Our summer edition of Tried and True: Traditions of a Southeast Texas Family, features some exciting details, including the winning place setting from our Click to Curate campaign. The exhibit, which includes Dresden, will be on display through November.
Dresden was made by the Saxonian Porcelain Factory, ca. 1920, in the town of Freital just outside of Dresden, Germany. The dining table, set in Dresden china, Baltimore Rose silverware, and cut glass, looks as if the McFaddins were about to walk in at any moment for dinner.
The butler’s pantry is set with the domestic employees’ preparations for the next course in both adjoining rooms. Here, aqua Blenko sherbet dishes, ca. 1930, perfectly match the luncheon set in the breakfast room.
The Dresden coffee service, set on a silver tray, is nearly ready to be taken in the dining room for the dessert course. The book, Coffee and Waffles by Alice Foote MacDougall, contains coffee trivia and household tips.
The appliqued, embroidered, cutwork tablecloth is the perfect backdrop for the Blenko luncheon place setting.
The tablecloth, ca. 1930-50, with appliqued flowers and leaves in delicate pastels, harmonizes with the room’s nature theme.
The scalloped-edge cotton and linen napkins match the tablecloth.
The blown-glass Blenko finger bowls were used for diners to rinse their fingers between courses.
Delicate doilies used beneath the finger bowls are decorated with a cross-bar hemstitch design.
Blenko wine glasses coordinate with the breakfast table’s finger bowls, iced tea glasses and place settings.
Blenko cocktail glasses were used for serving after dinner drinks.
Here in the library, Mamie would spend evenings relaxing, listening to the radio, and reading. She frequently consulted etiquette books to keep up with the latest trends in hospitality.
The sun porch’s informal atmosphere was the perfect place to spend leisure time. The Wedgwood hunting scene tumblers, ca. 1910, were likely used to serve a cool beverage, especially in the hot summer months.
The Gloria swinger clock, was manufactured by the Ansonia Clock Company in the early 20th century.
A conscientious hunter like Carroll Ward kept his guns maintained, using a gun cleaning kit like this one. This kit was manufactured by J.C. Higgins company.
The McFaddin “guys” enjoyed evenings in the billiard room, many times kicked back with a beer and a smoke, listening to the latest songs on the phonograph.
The game table is set up as if the boys are about to play block dominoes. The black “pips” are made of ebony and are set in ivory.
These stoneware and pewter beer steins were made in Germany around 1920.
To see the rest of the summer exhibit, see our tour information page or call (409) 832-2134 for reservations.