Hard Boiled Detective Tablescape

Once again, for this week's table, Pat combined two of her passions: tablescaping and reading....more specifically, reading detective novels. This time she chose the "hard-boiled" detective - you know the kind - Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, Lew Archer. Never heard of them? Then you aren't reading Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, or John MacDonald or even some of the more contemporary authors like James Ellroy, Walter Mosley or Sara Paretsky [credited with creating the first hard-boiled female detective, V. I. Warshawski]. Their detectives were usually hard drinking, chain smoking, cynical, unkempt private investigators who were tough and street-wise. Even the way they spoke was rough and unpolished. But they were smart and always got their man (or woman) - one way or another.

Pat chose Spode's "Blue Italian" because the pattern has been around for over 100 years. It has been copied and reproduced by many manufacturers and comes in all price ranges. Blue transferware was quite popular in the 1930's and 1940's so it seemed like the right choice.

No wine here at this table - just coffee and booze.....

Once again, the rustic, tough place mat seems to fit the hard-boiled stereotype.

Flatware is "April" silverplate....OK, not very "hard boiled" but definitely looks nice.

No flashy napkin or napkin ring - simple and sturdy

The centerpiece is what the hard-boiled detective author might have had on his desk (along with an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts and a half-smoked unfiltered cigarette)

Pat had to borrow the bottle of whiskey from a friend at the gym she goes to - no one in the family drinks it

The table wouldn't be complete with some books: The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy, I, the Jury by Mickey Spillane, The Moving Target by Ross MacDonald, The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain, Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald, Laura by Vera Caspary, Double Indemnity by James M. Cain, and my personal favorite, The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

One last look

Where it came from:

Rustic Place Mats - from Pier 1 many years ago

Dinnerware - "Blue Italian" by Spode from wherever we can find it

Flatware - "April" silverplate by Wm Rogers & Son from Pat's collection

Glasses - from the Dollar Tree

Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com

Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath and Beyond several years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/