Direct From Market: The New York Tabletop Show

By Bessie Nestoras, Maria Weiskott and Caroline Kennedy -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 4/15/2008 11:18:00 AM

New York – The jury may still be out on brides of the New Millennium and their personal style regarding tabletop, but it didn’t take the jury long to render a unanimous verdict about spring Tabletop Show: a success.

Considering this market consists of one category, the lobby crowds at 41 Madison were a bit reminiscent of some of the winter markets, with lines at registration. Ditto for 7 West, which debuted its Market Suites initiative. And although there was a schedule shift this season, with the show running Wednesday–Sunday,  41 Mad’s Carol Dixon told Gifts & Decorative Accessories that the response was positive. Nevertheless, Dixon did mention she might conduct another survey after the market to evaluate the situation. The department store and big store groups were very happy with the new timing, but new dates were not as well received by the independent tabletop retailers, such as Geary’s, George Watts, Luxe, Bond & Green and others, who preferred the traditional timing. 

Early on, Chris Collins, vice president and general manager of 7 West, told us the market was far exceeding “all expectations so far. Our Market Suites initiative (see ribbon-cutting at right) is off to a phenomenal start and has achieved the market changing impact that we expected. Our attendance for the first few days has far surpassed previous shows and we have attracted a new core of buyer to this market.” He added that the bar would be raised further for the October market. 

Although we heard mixed reviews, we did find traffic to be steady and buyers were introduced to several new vendors, including Abbiamo Tutto, HL Creations, Rolf and Grant Dawson Collections, a piece of one depicted at right. .

At 41 Madison, we also found traffic to be steady and several showrooms were exceptionally crowded: Noritake, Royal Doulton, Ambiance and Gibson Overseas, to name a few.

Also steady, was the conversation about what brides want these days. In fact, the theme seemed to carry from showroom to showroom and was as consistent as the showing of cups, saucers and wine goblets! Depending on who we talked to, today’s brides: prefer classic patterns for their formal table, prefer patterns for casual dining, prefer colors, prefer white, prefer off-white, don’t register anymore, are registering in greater numbers, mix and match patterns, prefer mugs over tea cups (if that’s any help). No matter what, however, all brides – whether first or second timer – need and want tableware, glassware and serveware; therefore providing impetus for a category that continues to remain central to the gift and decorative accessories business and continues to be innovative market after market.

Introductions
In terms of product there were several introductions this market. Thomas O’Brien introduced Austin Floral in indigo and ivory for Reed & Barton. The botanical pattern was inspired by a 19th century European set of transferware dishes. In indigo, the pattern takes on a traditional look, but the ivory updates the look of the setting, giving it a more modern look.

Following the success of last market’s Simply Fine collection, Lenox expanded the line with three new dinnerware patterns and a stemware line. Batik, pictured at left, is inspired by textiles and features a cinnabar-colored flower, Glimmer combines white, platinum and gray micas for a shimmery effect and Canary features a yellow rim adorned with coral flowers. The company also introduced three stackable collections meant to be mixed and matched. Pour it On!, Serve it Up! and Dish it Out! will coordinate with a Simply Fine place setting to create various serving options. 

Ambiance offered a diverse array of tabletop and serveware inspired by the romantic side of Europe; among them Toscana, San Remy and Venezia. The company also introduced a line of metallic pieces – including Sunburst and Ritz – that were resplendent in deep, rich, warm colors. The company also launched a line of licensed Saturday Evening Post cups and other table items. 

Looking East
Asian styles are still going strong in tabletop. This market Lalique introduced China Mood a collection of bowls, vases, figures and jewelry that was inspired by company founder René Lalique’s encounter with Asia while creating an Art Deco ornament for the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. Traditional Chinese symbols and motifs, such as lanterns, fans bamboo and dragons, are used in a subtle way in the formation of the pieces. For instance, one of the China Mood bowls resembles an inverted conical straw hat and is ornamented with stylized hills or clouds.

Noritake’s new Everyday Elegance collection is reflective of the Asian mood with patterns like Twilight Meadow and Verdena, which features metallic sprigs of wild flowers that almost look inlayed.

A limited edition Buddha is one of the 14 introductions in Herend’s Reserve Collection. The sitting Buddha features a chinoiserie design that was created in 1996 and is limited to 250 pieces.

