Aboyne Doll's outfit done

A modern classic! One day a valuable antique? ;)

Ours are called Halo, made by Elia:

We have 8 place settings with 4 table spoons, as in this canteen (but without the canteen box), plus an extra set of 8 desert knives and forks and two of the larger serving spoons. I don't think they do fish eaters for this set, but as the queen never uses this 19th C invention, neither do we! ;)I'd like to add more of the serving accessories, like the carving set and a sauce ladle or two, and they do a very nice cake slice... One day! :)

Very classic! Beautiful pattern.

My Betty Crocker coupon flatware is also rather plain -- by design.

Beverly

Spoons in the disposal, knives used to pry -- things happen. Before ordering from Replacements (whose service is very good and reliable) check eBay because it's much less expensive in my experience.

Another very nice pattern that is easy to live with over time.

Plain is good as far as I'm concerned! I like all these patterns, but the one I have the best - which is as it should be! :)

Yes, I have found them to be very good, although expensive.

Thanks, I just did an eBay search, and found some spoons up for auction!

We have loved it, the only problem is the place knives (made in Holland) tend to get ugly marks/pits on the blades over time. They can be removed using steel wool, but it's a hassle. The same knives, made in Japan, are much nicer! :-|

And here's a weird co-inky-dink: I only made the connection when I searched for the pattern on Replacements, my family and I are going to Bedford, PA next summer to search out the Ickes family roots. Now isn't it weird that DH and I chose "Bedford" flatware

35+ years ago, not even knowing there was another "Bedford" with meaning to the family???

Beverly

How about more co-inky-dinks? I come from Westmoreland County, but my mother's family is from Fayette County - going waaaay back to when they got a land grant from William Penn. To get to Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, you go through Bedford because that's where the road was - I think a young fella named Geo. Washington surveyed that road. I have a surveyor's compass that he could have used - because of when and where it was made - although I think he used compasses made by another craftsman.

Be sure to check the libraries in the area. My cousin has catalogued many, many Western Pennsylvania graveyards and given a copy to local libraries. Others have done the same, so by now, most of the cemetaries and graveyards are pretty well catalogued, especially the smaller towns and rural ones. The old headstones were a treasure of information.

That area is quite beautiful, and there is lots to see. It is hot and muggy in the summer, and they have teeming hordes of insects, but that's better than the cold, damp winters. Guess where I grew up? LOL!

I've been ignoring this whole conversation on dolls because I was not interested in dolls. Now the topic turned to tableware and I got an idea. Why not search for my flatware pattern since I'm not going to get it from my SIL estate. Low and behold that cheap flatware I got as an incentive from ACME when my son still ate baby food was listed. Then my thought followed the same direction yours took, why not get it on ebay. R.......... knife $8 ebay knife $3.45. Hmmmmm I'll have to put a watch on this!

I have a second cousin in Bedford. AK in PA

Not to mention the thrill of the hunt! I got my mother's silver-plate flatware, but it has no pattern name on it, just the maker and a long number. For years I thought it was an odd one-off pattern. Recently I spent the time searching on Replacements, and finally, after all these years, identified the pattern. It's not unusual at all! I found lots on both Replacements and on eBay, and filled out the missing pieces.

I had a similar situation with her pre-war Noritake china, which I also inherited. No name, just the Morimura Brothers wreath and M. On a dreary winter day a few years ago, I laboriously went through all the Noritake "Mystery" patterns on Replacements, and finally found a match! Still no name, but "Mystery Pattern No. 177" I did buy a couple of things from Replacements, since without their database, I never would have been able to find anything at all!

About 20 years ago, my younger DD inherited 6 place settings of sterling flatware in a lovely, simple pattern, just right for her taste. Trouble is the estate appraiser wasn't able to identify the pattern or maker, so there she was, 2 place settings short of a dinner party!

In the year she was married, I finally got serious about identifying it, because I wanted to fill out the service as my wedding gift to her. I can't remember ATM just where it was, but somewhere online they offered to do a pattern search if you sent them a .gif of one of the pieces. Sure enough, they identified it, and I was able to buy 4 place settings and a couple of serving pieces for her wedding gift. Was she ever surprised! And pleased... ;-)

Beverly

Thanks, Joanne! I am forwarding this to older DD, she is doing most of the research. Now if I could just remember where I put the 19th century family bible...

Beverly

Isn't it great when something like that happens! :)

My mum's Noritake was a gift from my dad to her when we lived in Malta back in the 60's... It was bought duty free, and she got 12 complete place settings plus serving dishes. And while we use it regularly as a family, nary a piece has been broken or chipped! All very plain, with a delicate platinum pattern on them and a platinum rim. The funniest thing, though, is the sauce/gravy boat... It's MADE in two parts, but welded to the saucer! Makes it a bugger to wash! Our guess was that the ingenious Japanese had seen pictures of gravy boats on their sacers but never handled them and somehow assumed they were a single item!

Mum also has a much older coffee service with a very elaborate pattern. Tiny, delicate, and very pretty.

When you find it, make lots of Xerox copies so everyone will have one.

Good idea. I love those old center pages with the copperplate birth-marriage-death entries. I had it out a couple of years ago, and I guess I didn't put it back, at least not where I expected to find it today. Oh, well, the basement is way overdue for a good clearing out!

Beverly

Indeed it is! And now we have the name of the pattern, it makes for a ready-made idea for gifts special occasions.

I have gravy boats both ways, and I actually prefer the ones with one-piece boat and saucer. Makes for less slippery-sliddy passing at the table.

And treasured by one and all, I imagine! ;-)

Beverly

A very dry spot in the basement, I hope. Although the paper that was used then is much more durable than our current supply. But those old records are precious to the family, so making sure they're stored in a safe place is worth the trouble.

Census records are available now, and while not 100% reliable (not many other sources are either), you can often get some good leads. With families in small towns, you can often get more information by looking at the neighbors' census reports -- they're frequently related.

Beverly Bremer will do that. Her shop is in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, GA.

have purchased from her, both jewelry and flatware. A very pleasedcustomer. She identified DH's grandmother's silverware but could notlocate any pieces to purchase. It dated to 1903 and was only producedfor a very short time. sigh... Jean