I didn’t want to do this. I wanted to wow you all with a beautiful after picture. But I just can’t yet.
Remember last week when you were all helping me figure out what this piece of china from a popular European pattern was?
Martin and I tallied your votes, and here’s where we ended up:
2 votes – toast holder
2 votes – recipe card holder
13 votes – napkin holder
4 votes – business card holder
7 votes – place card holder
2 votes – coaster holder
4 votes – letter holder*
*some votes were for a possible way to use the piece now
Martin kept saying, “See! Napkin holder.” Now with 17 of your votes in his favor, he became stubborn and resolute like most European men. (Okay, so maybe all men can be that way!) I just didn’t want him to be right. In my defense, I could not get our paper napkins from the bakery or our cloth napkins to sit in this holder. So I thought about all of your ideas for a long, long time.
Some comments offered some great European wisdom:
Ivanhoe told me the name of these onion dishes in Czech is Cibulak.
My expat friend, Katie, found out the German name is Zwiebelmuster.
Julie said, ”It is a place card holder. I have inherited 12 sets of china (this is what happens when you are the only grandchild on both sides of the family, and both sides have kosher meat, kosher dairy, passover meat, passover dairy), so I am well-versed in china.”
Rachel wrote, “The onion is actually a pomegranate, which has a lot of symbolism including ‘abundance’. The Europeans didn’t know what pomegranates were, so they called them onions.”
So what’d we decide to do?
You all really got me thinking, and I realized the very best thing we could do with this piece. Your ideas helped. Thank you. (Martin doesn’t know about my plan yet.)
I’ve decided to take this piece of china:
and put it behind these closed doors to Martin’s desk:
with a picture of this:
(Martin and his loving Czech grandmother)
Keep it green and simple with 2 more ideas:
Stumped by German China – Help Us?
Ever Wonder: What’s Eastern European Food Like?
In Translation… Coming Soon
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March 28th, 2009 at 7:08 am
So funny – and I love that photo of him and his grandmother. Adorable! Hope you guys have a great weekend!
March 28th, 2009 at 9:07 am
i call that brilliant!
(and you know what? I’ve discovered my mom has an English teacup with the same pomegranate/onion pattern… must’ve been popular.)
March 28th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Hahahaha
March 28th, 2009 at 11:15 am
That is a beautiful piece of china! I LOVE blue and white dishes!
March 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Splendid idea, Katie! It really brings the sentiment into the picture, and I think that is one of the sweetest things ever.
And in response to Larissa: I don’t know about elsewhere, but you are right. It is a VERY popular pattern here in Germany. My husband’s mom has them, his grandma, his aunt, his great aunt, and some other German families I have come to know during my time here. Plus, I have seen them all over the place for sale, all the way from KaDeWe to Woolworth’s. The thing is, however, that with all the knockoff’s, it’s really something special to have old, original pieces. The original brand is very expensive.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
LOL! That’s an awesome idea. I saw that pattern at Woolworth’s last weekend. I thought of you.
March 28th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Great idea! I love it!
March 28th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
That is an awesome idea! I never would have thought of something so creative!
March 29th, 2009 at 12:57 am
The napkins have to be folded in two along a diagonal. They’ll be looking like triangles and will now fit and stay put in the napkin holder. Though your idea with the photo is much more fun :)
March 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Awwww, I love that idea!! What a great use for the piece. :)
March 29th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Perfect! What a cute photo, too. :0)
March 29th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I’m always looking for new ways to display photos-great idea!
March 30th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Thanks for the comments. Martin was so touched when he saw my idea (you know – after I posted it for all of you to see first!). Maybe we’ll have to get a second at Woolworths. haha.
Katie