Dinnerware Switches From Bland, Dull to Bold, Provocative
The stage is set for the latest fashion in dinnerware. Move over pastels because jewel tones and more vivid, deeper hues are making a daring splash on the tables of the ‘90s. The exciting switch in the new table-top wardrobe shows a big transition from bland and dull to bold and provocative.
Today there’s a dinnerware pattern to match every decorative motif in the home. Table-top enthusiasts, including decorators, will be delighted to pick from the wider selection of styles, which range from romantic Victorian to earthy Santa Fe, classic Mediterranean to high-tech, Oriental and French country to Art Deco and geometric. “A pattern used to last forever,” said Marvin Elenbogen, vice president of Noritake Inc. in Compton. “Now people are buying more than one or two sets. When they get married, they start with a formal and casual pattern. After that they tend to buy based on fashion and the colors they like.”
The new plate pieces are also projecting more pronounced themes. They follow food trends. You’ll find a sea of fish and shell designs as well as an array of Southwest and botanical and fruit schemes. “The botanical theme never has left us,” Elenbogen said, discussing the pretty Royal Orchard pattern from Noritake, which was a big hit last fall; “it’s the new colors that are creating the interest.”
A Coming-Out Trend
Another trend is that people are finally using their good china.
Instead of being locked away to be stared at, fine china is appearing everywhere from formal entertainment settings to everyday tables. “We liberated china. So mix it. Match it. Take it on the boat,” a Villeroy & Boch tableware advertising campaign encourages.
Here’s a list of the dinnerware patterns that are forthcoming on the market during the fall and holiday seasons (a few may not make it until next spring, however). These were previewed in showrooms at the L.A. Mart during the July Gift Show last week.
One of the most dramatic new patterns recently unveiled comes from Noritake’s premier bone china line, the Master’s Collection. Meticulously detailed, its attractive Cabot pattern has an unusual burled wood inlaid look in its border with onyx black and gold edging. The new group of faux texture styling includes the Icon with bluish gray platinum banding edged with cobalt blue and gold lacing; and the Venetian Rose pattern with deep green granite-like borders trimmed with roses.
On the Bandwagon
Fitz & Floyd has joined the bandwagon on the popular Southwest theme but offers sophisticated styling. The Dallas-based company introduced its Southwest collection consisting of Taos--featuring a play of gold with black zig-zagging pattern on white body; the Mesa with complete zig-zagging coverage in similar tones; the Hopi--a geometric mixing of platinum gray, black and gold; Sedona--a definitive design of an Indian woman in zig-zagged cloak of gold, terra-cotta and black; Saguaro--illustrated with desert cactus and sun. The new designs match effectively with other Fitz & Floyd patterns such as the Basketry, a woven collection in terra-cotta and sand colors. And you thought Southwest was out. Not so, according to Bill Lovell, visual director for Fitz & Floyd. “So many people like it and so many are collecting Southwest items,” he explained; “it’s like country, everybody thought that country died and yet it’s still there. We wanted to bring out a fresh flavor; instead of pastels we did golds and black for sophistication.”
Bringing out another Southwest flair is Villeroy & Boch, with its Heinrich, Cheyenne pattern, which promises guaranteed availability until the year 2000. The bone china collection offers white-base pieces with a thin rim of arrow graphics in deeper multicolored Southwest tones.
New Frutta Line
Favored for dressing up summer and fall tables are the light-hearted fruit designs in dishes that are often hand-painted. Deruta of Italy has a new line called Frutta with free-flowing design of fruit and vine that goes very well with its bright dinnerware grouping called Lattice.
A unique mingling of fruit, flowers and classic emblems in lapis, black and malachite comes from Taitu’s new pattern called Firenze. Designed by Emilio Bergamin of Italy, the creation is reminiscent of classic wall murals done on a marbleized white body with grayish-veining. If you want splashy settings, take a look at Ifiori, another Taitu design, which is a wild floral symphony in the brightest imaginable tones of red, green and blue.
Another new fruit design comes from Studio Nova’s Fruit Punch, which has a black rim stenciled with yellow, lavender, mint and orange-colored fruits. It is very effective with Studio Nova’s rimmed chargers, which come in nine exquisite colors.
Seafood enthusiasts will rave about Bernardaud Limoges’ Caraibes, a 15-piece service that features six fish designs with an aqua rim and seaweed decoration. Though not as bold as other patterns, the colors (blue, coral, yellow, white and black) in this innovative china are cool and soothing.
Moods by Mikasa
For the Art Deco and Memphis-style lovers, the mood is achieved by Mikasa in its International Sophistication Dinnerware line, which offers a variety of banding designs and colors. Any of these combine effectively with Mikasa’s ridge-edged peach or aqua serveware or giftware called Terrace.
On a cheery casual note, consider the eye-catching dinnerware selections of Haldon from Japan in a wide variety of pleasing deep pastels. The Blue Check pattern has blue and white checkerboard throughout and features an extra size breakfast cup. Added to Haldon’s embossed Majolica floral line are lavender and celadon colors, which go well with the new Morning Glory pattern with green leafing and lavender flowers. The Haldon ensemble includes accessories to match.
Hutschenreuther of Germany, renowned for its delicate porcelain is introducing bone china for the first time, enabling the use of brighter colors. The collection includes four new multihued patterns will be arriving next year: Brocade with soft graphic banding; Benares, with wider border of garden designs; Indigo with blue and gold band with floral pastels; and Camaro, in playful op-art and floral intermixing.
Teal green and deep fuchsia, a color combination that seems to be more visible these days in fabrics, is also being picked up in china. A sample of this may be seen at Tesoro’s in Beverly Hills; the company just brought in an attractive set from Laurie Japy in Limoges, France. A. Mallory of California is also using these colors in its new dinnerware but in more subdued green and plum, with options to mix with gold banding.
