Saturday, May 12, 2012

Saturday Snapshot - Everything Old Is New Again ...

I am a hound for old dishes and platters and flatware. My haunts are antique and consignment shops, flea markets and antique fairs. I love the feel of old textiles - the colors and stitchery and details of construction. My romantic side lingers over pieces that catch my imagination and I think on the families that used these items. What were their kitchens and dining arrangements like ? What foods did they serve on these plates ? What family dish came proudly to the table on this platter ? What toasts passed around the table ? Why did these pieces ever get lost from the families to which they belonged ?





We tend to be a throw away culture. It has gotten us into a heap of trouble over time. Maybe we should change that ... what do you think? Are we in too deep with production and jobs dependent on consumption ? Can we turn this trend and not have a complete economic meltdown?  Strange questions, I know ... all because I bought this old platter at a town auction for the benefit of our little summertime celebration ... and it got me thinking.

Another question ... what will others be posting for this week's Saturday Snapshot photoshare? To see, check out Alyce's post on her blog at home with books. see the links after reading her post and just enjoy all the fun and creativity!

14 comments:

  1. I'm so glad to hear of another person seeking out vintage things for reuse! I spend a lot of time in antique and thrift shops. Everything is so interesting and storied. It's recycling at its best.

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  2. I, too, love haunting all those places and finding treasures. I haven't done it so much lately, as my house is overflowing with my finds! Now I have to store some and alternate between those in the house and those in the garage.

    Lovely platter!

    Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT

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  3. Fascinating questions! I also love thinking about the previous owners of things I own. I have a weakness for very old books especially. Objects really can be a physical connection to the past, like a little piece of history you can own.

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  4. Interesting and thought provoking questions, also for someone who's not inclined to seek out antique stores.
    Love the picture, it's a beautiful platter.

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  5. I think that there is value in the old and new. The biggest reason that I don't collect antiques is that I don't collect much of anything (other than books). I prefer rooms that have a minimalist style, so I guess that could be a way of conserving. The platter is beautiful!

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  6. I guess there's line at which we stop collecting things, lest we we overrun by stuff. Choosing what is valuable over what isn't would be a good test. Another person in my household would keep it all and collect more.
    A lovely tray. May be worth something besides imagination.

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  7. Our economy is definitely dependent on consumption. So much so that today, everything seems to be built to last only a short while and then fall apart, ensuring that we buy more stuff even if we like to keep the things we have. While I don't go out looking for old things to collect, I like the things I have and get annoyed that they are not made to last.

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  8. What a lovely platter! It is a shame (in more ways than one) that things just are made to last any more.

    Here's my Snapshot.

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  9. I've really had to curb my enthusiasm with the hunt of late, just not enough house. But I too love the older version of things. We have so much stuff made in China, that it's refreshing to find something old that isn't.

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  10. Replies
    1. That is a lovely platter, and you raised some interesting questions about it's history etc. My family was never into antiques, so I never caught the bug, yet I can appreciate the beauty of things from the past.

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  11. I'm always curious about the history of objects like that, but am not much of a collector myself...yet.

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  12. It is fascinating to look at an object like a grand old platter and ponder it's history. I really like that it has caused you to ponder more broadly. I don't like our consumer driven modern culture either. I'm guilty of buying things I don't need, as I'm sure we all are, but it is frustrating when you try and buy things to last, and then they don't. Planned obsolescence is a terrible, terrible thing.

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  13. What a beautiful platter. I can see why it got you thinking.

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