Still-lifes as Table Settings

It's all about presentation.


I see all of my table settings as still-lifes. Whether I am setting a table indoors or outside. A table for two or more. A table that is kept set, but not used for dining.  Each table starts as a still-life. 

When you set a table, you are setting a mood.

You are creating an environment.

Raphaelle Peale "Still-life with Strawberries and Nuts" 1822  echoes the fruit in the Italian table setting (later in this post).

A line up of elements. Francisco de Zurbaran, " Still-life with Pottery Jars" 1636, Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Here is one of my "line up of elements." Set on a buffet table. The season is Autumn. 

Another Raphaelle Peale, "A Dessert", 1814. Great for inspiration.

Pieter Claess "Still Life with Turkey Pie" 1627. I imagine dinner interrupted for painting op. 
 Art can imitate life and life can imitate art.

Entertaining needs to entertain the eye, the palate, and the soul.

 It's about creating a still-life of natural or a combination of natural and man-made objects. Be it food, flowers, plants, rocks, shells, glassware, vases, ceramics, porcelain, silverware, linens or books... my inspirations come from  all of the above.

I have assembled a list of my inspirations and I intend to keep growing it. 

Below, is an array of my table still-lifes/my table-settings.

I use what I have in a variety of ways. I am mixing it up constantly. You need to try this approach. It never gets dull or boring. 
 

Simple elegance, a close-up shot. The Florentine charger is painted wood and gold leaf.
The napkin is from http://www.dransfieldandross.biz/home.asp.  
The knife sits on a crystal knife holder. I love mixing textures and weights... crystal with wood, with china, and linen.

The simple table (a wider shot of the above close-up). A nice contrast of antique English pine table with china, crystal and silver. NOTE: If you serve wine, you really should have wine coasters for the bottle or carafe.

This is another table setting.This time, the pine table was set for a dinner of Zuppa di Peche.

Here, another table setting. White glazed terra-cotta plates are dressed up with lavendar organdy napkins, (placed under the plate) crystal and silver. The smaller white leaf plates (atop the ceramic) were used for an appetizer course of clams casino. The larger plates were used for Osso Buco and Risotto Milanese. I like to layer plates in anticipation of each course. 

On this table, I mixed natural ingredients with man-made. Twig napkin rings, green lettuce leaf salad plates, dried hydrangeas, moss, vegetables and fruit. It's fun to use fruit or veggies- even herbs or flowers from the garden or twigs from trees. Incorporate natural items that you may have on hand...depending on the season.

Here, I am sharing a casual setting. This is a bistro Brunch setting. Same white glazed terra cotta plates seen above.  Hydrangeas from the garden. Classic blue check napkins and tablecloth.

Again, with the idea of mixing up what I have... Here, I showcase the white glazed terra cotta plates in a different setting. A Spring time setting. I switched out the napkins. Herbs and flowers from the garden.

Italian themed dinner. Italian linen table cloth. Italian linen napkins. Dransfield and Ross napkin rings. Hand painted Italian plate, sits on the glazed terra cotta plates.

Here, I married French ceramics with matte gold chargers, twig votives and mini pumpkins set the still-life. 

 Dinner interrupted for photo op. 
Dinner featured Short Ribs, Polenta and Sauteed Spinach.



And, don't forget the music. Music adds to any setting! Right now I'm listening to http://addictedtoradio.com/ blues.

I hope that you enjoyed exploring table settings with me and will look at art to inspire your next setting. Be it abstract or Renaissance, the idea is to be creative and have fun. It's your canvas.


As always, xxoo Sheila

ENTERTAINING ADDICT COMES TO GREENWICH

I want to share news about my upcoming appearance and presentation on February 29. at the Garden Education Center of Greenwich, Ct.

The above is not clickable. Please go to gecgreenwich.org if you are in the area and would like to attend.

I will be brief this post because I am nursing one of my typing fingers, since a pot fell on it and I needed stitches. The kitchen can be such a dangerous place.


Oh, and speaking of pots, I have a new favorite copper cleaner "Bartender's Best Friend". It really is.


As I was ironing linen napkins the other day, I thought about how rewarding and satisfying it is to be organized ( granted this gets done when everything is in disorder). To be able to go to a cabinet or closet and see all your table linens organized by formal or casual and by colors is rewarding. And so I recommend as I did in last weeks post about keeping entertaining journals to organize everything you use for entertaining. From linens to candles to platters, chargers,plates, glasswear, vases and napkin rings.


Next week I will add some photos of linens and napkin rings and place settings.


And don't forget the guest book. Like the journals, it's another keepsake for wonderful memories to glance back on from time to time.

Guest book from the 1970's

Guest book from the 1990's

A still life with grappa glasses.

Hope you had guests this weekend.
Till next week, as always,


xxoo Sheila