it less and less. It's more vintage than antique and it's only silverplate so it's not especially valuable, but maybe someday one of my sons will be hosting Thanksgiving at their house and I can pass on the fancy family flatware.
This is probably the only thing I've actively and intensely collected over many years. I had fun finding pieces, but I'm enjoying polishing it less and less. It's more vintage than antique and it's only silverplate so it's not especially valuable, but maybe someday one of my sons will be hosting Thanksgiving at their house and I can pass on the fancy family flatware.
what a collection! and really, as collections go, it's practical (ok, maybe except for the tea set, which is lovely to look at!) I remember my mom saving those coupons (and the S&H greenstamps) for cookware, but never anything as pretty as you've got!
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you collect this. Imagine the day when you go to your son's home for Thanksgiving and he sets the table with this flatware - perfect circle moment!
ReplyDeleteBonny! What a beautiful collection! And what a fun experience you've had finding it all and learning about it. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love your collection! Searching out pieces on eBay satisfies the hunter/gatherer evolutionary instinct ;-)
ReplyDelete(And now I am caught up with your blog!)
so pretty and functional! My gram and mom did s & h green stamps and I have the dishes that they collected over the years. Some are in great shape others are not but I love them so :)
ReplyDeleteWow - that's the flatware my parents had when I was a kid! Reading this, I thought maybe she'd gotten it as a gift when she and my dad got married on the "Bride and Groom" show in 1953, since that was sponsored by General Mills - but I just asked her and she said she bought it as a set after she graduated from high school (1950), on a time-payment program (some set amount per month). Seems odd, though, that she would have bought it as a set if it was being sold in pieces via coupon promotions. I don't know where it is now... I'm pretty sure my dad got it when they divorced, but also pretty sure he doesn't have it any more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! My kids are very interested in some of my collections (not all) -- mostly the practical ones. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy mom collect coupon stamps from everywhere. We had dishes and flatware (you pattern looks familiar) and all sorts of things, but nothing as fancy as you have. It's a great collectable and I hope your son will use it, too! See how much you have to say and share? I'm so glad you continued to post. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I've got a couple of rockers from my Grandmother's porch that she bought with S&H Green stamps. It's really a beautiful pattern.
ReplyDeleteVery cool - my Mom still has that silverware tucked away somewhere - I remember it from my childhood. Now I can help her remember how she got it! When we got married, she got us silverware with that same program. Thanks for sharing!
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