On October 24th I wrote a post about ordering my ticket to attend Cranbrook House and Gardens 2014 Holiday Tables. [The post can be read here.] This year's theme is Illuminate the Season. Holiday Tables has been a 39-year holiday tradition sponsored by the Auxiliary of Cranbrook House and Gardens, and this year's presentation is the Grand Finale. It has not been announced yet what event will take the place of Holiday Tables next year.
Cranbrook was the home of George and Ellen [Scripps] Booth [newspaper magnates], and the second floor is now used for offices of Cranbrook Educational Community.
Yesterday, Holiday Tables was my first Christmas event of 2014. With snow falling and temperatures in the mid-20's, combined with live Christmas music played on a Steinway piano, it did indeed feel like Christmas.
Below is the front of Cranbrook House, named after the birthplace of George Booth's father in Kent County, England. Exterior renovations are currently being made to the mansion as you can see in the scaffolding on the right.
Front Entrance - notice the year 1908 above the door - the year the Booth family moved into their new home.
~ Entryway ~
Holiday Tables have been a fundraising event with proceeds going towards preservation and restoration projects. The Steinway piano in the library was one of the restoration projects, and it provided wonderful ambiance at the event. It was played by a talented, long-time volunteer.
There were 18 tables this year, and tablescapes 1-6 were in the library, the largest room on the first floor.
Opening day of the three day event was well attended. I arrived at 11:00 a.m. when the tour began, and left at 1:00 p.m., but the tables could be viewed until 3:00 p.m.
Table #1 - "Home for the Holidays"
Black and Crystal
Each place setting had different china.
Table #2 "Rhapsody in Blue"
Given my love for blue, silver [the table's jewelry], and crystal, this was my all-time favorite. It was put together by four generations of family members, and was absolutely stunning!
Table #3
"Dinner on Board R.M.S. Titanic"
Table #4 "After the Hunt"
~ A place card for Teddy Roosevelt ~
Table #5 "A Pastoral Christmas at the Country Manor"
Table #6 "A Holiday Gathering by Candlelight"
Yesterday's event included a lovely formal buffet tea, which I will include in my next post along with the remaining 12 tables.
