For March, I like to decorate with things that are Irish or have an Irish tie-in. Wexford is one of those patterns. Wexford is a city in Ireland, and Anchor Hocking's pattern leaves little doubt where it got the inspiration. It is very similar to Waterford's popular Lismore and Powerscourt patterns, as well as Hocking Glass Company's Waterford line offered during the Depression era from 1938-1944. Wexford was made from 1967-1998, making it one of Anchor Hocking's longest running patterns. The pattern was incredibly popular and could even be seen in shows such as "Little House on the Prairie" and "Dynasty". (Yes, I look for china, glass, silver, etc. on shows and movies!)
I have a modest collection of Wexford. I received a chip and dip set for Christmas one year from my Auntie DD and I started picking it up here and there, mostly at rummage sales and thrift stores. When Woolworth's went out of business, I purchased some more pieces such as a salt and pepper set, a table service consisting of a covered butter dish, covered sugar and creamer, and a trifle bowl. I found the snack set in its original box at Salvation Army a few years back, and of course packed it home!
Wexford shows up fine on my dark wood antique table, but I personally like how this pattern looks on maple. I used my everyday flatware (Fifth Avenue Stainless, Woolworth's), and Waterford's Thanksgiving/Harvest old fashioned glass (Cashs of Ireland) served as the water glass. Each place setting had its own different individual salt and pepper shakers (thrift store finds). Yellow hemstitched napkins (Walmart) brings out the daffodil embroidery on the Charles Gallen and Company linen table runner (QVC). On the runner is the matching open compote bowl for the Thanksgiving/Harvest pattern (eBay), and a pair of Waterford candlestick holders that are part of the three-piece Wedding Unity Candle set (thrift store, and I would have been stupid to leave it at the price they were selling it for!).
Note: Governor Steve Bullock issued a stay-at-home order on March 26, 2020. I have not had guests or family here since that time. However, since I "felt sorry" for the dishes that would have remained in the box, I set the table using all of the dishes! And, if you're wondering why there are two chairs in the background, they are to block the swinging door from opening, so the "kittens" don't get up front and wreak havoc on my furniture and rugs. Skinny stays up front, but she's long past clawing the furniture and rugs, plus she has her very own scratching post she loves to shred. And, Skinny is why you see strange things in the background as well, such as the ironing board and the hall tree next to it. I have to hydrate her once a day now, and putting her on the ironing board is so much easier than trying to hydrate her some other way! The hall tree holds the plasmalite.
On the menu:
Beef Stroganoff Casserole
Steamed, buttered broccoli
Orange Kiss Me Cake
Harney and Sons English Breakfast Tea
