Summer gatherings are all about loosening up. Entertaining shifts from white cloths and fine china to more eclectic tableware, like cabbage-ware plates and maybe an ice bucket in the shape of a giant strawberry. In the spirit of low-key, playful dinners, here are a dozen items that will get the party — or at least the conversation — going.
True, no one needs Art Deco glass knife rests in the shape of dachshunds. But now that you know they exist, can you imagine another meal without them?
For a designer as quirky as Carl Auböck, these small forks are pretty utilitarian, though incredibly chic options for eating corn off the cob. Dating from the 1950s, the six nickel-plated brass skewers have rattan-wrapped handles and fit into a leather holder.
Handcrafted by Brooklyn-based ceramics studio Mondays, this free-form oyster platter was designed for chef Dan Barber’s acclaimed Blue Hill at Stone Barns restaurant.
Goto is the Venetian word for the tumblers from which glassmakers used to drink water as they worked in front of hot furnaces. These Murano goto glasses by Roberto Beltrami are available in 12 colors and customizable sets.
This pitcher, made by French ceramist Robert Picault in the 1950s, feels both rustic and elevated.
Start your table-setting game strong with this set of vintage-inspired rattan placemats from Louise Roe’s brand, Sharland England.
Who knew fish had so much personality? These 1970s dinner plates are hand-painted, and the back of each is signed with the name of the fish depicted.
Just try not to smile while scooping cubes from this strawberry-shaped ice bucket by Italian designer Mauro Manetti.
With the cabbage-ware trend going strong, this delicate radicchio-shaped apertivo bowl by Bertrando Di Renzo would be at home among all manner of lettuce-related dishes.
With their grace and beauty, swans have long fascinated designers, who have incorporated their forms into a variety of homewares. These German silver-and-crystal examples from the 1940s can be filled with salt, pepper or sweets.
Whether it’s champagne or sparkling cider, pour something bubbly into these citrusy-hued flutes by Creart, and the occasion will instantly feel more festive.
Need help opening your drink? Carl Auböck can give you a hand.
