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Direct from Market: Tabletop

Bessie Nestoras -- Gifts and Dec, 10/28/2011 12:40:21 PM

The color of this season's New York Tabletop Market, held at 41 Madison, 7 W and 230 Fifth Avenue, is gray, but the mood around the show was anything but. Vendors were happy writing orders and delighted that all of their appointments showed up as planned, as one manufacturer told Gifts & Decorative Accessories.

Outlook: Gray

Vietri's new Lastra dinnerware is a gray stoneware that was inspired by the overlapping wooden strap that gives form in Italian cheese making. A touch of brown on the edge of each piece hints at the original wood that could be just beneath the glaze. The collection is distinctly Italian, with an urban edge. It is oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe.

Gray tones were also spotted at Portmeirion. The neutral hue is one of four colors in the company's new Fleur de Lys dinnerware. It is also available in blue, sage and cream. Gray was also used in Phillipe Deshoulieres' EPure dinnerware, which also boasted a new oval shape.

Lenox's Moonlit Garden incorporates black and gray tones in a delicate floral pattern. From Kate Spade, Fair Harbor is now available in oyster. Villeroy & Boch's Marifleur pattern features a floral motif in soft tones, with gray being incorporated into the design. And Bodo Sperlein's new dinnerware collection for Nikko features a white base and one dot in the center that fades out. The designer used soft colors like pink, aqua, blue Vietri Vietriand, of course, gray.

Haviland also added a gray hue in its Color Block dinnerware for fall, called Titane.

Mikasa also turned to gray for this season's table settings. The company introduced four new "I Do" patterns: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Blue, and used gray in its Something Borrowed pattern.

Feeling Blue?

From gray, we move to a color that is a mainstay on the table: blue. But strong blues: Cobalt and navy to be more specific. This royal hue was seen in several showrooms. Whether in an entire dinnerware collection, in accent plates or in glassware and cookware, cobalt was the second most popular color of the market.Ralph Lauren Home

Marchesa's Empire Pearl dinnerware collection for Lenox is offered in white as well as in cobalt. And in the blue it really makes quite a statement on the table. The gown that inspired the line was on display and buyers could see just how well the beaded detailing on the plates was executed.

Royal Crown Derby added a cobalt accent plate to its popular Gold Aves dinnerware collection. It, too, adds a bit of opulence to the table setting. The company also introduced the popular pattern in platinum.

Round Hill, Ralph Lauren Home's newest dinnerware pattern is inspired by the traditional design elements of British Colonial Island style and is done in a deep navy with a paisley pattern.

Tag also introduced a tabletop collection in navy. Sonoma is the company's dinnerware collection done in a solid blue and it can be coordinated nicely with its Indigo salad plate and accessories which features a graphic white floral pattern.

Sieger also introduced a new dinnerware in cobalt. Wunderkammer incorporates floral and fauna motifs with a gold accent.

Celebrity Lines

If you haven't heard of Donna Hay, you soon will. The Martha Stewart of Australia launched a dinnerware and kitchen Rachael Ray for Meyer Corporationtools line with Royal Doulton. All of the pieces are done in white or a soft blue and have a light, casual feel.

Celebrity chefs Rachael Ray and Paula Deen both introduced dinnerware collections with Meyer Corporation. The patterns truly reflect each of their personalities. Ray's dinnerware line is playful and incorporates bright colors and modern graphic motifs. Deen's collection finds inspiration in her Southern roots and features floral and fruit designs. Holiday patterns are also being offered.

Shake it Up

Michael Aram continues to add new dimensions to the table, whether incorporating wood for casual outdoor entertaining or glass and enamel for an elegant touch. This market the designer is adding canape plates as part of the Lemonwood collection. He also introduced baby accessories.

Michael Aram is also playing with different materials this market. Knight showed a collection combining wood with enamel and mother of pearl. She is also introducing new, thicker borders which enhance the pieces and tell more of a story on the table. The designer also introduced a new bath collection.

WWRD is bringing Old Country Roses to the 21st century. The ever-popular pattern is being updated for a younger customer and the company has added an extensive giftware collection that includes textiles, mugs, tea sets, tote bags and more.

Nambe is moving into home accessories with a collection of lamps. The lighting is modern and organic, very much like its tabletop pieces. There are eight lamps in this initial launch.

Lenox introduced several new decorative accents in its Donna Karan collection. And just as you'd expect, the pieces have an earthy look. There are new glass vases and votives, porcelain pieces as well as burnished copper collection.

Reed & Barton's new Aspen Ice collection includes both metal and crystal gifts. The pieces feature irregular, incised cuts that look like ice.

QSquared made its debut last market with a collection of melamine serveware and tabletop items. This market, theQSquared company has added an extensive dinnerware collection, serveware, as well as flatware.

Riedel continues to expand its gift sets. The company is offering Celebration sets of two champagne glasses for various occasions, including Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Thank You and more.

Denby is moving into housewares. This market the company has introduced a cookware collection of cast iron and oven to table pieces. The line comes in four colors and includes six cast iron pieces and seven ceramic oven-to-table items. Also making a move to housewares is Fiesta. The company has introduced a collection of serveware that is available in all of the Fiesta colors.

Richard Ginori looks to keep the table interesting. The company's Rings collection represents the deconstructed table in a sophisticated, subtle way. Each of the rims of the plates feature a different motif, but the differences are so slight it's not immediately noticed.

The Year of the Dragon

Herend Herend2012 marks the Year of the Dragon and several companies offered up a selection of giftware to mark the celebration. Herend, Villeroy & Boch, Christofle, Lalique, Royal Crown Derby and Haviland are offering figures, decorative plates, vases and other tabletop items in commemoration of the year of the strongest sign in the Chinese zodiac.

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