Castleton's Ma Lin -- "Cinnamon, Gold, and Sapphire"

Last weekend I was in Little Rock visiting my parents, which gave me a chance to play with my mother's dishes.  I have always loved her Ma Lin, a Castleton pattern.  I did a little research and learned that it was designed by Ching-Chih Yee, one of fifteen contemporary artists commissioned by Castleton China in 1942 to create designs for china.  Interestingly, Salvador Dali was also one of the fifteen!  Wouldn't it be interesting to see HIS designs?

Ma Lin was discontinued in 1958.  Here's a link to a newspaper ad from 1951, the year my parents married, describing the pattern as "reminiscent of the elegance of Cathay" and the colors as "cinnamon, gold, and sapphire."  The five-piece placesetting's advertised price?  Only $15.75!  Replacements.com now lists a placesetting for $95.95.

Here's the dinner plate. All sizes of the plates have the same design.

In a post last spring, I used yellow napkins and flowers with this pattern, but for fall I wanted to highlight the "cinnamon" color.  I actually brought these placemats with me on the plane, since Mama didn't have any this color.  I wonder if there's a law against crossing state lines with table linens?  My sister remarked that I had crossed a new threshold in tablescaping addiction.

I also wanted to try the Ma Lin with Mama's Fostoria Royal-Amber.  I think it works well, repeating the rust or "cinnamon" color in the pattern.  Mama also has amber candlesticks, one of which you can see in the background below.

And, of course, rust-colored flowers were needed!  We looked several places for rust-colored mums and finally found a pot that would do.  I just wrapped the pot in two napkins, securing them with a rubber band.  In the photo below, you can also see two sets of amber salt and pepper shakers from Mama's collection.

Here's another view of the table. . .

And one of the placesetting.

The next photo shows Mama's sterling, Reed and Barton's French Renaissance.

And here's one last view of the table.  The angle of the sun wasn't cooperating with me, so neither of the full table shots are very good, I'm afraid.  In the background are some yellow roses -- a hint for next week's table!

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!