Let's Dish
about my favorite island destination,
~ Nantucket ~
Nantucket is a wind swept island
30 miles out to sea off the coast of Cape Cod.
Only fourteen miles long and three and a half miles wide,
the island is full of beauty, charm, and history.
It long ago stole my heart and imagination.
Atlantic Cafe
is one of my favorite island haunts.
So with thoughts of my beloved Nantucket,
I've set a lunch table for you today.
Please come in and join me for a bowl of
New England clam chowder.
I filled some of my Nantucket Lightship Baskets with
cut flowers and gathered them together with scrimshaw
boxes onto a large Courtly Check tray from MacKenzie-Childs.
The tureen is Nantucket Basket by Wedgwood.
The details on this piece replicate the details
found on many of the Nantucket Lightship Baskets.
The distinctive shape and simplicity of
Nantucket Lightship Baskets make them unique.
You can read more about the fascinating history of this craft here.
The oak or cane staves of these baskets are
formed over a wooden mold and then woven with fine cane.
A Nantucket Lightship Basket
holds fresh rolls right out of the oven.
This young man holds a little salt and pepper
should you desire more seasoning in your chowder.
He's French and must have come ashore from
one of the many sailing vessels moored in the harbor.
Our lunch table is set with the theme
of sailing ships and Nantucket Lightship Baskets.
The chowder bowl features another
jaunty sailor who sailed into port from France.
Notice the French flag on his ship?
This bowl is a limited edition issue of a design in the
Musée des Faiences de Quimper's archives.
The concentric rings of yellow and blue of the
Quimper bowl contrast with the woven pattern of the
Nantucket Basket dinner plate. Both sit atop a
square red plate by Waechtersbach, Germany,
all on a simple woven placemat.
The organic shape and feel of the
Treble Clef flatware reminds me of seaweed.
The whaling industry was an
important part of the history of Nantucket.
Scrimshaw, the American version of ivory carvings,
is the folk art of carving on whale teeth or bones
and was an important part of the daily life aboard whaling ships.
While antique scrimshaw pieces are highly collectable and
expensive, the above collage is of three inexpensive pieces
expensive, the above collage is of three inexpensive pieces
purchased as souvenirs while visiting Nantucket.
The "woven" piece top right is made from bone,
but the other two pieces are made of synthetic ivory.
The detail is carved into the bone and then later inked in.
It's said that mermaids
live off the coast of Nantucket.
I spied this unusual Mermaid teapot
for sale at Anthropologie a few years ago.
Sadly she never did swim home with me.
Sadly she never did swim home with me.
Glad I snapped these photos when I first saw her.
My tip for Stone Gable's Weekly Meme:
~ Perfect Patty ~
for the girl that always has style
with a little understated touch.
for the girl that always has style
with a little understated touch.
This gorgeous seashell cuff was created by
Kelley of Teacups and Ponies.
I was the lucky recipient when Kelley
hosted a giveaway of one of her original designs.
~ Nantucket ~
I was the lucky recipient when Kelley
hosted a giveaway of one of her original designs.
Thank you, Kelley.
I hope you'll stop by to visit Teacups and Ponies.
Tell Kelley I sent you!
~ Nantucket ~
My Favorite Island Destination
Will always hold my heart.
Joining
Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
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