Europe: An Illustrated Tablescape

The table setting today is the result of my nostalgia for a certain town in Germany where, every ten years a fabulous religious spectacle brings people from all over the world. This is the Oberammergau Passion Play, and 2010 is a performance year. I attended the 1970 play and found it and unforgettable experience. How I wish to be there this year, especially this month, as it leads up to Easter.

The backdrop for the table is a tablecloth my brother brought me from his 5-year stay in Germany during the 1970’s. It is a map of the European continent with landmarks and geographical features.

It was fun to point out to my mother the cities visited in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Greece during my trips in 1970, 1979, 1993 and 1995.

At first I planned to iron the 58" x 48" tablecloth, but once I started trying out various pieces for the table setting, I decided to leave it un-pressed for a more 'authentic' unfolded map look!

Now my question was -- what to use with such a busy tablecloth? I decided to begin with clear glass and crystal and ended up using pale amber and clear dinnerwares:

4 vintage "Rosemary Dutch Rose" luncheon plates ($14.00 for 6 at consignment shop)
4 vintage "Rosemary Dutch Rose" berry bowls
4 clear Arcoroc bowls (5 bowls for $2.00 at thrift shop)
4 "Vendange" goblets, made in France ($7.00 for 6 at Crate & Barrel in the 1980’s)
4 tulip glasses, made in Sweden
The flatware is Oneida stainless "Raphael."

To contain each place setting I used German style white cotton Battenberg lace placemats. They echo the white background of the tablecloth. White cotton napkins with lace corners are set in the clear bowls.
Napkin rings did not seem to work here, so I placed a souvenir spoon on each napkin. I bought this spoon in Myconos, Greece, an island in the Aegean Sea.

Going with the plan not to obscure the places on the map, a pair of simple candlesticks with soft yellow candles were placed in the middle and off to the side, a simple crystal basket with tufts of flowers.

Then the fun began as I ‘illustrated’ the linen map further in 3D, with small items from various spots on the map: a teacup from Oberammergau, Germany, an Eiffel Tower, a Bobby’s hat from London, and a miniature book and Delft candleholder from Holland:

While I have large items like tea set, dishware, etc. from my travels, I needed the smallest items to illustrate the tablescape map. The souvenir spoon is from London:

From the blue and white teacup collection came a Royal Copenhagen cup and saucer from Denmark.

Here, just off the coast of Portugal is a cork coaster from that country. I got a set of 12 from Williams Sonoma or Crate & Barrel.

A coaster from a set of six I bought in Athens, Greece in 1993. This coaster illustrates one of the ancient sites I visited on the mainland -- Sunion.

(Note the tablecloth border with names of the various countries.)

Here is the passport cover I used on my 1970 European tour:

European countries are very close together; Here is a miniature plate of Grace and Rainier of Monaco, and a ceramic cheese dispenser shaped like the leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy. Right nearby is the Oberammergau, Germany teacup and saucer.

Near the cheese-dispenser Tower of Pisa is a souvenir spoon from Austria.

Next to the Tour Eiffel, (which my brother got in France) is a tiny 10-cent thrift store plate showing Paris landmarks. The souvenir spoon is from Italy.

Isn’t this a different tablescape? And,...was it crazy to photograph!

On this side of the table you must have the place setting upside down if you are going to photograph the map right side up!

I hope you found this table setting interesting. Thank you for your visit today. I would love to read your comment!

Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Tablescape Thursday posts. See more Vintage Thingies Thursday posts listed by Suzanne at Coloradolady. See more "Thrifty Thursday"participants at Leigh's blog,Tales From Bloggeritaville.

ATTENTION: Please don't miss my next post which will show and tell more about my attendance at the 1970 Oberammergau Passion Play.