Five Ways with Fall China

A flatlay shot of vintage plates.

As autumn’s loveliness settles in all around, why not revel in nature’s beauty with tabletop settings inspired by the grandeur? Enjoy five modish ways to style fall china plates, both new and old.

Flower Power

 A place setting with the Calico Brown by Staffordshire dinner plate, topped with a linen napkin, with a matching teapot and teacup with saucer on a modern striped tablecloth.

The 1960s floral motif of Calico Brown by Staffordshire nods to the season with vintage flair, embellished with ivory flatware and a linen tucked into a wooden napkin ring. A brushed velvet table linen adds texture and balances the lively transferware scheme. 

Timeless Allure

A place setting with Dovedale Rust and Blue with Gold Edge plates, a red napkin, a tan tablecloth, and a crystal goblet.

A bold seasonal palette of sapphire and fiery orange accentuates the flora and falling leaves of Dovedale Rust and Blue with Gold Edge, a vintage Imari design by Booths that first reigned over early 20th-century tables. A golden wheat backdrop mingles with simple flatware and goblets to temper the dynamic dishware.

Understated Beauty

The Meuse by Vignaud plates in a place setting with an orange napkin tucked in a leaf ring.

Beloved for its simplicity, a fanciful garland of rust and gold with gilded scrolls skirts the periphery of The Meuse by Vignaud. A vibrant floriferous mustard tablecloth echoes the richly colored handles of silverware, while a glorious vermilion napkin recalls the changing leaves outdoors.

Natural Brilliance

Julie Wear’s American Wildlife plates in a place setting, with a goblet and silver flatware.

You’ll almost feel the cool surrounds of the forest with Julie Wear’s American Wildlife pattern and its chestnut edge adorned with burnished gold oak leaves and acorns. A noble doe centered on the salad plate plays gently against a dinner dish that depicts a sly fox, a buck, and a pheasant. The artist’s graceful lines are reiterated in a table scarf, as a copper canister brims with cheerful blooms.

Earthy Elegance

A Scalloped Mushroom dinner plate by Mrs. Alice atop a brown plate, with velveteen pumpkins and a swath of leafy green linens and glassware.

Whimsically lighthearted yet earthy, a trio of hand-painted mushrooms bordered by a chocolate brown rim enriches this Scalloped Mushroom dinner plate by Mrs. Alice. Velveteen pumpkins and a swath of leafy green linens and glassware impart an illusion of wooded splendor.

Find more holiday tabletop inspiration in our November/December 2024 issue, available on newsstands and online.SLY November/December 2024 cover.