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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Why We Love Restaurant Porcelain

What is it about restaurant or hotel porcelain that makes us love it?  Is it the ties to a historic place?  Does it remind us of somewhere we’ve been?

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For me it’s the typography and images associated with a certain place.  I like to image the  travelers who enjoyed it and what stories the piece could tell.

I love large accessories, but sometimes I fall in love with the smallest of morsels such as this mini porcelain tray I found in Paris while shopping the Vanves market.

I was draw to its simplistic beauty and the oh-so French blue and white scheme.

Le Train Bleu is an ornately decorated restaurant located in the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris.  It has been in operation since 1901 and renamed Le Train Bleu in 1963 after the famous train of the same name.

 

 

It is located on the second floor.  I did not eat at the main restaurant!  Nope.  Do you see the signs for L’Express Bleu below?  This is where I had lunch while waiting on the train to Avignon.   I didn’t realize it’s history at the time.  They say ignorance is bliss.  For me, it’s la vie en rose (loosely translated, “looking at life through rose-colored glasses”).  I totally believe in serendipity.

(the 3 previous photos I found on Google because in my state of not knowing what a famous place it was, I failed to take a single photo!)

I had no idea I would find a vintage treasure from this restaurant a week later!  This prompted a little Google research! lol

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It is made by the famous French porcelain maker Pillivuyt and dates to the late 1960s according to the dealer.  Pillivuyt still makes fine porcelains today and you can purchase some of their whiteware at Williams Sonoma.

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I just listed this exclusive restaurant piece in my Etsy shop HERE.  With it’s diminutive size of only 4” X 2 3/4” I’m not sure of it’s original use.  Some pieces were solely for restaurant use and some where manufactured as marketing/advertising pieces.

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What a neat little piece of Paris history.

Restaurant and hotel accoutrements have been popular for some time now. 

What tempts you along these lines? Do you have a particular collection such as hotel silver?

Please hop over to Cat’s blog Sunday Brocantes HERE and read the latest news on the Blogger’s Brocanting Tour coming up this September.

Blessings,

Kim

4 comments:

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Love that cute piece and what a gorgeous place...how funny that you found that piece a week later!!...Off to visit Cat!

chateau chic said...

I love that sweet little dish! What a great find.
Mary Alice

Ivy and Elephants said...

What a sweet little treasure! And what a great connection to Paris.
Hugs,
Patti

Curtains in My Tree said...

Loved the story about the dish
Oh how I wish I could take a romantic trip to Paris and see anything LOL
I would have to buy a dish LOL

I know a lady in my town who goes twice a year and packs very lite, leaves her old clothing and fills her suit cases with what she purchases in paris flea markets
she said sometimes she only takes one change of clothing
this is a classy looking gal tooFYI

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