The joy of pieces with purpose

I am not one to shy away from excess. I used to be an all-white table kind of gal, but those days are behind me.

Something changed a few years ago and it was all I could do to not put every single thing on the table all at once. I am slightly more restrained now, but do love to use pieces that really do match the job.

Take for example, these gorgeous shell shaped dishes. The handle makes this a perfect piece for filling with dessert or appetizer bites, and passing along to others. There isn’t a question of your hand touching the food, or how to hold it. The handle is right there, beautifully embellished, and leaves you free to contemplate other important matters … like just how many chocolate caramel turtles one can eat without drawing attention to oneself.

It’s easy enough to make anything more special, simply by using a piece of antique or vintage china that tells a story, shares its real purpose, and makes sense for your table.