Holly Lane Antiques At The Del Mar Antiques Show -

Holly Lane Antiques returned to the Del Mar Antiques Show last weekend. It is a three day large show at the fairgrounds in Del Mar California. It was a wonderful spring weekend and we had a successful show. Perhaps the economy really is beginning to turn around! The best part of any show for us is always visiting with our returning customers who are now friends after so many years and helping them add to their collections.







As many of my blog readers know I have a serious fondness for the early English White Ironstone I sell and have favorite pieces. One of my most favorite ewers in the Bordered Hyacinth Shape found a new home as did this difficult to find large drainer - also referred to as a mezzanine I have been told.





Two of my exquisite Hawkes stems also found a new home. Note the unusual square base. Back in their day I am sure they were meant as water goblets but now how wonderful for our wine! Two of this size are still available as are matching cordial stems.



Favorites among my sterling collection are the delicate strawberry forks with their long tines for piercing those luscious berries. Several of those will now be used for the wonderful large just picked California strawberries we are finding in our roadside stands. These are in the Imperial Chrysanthemum pattern of Gorham. Four more are still available as well as strawberry forks in other patterns.



A favorite Antique Haviland plate in a beautiful lavender floral dropping to the center went home with a Haviland collector and repeat customer. She also chose a charming chocolate cup and saucer for her collection. Another collector of Haviland ramekin sets chose one in the popular Schleiger #146 pattern on the St Germain blank. There are still some of these chocolate cups and saucers and ramekins available for purchase. The plate was unique and a rare find.







My husband commented on the variety that we sold at this show including some of our beautiful English table linens and depression stemware and antique floral prints.

This show however was a bit bittersweet for us. We brought my 99 year old dad to live with us here in California last October. He was with us for the November and January Del Mar shows. He came and watched us set up our booth - asking questions and giving suggestions for a better way. My daughter brought him to see the show and he proclaimed our booth as the best one there - always the proud dad! He passed in March to join my mom and sisters. He is so missed!




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What Is This? A Very Interesting Piece Of Sterling Silver

Recently we came across a bag lot of silver pieces we had brought back with us from the East Coast last fall. It had been purchased at auction last summer. As usual my husband began cleaning and identifying the various pieces. When he came to this piece his research came up with nothing. The only marking is sterling and it is very small - measuring only about 3 5/8 inches long.

A sweet little scoop with holes - but what was it used for?



Since our inventory is mostly made up of antique china and silver pieces we are very aware that at the turn of the century dining was indeed a special event with a piece of china and silver for every imaginable use.

I posted my query about this little scoop to a couple of websites. After many suggestions from the Antique and Collectible Silver Group on I Antique Online such as a marrow scoop, a honey spoon or a sugar sifter, one of the group members suggested contacting the Silver Forum. It was there the mystery was finally solved.

It is an individual nutmeg sifter!



A member of the Silver Forum answered - I learned about nutmeg sifters recently from Lee Gillespie and Mark Simon at a local antique show. They are the authors of PERSONAL SILVER OF THE VICTORIAN AGE AND BEYOND, "A Book for Identification and Practical Uses"

I have become so attached to this small piece of sterling silver and its unique use that it may be a while until it becomes available at our internet store Holly Lane Antiques.

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A Fork For -

In the Victorian era it seems there was a piece of silverware for every use imaginable.

Recently we acquired a set of small forks and have been told they are Eclair Forks. How specific is that? These little forks are shaped like Pastry Forks but are only 5 inches long.

Thinking of some of the other forks in our inventory I cannot help but be amazed at their unique purposes.

Strawberry Forks have extremely long tines to easily pierce the berries.

Ice Cream Forks appear more like a combination of a spoon and a fork.

Oyster or Seafood Forks have a longer handle and short tines.

Take a moment and imagine dining long ago.

How Special!


Pictured items are available for purchase at Holly Lane Antiques -
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