by The Editors | February 24, 2016

Floridiana: The Great Tablescape

Old Florida imagery and fine linen fabrics set the scene for memorable meals

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(Tea towels, top to bottom) Horse racing motif, $40; Palm trees, bathing beauties and sailboat print, $35; Calypso dancing and waterskiing pattern, $40
(From top) Tea towel prints: horse racing, palm trees, bathing beauties, sailboats, Calypso dancers and waterskiing, about $40 each.

When tourists visited the Sunshine State in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, they sought souvenirs that would last longer than their tans. Ceramics, linens and postcards commemorated vacations with colorful illustrations of Florida’s symbols and locales. Third-generation Floridian Tracie Schneider, of Tallahassee, has been amassing these kitschy relics since the 1980s, when she stumbled upon Larry Roberts’ antique shop in Micanopy, devoted entirely to Floridiana: vintage items celebrating the state’s history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage.

Ceramic flamingo, a favorite Old Florida symbol, $40.
Ceramic flamingo, a favorite Old Florida symbol, $40

Under the name “3floridagirls,” Schneider and her two daughters peddle their pieces of the past on Etsy. Here’s a sample of their collection.

This 1950s linen tablecloth celebrates the state’s citrus and maritime industries and pre-Disney landmarks, similar tablecloths starting at $130.
This 1950s linen tablecloth celebrates the state’s citrus and maritime industries and pre-Disney landmarks, similar tablecloths starting at $130. All photography by Jessie Preza