Entertaining at teatime

Socialising over food and drink can become a regular event during winter, as the outdoors becomes less appealing and the indoors seems ever more inviting. This can be a good excuse to have some fun with the design in your home as accessorising and styling can play a key role in dining and the dressing of your table. The pieces that you acquire for tableware can often be as decorative as they are functional and are a great way to welcome guests and add atmosphere to your entertaining.  As delightful as it to acquire these accessories for oneself, they can also make wonderful gifts; here are some examples to offer some inspiration.

This thick glass drink dispenser and stand from Rockett St George creates a wonderful spectacle and would be perfect for storing a home made concoction.

This elegant gold dipped cutlery from Anthropologie is both striking and luxurious.

Merci do a wide range of refined and unusual crockery and cutlery, including these stylish enamelled metal plates.

Enamelled metal plates in Red and black designed by Stefania di Perillo, at Merci.

Dressing a table can be a great excuse to mix and match different pieces. This metal teapot and glass mug from Merci make a great, eclectic pair.

Mug by La Rochere and Aluminium Kettle/Teapot, at Merci.

Richard Brendon is a British bone china specialist and has designed some beautifully refined pieces. His designs pay fantastic attention to detail and offer a wonderful new take on some classic styles.

In his collection, Reflect, Brendon cleverly applies platinum and gold gilding onto antique cups so that they reflect and make visible the ornate design of their saucer.

Reflect collection, Maker unknown, c 1900.

Reflect collection, Maker unknown, c 1890.

In Brendon’s ‘Details from Willow’ collection, he has adapted the most beautiful elements of willow pattern china into contemporary pieces.

‘Details from Willow’ collection, Tea Cup and Saucer Gold.

‘Details from Willow’ collection, Milk Jug Gold.

Coral & Tusk make some gorgeous accessories for the dining table including their charming range of table runners.

Navy Quill Table Runner by Coral and Tusk.

‘Grande Theiere Marbre Jaune Vert’ by Astier de Villatte.

Astier de Villatte has the most delightful range of crockery, including their ‘Marbre’ collection which allude to the brilliant designs of marble paper.

‘Tasse extrieure marbre noir bleu’ and ‘Tasse interior marbre vert rouge jaune’ by Astier de Villatte.

So treat yourself, or someone else, to something special to add to your dinner table this year.

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