Holiday tables often had awesome centerpieces a hundred years ago. Here are some centerpieces and tablescapes shown in the December, 1913 issue of Ladies Home Journal.
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A Hundred Years Ago 
The dinner table back then was the center of the family! Centerpieces were always a topic of conversation! Terrific!
I agree! Sometimes I think that we’ve lost something special over the years.
Yes, we have – I totally agree!!
I especially like the second, with the rustic candlesticks and the smaller, yule log treats echoing the larger yule log centerpiece. Very creative.
Everything works together really nicely in that picture to create a lovely, well-coordinated design.
I really like those branch candle holders. Wonder if my husband could do a few for us before Christmas…
They are really nice. Now that you mention it, I wonder if my husband might be able to make a few for me. 🙂
I love these festive tables. Ice cream in snowball boxes is very interesting.
That’s a strange one. I wonder if you could buy snowball boxes back then, or it they were something people made.
I love how fancy the tables were set back then. Table arrangements are big in our family too. Sadly, I did not get the decorating gene that my mother and aunt have.
I can vaguely remember some fairly elaborate Christmas table arrangements when I was a small child, but they gradually became smaller (and then vanished) over the years.
My my my. Makes my votive candles and Mexican paper flowers look a bit slapdash!
Your decorations sound more like my style; though sometimes I think that it might be fun to try to recreate some of these old table centerpieces.
Love the snowball fight.
So do I. It is a fun centerpiece!
Can’t you just see these ideas making the rounds on Pinterest?! No one had heard of the idea that “less is more” . . .
Less can definitely be more–but there’s also something to be said for these old-time elaborate table arrangements. It’s so much fun to see the many creative ideas that are posted on Pinterest.
I love them all!!!!
So do I. 🙂
So charming!
I agree. They’re so quaint–yet so much much fun.
Snow fort table is different but I like it. I love the picture at the top of the farm in its winter glory.
It’s nice to hear that you like it. Even though the blog has shifted from posting my grandmother’s diary entries to hundred-year-old food-related topics, I continue to use photos of the farm where my grandmother lived when she kept the diary for the header because it symbolizes simpler times to me. I have photos of the farm for all four seasons–and am planning to change the photo as the seasons change.
Beautiful and innovative post 🙂
It’s nice to hear that you like it.
How lovely! I was in Osborne House last weekend and they had the house set up for a Victorian Christmas (the way that Queen Victoria would have had it). The table centrepieces were very like these.
Until I read you comment I had never heard of Osborne House, so I googled it and enjoyed reading a little about it. The Victorian Christmas there sounds wonderful.
The one with the figurines is most interesting!
I find it fascinating how that centerpiece almost seems to be set up to tell a story.
These seem quite elaborate and not sure where the room for the food was – maybe they ate less back then!
And, at least one of them seems rather high. It must have been difficult to see the people on the other side of the table.
Great post! Love the snow boys.
I’m glad you liked it. They had so much imagination back then. I never would have thought about using snow boys figures in a centerpiece.
The snow boys made me laugh out loud. My grandchildren would love them!
And, I bet the children back then enjoyed them, too.
These are beautiful tables. I tried for years to maintain the beautiful table tradition for my family. In fact, we still enjoy a beautiful table at my daughter’s for Christmas celebrations.
But what gets me in the photos is how tightly packed those tables were. I currently have a round table pretty much like the first picture, and I can’t imagine so many people sitting comfortably in such tight quarters
I can definitely remember some holiday celebrations (especially after some of the grandchildren starting bringing dates) when we tried to squeeze most more people than would fit around the dining room table.
It’s wonderful that your daughter is carrying on the tradition of a beautiful table. I vaguely remember my mother making nice centerpieces for the dining room table at Christmas when I was small, but my table decorations are much more basic.
One wonders how many people outside the magazine crew actually created table tops this ornate. Sort of like reading Martha Stewart while eating a frozen dinner.
You may be right. I like the analogy.
What a sweet look into the past! Just goes to show that holiday decor is only limited by time, custom, and imagination. 🙂
It’s nice to hear that you liked this post. I think that I lack imagination (and maybe time) when it comes to holiday decorating. 🙂
Very pretty. These are fairly elaborate! Lots place settings!
They were preparing for a big party. 🙂 It seems like it was considered more important to have a fancy table back then than it is now.
I always end up taking any decorations off to make room for the food. It makes you wonder if the food was mainly served from off to the side, from a server or buffet?
When serving holiday meals, I also often run struggle to find enough room for all the food. I bet you’re right that they put the food on the buffet. Old dining room sets from this era often have beautiful buffets.
Love this post! Isn’t it fun to look at table centerpieces of yesterday.
I’m glad you liked it. I also enjoy looking at the pictures.
Hi Sheryl,
Just wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award in case you have time or interest in participating. Here’s the link: http://marciastrykowski.com/2015/12/10/beautiful-blogger-award/
Thanks, Marcia
I’m honored that you think this blog is worthy of this award. Thank you!
I love all of these very creative big centerpieces,….Things of beauty for sure! 🙂 Waw!
I agree! They are beautiful creations.
So lovely!!
I also like the branch candleholders! Merry Christmas! Jane