As spring awakens, shopkeepers fill their GasLamp booths with outdoor entertaining finds, from soup tureens to silverware. These nostalgia-packed items will add polish to even the most casual backyard gatherings.  

Warm Weather Calls for Cool Soups

This transferware tureen is perfect for serving refreshing appetizers such as cucumber soup or gazpacho ($95; Booth B-109). This tureen is a fine example of transfer-printed earthenware, a style popularized during the Victorian era when English potters learned to mass-produce printed dishes. The floral design, with its wandering vines and sunny yellow flowers, breathes breezy beauty into the piece. 

Midcentury Style Covers This Bowl

Federal Glass Company took milk glass to an atomic level with the Harlequin pattern on this covered bowl ($57; B-204). Popular during the 1950s, Harlequin remains fresh today with its Midcentury Modern design of black diamonds and gold crisscrosses. This heatproof bowl is perfect for serving hot dishes, such as fruit cobblers or casseroles, on cool spring evenings. 

Serve Up Sophistication with These Sterling Pieces

It seems one can never have enough serving pieces – and these in sterling will dress up any dish. The Chantilly fork by Gorham can be used for salads or vegetables ($139; Showcase S-537). The sterling silver pie server, circa 1880, is a testimony to the artistry of J.E. Caldwell & Co. Philadelphia’s Olive pattern ($249; Showcase S-537). This sterling silver soup/sauce spoon is in the Saint Louis pattern by Watson and is another gorgeous heirloom find ($295;  Showcase S-537). 

This Silverware Puts Beauty at Your Fingertips

Hailing from the United Kingdom, this fabulous set of 24 knives and forks features mother-of-pearl handles and ornate engraving on silver plate. Who would use disposable silverware when given this choice? Still housed in its original wooden box, the set dates to approximately 1900 to 1910 (Booth B-272). 

Pass This Platter for Art Deco Flair

This stunning serving dish exemplifies the Art Deco aesthetic of the 1920s and 1930s – and in a grass-green color, it can’t be beaten for spring entertaining ($99; Booth B-272). The “sunburst” lines, typical of Art Deco design, radiate across the platter, creating a linear energy punctuated by bold lines and circles.

Having some vintage and antique pieces on hand will give you a head start when creating that special spring gathering. Even if your backyard party is a no-fuss affair, some glamorous GasLamp finds can pull it together like a simple gift tied with a dramatic bow. 

Product photos by Rusti Greene; header photo by Maddi Bazzocco for Unsplash.