green chile supergirl
Reviews Moderator  
Order of the Llama Best Writing 2012
A Pueblo Girl in the city
Posts: 2,776
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Post by green chile supergirl on Jun 5, 2009 19:33:19 GMT -5
I don't have the Sabbath set, but I did spend some time playing with it in the personal shopping room at AGP NY, so I will review it now to the best of my ability and then grade & update it later when the Sabbath set comes off backorder.  Rebecca's teapot is really tiny! It's cute, but not very big. The box of Ceylon tea is just a simple, unweighted cardboard box. The Samovar is nice and shiny, but the little spigot is plastic. The drinking glasses are etched with a star pattern- they would have been much improved if they'd come with Russian metal tea glass holders, but they're nice without them too. The challah is really odd gummy, squashy texture.  The Sabbath candlesticks are a nice, heavy blue glass. The candles are also much thicker and nicer than the little candles that come with the Hanukkah Gift set. They slide in nice and easily.
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SummerofLOV
Girl of Many Lands
 
Order of the Llama formerly American Dreams
Posts: 621
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Post by SummerofLOV on Jun 13, 2009 22:52:06 GMT -5
I got this set in the mail yesterday from my PS at AGPC. I think they must have changed a few things from the model that green super chilegirl saw at AGP because some things are different from my set than she listed in her review. The samovar is very nice, probably one of the things that makes the set almost worth its price. Its a heavy, metal construction, very sturdy (except for the nozzle which is plastic). The top lid comes on and off so you can pretend to pour the water in and the spout opens and closes. It also comes with the metal tray to hold it and the glasses as well. (A): The glasses are very nice. Real glass, nicely etched details. (A) The teapot is real ceramic with gold paint detailing. It is very cute, but also very small in proportion to the samovar/other accessories. I also don't know much about tea making since I don't drink the stuff, but does one really need both the samovar and teapot? Still, I give it an (A). The box of tea is a cute detail with historical accuracy, but it is just a cardboard box. It would be nice if they made some of these boxes of something more sturdy- tin or wood or something. (C, for durability/quality) The challah- I love the challah (mine is the usual plastic of AG foods, not the gummy material GSCG described) and it is adorable, and comes with a white doily for underneath. I just wish there had been two, as traditionally Challah is made in two loaves (and it is so in Rebecca's stories as well). (B; for the fact there is only one loaf!) The candlesticks and candles are probably my favorite part of the set just for the play value and importance to Rebecca's story. However, unlike the model GCSG saw, these candlesticks are NOT glass! They are a thick plastic.  The candles are also a plastic, I prefer the waxier feeling that Kirsten and Felicity's candles as opposed to the lighter plastic feel of these. So, the candles and candlesticks get a B+, a B- for material and an A for playvalue/importance. Overall, I give it a B+, I love all the pieces for their historical importance/story importance/play value but I think many of the pieces could have been executed better and some things could have been added, such as the extra loaf of Challah. *mod edit to remove member-deleted image links*
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Post by Rexphiles on Jun 15, 2009 12:57:20 GMT -5
The teapot is real ceramic with gold paint detailing. It is very cute, but also very small in proportion to the samovar/other accessories. I also don't know much about tea making since I don't drink the stuff, but does one really need both the samovar and teapot? Still, I give it an (A): If the top of the samovar removes, try to place the teapot on top. This would be the traditional way to keep the teapot warm. It should nestle/fit on top if the proportions are correct.
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Post by AG*dancer* on Jan 15, 2010 22:35:07 GMT -5
I like this set a lot! The samovar is beautiful. While it would be more accurate if there were two loaves of challah, I wouldn't be able to fit two in my display, so I'm fine with just one. It's really beautiful as a display set.  My set sits on top of a jewelry box that belonged to my grandmother. It resembles a miniature sideboard or bureau. 
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adored
Miss AG Bear

Order of the Llama
Posts: 486
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Post by adored on Feb 28, 2010 13:38:48 GMT -5
I set up Rebecca's Sideboard with her Sabbath and Hanukkah Sets and I am pleased to say that I was very impressed with them all. My favorite is the Sabbath set! The Samovar is so accurate and made of metal, the top lid comes off to fit the Teapot perfectly for warming (just like real ones do), that's why people wonder if the Teapot is a bit small but it was made that way to fit on top of the Samovar (Rebecca shows you this below). The spigot (plastic) swings left and right. The glasses are real glass, the candlesticks are plastic and the teapot is ceramic. I give it an A++ (mostly for the part that AG remembered to give us a Teapot and to make it fit on top of the Samovar so nicely!)  more pictures can be seen here: picasaweb.google.com/115599503877686512804/RebeccaCollection?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKZirLFjpDofA
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Post by skukla on Mar 30, 2011 8:49:13 GMT -5
All Rebecca's Shabbat set needed to be complete was a second loaf of challah bread, a cover for the challah, and a kiddush cup. Felicity has lent her handkerchief, the bread is available as a replacement part, and I found the cup at a store that sells Judaica.
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