Silver at Tea Time

At the 2007 World Tea Expo, I took Alda Ellis' seminar, Presentation is Everything.   I've never forgotten one statement that she made: "Silver is the jewelry of the table."   To me, nothing is more elegant on the tea table than silver.

Recently [Dec. 19th], I wrote about the Christmas tea I attended in the Christopher Wren Dining Room at Meadowbrook Hall.   They used to host "Tea on Tuesdays" [the third Tuesday of every month] there, and I attended one of the  teas where Matilda Dodge Wilson's beautiful sterling silver tea services were on display.   [Unfortunately, the photos don't do them justice.]

The portrait of the lady in the flowing red gown is Matilda Dodge Wilson.

I was a senior in high school when my parents had their 25th Wedding Anniversary, so I had a  party for them.   In the photo below I'm pinning a boutonniere on my dad's lapel.

Jerry and me with my parents.  Look at those skinny 60's neckties! ;-)

Some of my parent's friends went together and got them a silver-plated tea set.  I can only remember my mom using it one time at my high school graduation open house.  The rest of the time it just sat displayed on the buffet.

When I became smitten with tea parties some thirty years later, I asked to borrow the tea set on several occasions.  Finally my mom told me to just keep it at my house and if she needed it she'd let me know.  ;-)   I use it at all of our church teas.

It's a bugger to keep polished, but well worth the effort.   It's not as valuable and exquisite as Matilda Dodge Wilson's, but I like it just fine!

The photo below is an "Appreciation Tea" that I hosted in my home for the ladies who helped   with my monthly dinners at church.   My mom's silver service is on the table, and see how the "jewelry" sparkles and adds beauty to the table?

Below are photos of a tea I coordinated for friend who was welcoming new members into a hospital auxiliary.  It was a buffet tea which gave me the opportunity to use many silver serving pieces.

Lastly, when I was still working as a church secretary, the first event I coordinated in the new Ministry Center was a tea.  I wanted it to be "over the top," so I rented silver tea urns, and had silver candelabras and teapots on every table.  

I even gave the ladies a brief "Tea 101" talk! ;-)