L’Objet, found in The Richard Cohen Collection at 7W, also turned to Asia for inspiration. Kyoto, a dessert set of plates and a platter, is styled in orange with a gold design. A selection of lacquer platters in black and red feature traditional Asian symbols and can be used as a decorative piece or a functional tray. The company also introduced a selection of bottle stoppers in pagoda, bamboo and traditional Asian symbols.

Monique Lhuillier’s Bamboo pattern for Royal Doulton is one of the designer’s first casual patterns and takes on a more modern approach. The white bone china dinnerware collection features a clean and simple geometric pattern made with bamboo.

Jay Strongwater’s Nottingham collection combines traditional British design elements with Asian motifs, such as dragons for its line of boxes, vases and frames that are also adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Katsina is an Asian-inspired dinnerware collection from Tracy Porter for The Zrike Company. Done in reds, greens and browns, the collection also incorporates monkeys.

Golden!
Gold was prominent in many of this market’s dinnerware introductions. Haviland’s new Onze de Coeur collection features hearts in three combinations: brown with gold hearts, as well black with platinum hearts and aubergine with platinum hearts. This dinnerware pattern was designed by Princess Tania de Bourbon Parme, a descent of the Bourbon family of France. The company’s Tambour pattern has been updated this market in black with platinum orbs and gold lines. Longitude, an existing pattern, is now being offered in the United States. The pattern features a black rim and sweeping gold lines and a gold band.

First spotted at the Ambiente Fair in Frankfurt this past February, Royal Crown Derby’s Kaleidoscope pattern is offered in both gold and gold and black. The pattern is as its name suggests and depending on the angle you look at it, it will “change” its appearance. It is offered as a five-piece place setting, but can be used in combination with many of the other dinnerware patterns to create a more updated look on the table.

Wedgwood’s new Golden Bird pattern, pictured below, features a bird and leaf pattern that is inspired by the late 19th century English arts and crafts movement. The classic white and gold combination is accented with a turquoise salad plate and tea cup.

Waterford also looked to gold this market. The Golden Apple dinnerware pattern was inspired by a set of oversized decorative apples found in Paris. The dinnerware collection combines light green and gold to create a soft and natural look on the table. The gold gives the pattern an elegant touch.

Sieger’s Treasure line part of its My China! collection has been expanded to include Treasure Gold. The white porcelain dinnerware is rimmed with 24-karat gold and can easily be combined with the existing Treasure Platinum or Emperor’s Garden patterns.

Golden in more ways than one…Noritake introduced a line of Everyday Elegance, some with gold (or silver) in the design, that is microwave safe 

Celebrate!
For Royal Doulton, it marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Albert pattern, whose Old Country Roses is still the company’s most popular with brides. To commemorate the occasion, the tabletop company has developed attractive special hat box packaging that could be considered collectible itself.

The year also marks the 70th anniversary of the Spode Christmas Tree and the company has added many pieces to this successful line, including a new embossed plated, bell, dessert plates, candlesticks, frame and cookie jar. The 2008 Annual Border Collection will incorporate red this year.

Wedgwood’s Edme pattern turns 100 this year. The company has given the pattern an update by applying an antique white glaze, a new Laurel motif taken from Wedgwood’s 18th century archives, as well as larger shapes. The company has also expanded the line with glassware, metal serveware and flatware.

Homer Laughlin is already gearing up for the big 75th Anniversary of its Fiesta brand in 2011, with three marigold color baking bowls that will be available for only 75 weeks. April 1, 2008–Sept. 1, 2009. While the bowl set – ranging in size between 2 ½ quarts and 6 ½ quarts – will be available in several colors, they will only be available in the anniversary color of marigold for the 75-week period. Meanwhile the company introduced ivory to its diverse range of Fiesta colors, at the same time retiring persimmon from its colorful palette. Ivory marks the 14th shade in the Fiesta color story for 2008, which also includes black, white, cinnabar, cobalt, turquoise, sunflower, plum, scarlet, shamrock, tangerine, peacock, evergreen and heather.

Modern Looks
For buyers that want something a little more modern, Nambé offered six new dinnerware patterns: Butterfly, Mikko, Dune, Piroett, Aquila and Tri-Corner. Each pattern is unique and features organic shapes and clean lines for the urban entertainer.

Villeroy & Boch’s Urban Nature pattern, first seen at Ambiente in Frankfurt, combines modern with country. The white dinnerware collection features soft fluid shapes and “bridge” plates that give the table height and dimension. The company is also targeting the Y Generation with Vivo a tabletop collection in white, red or kiwi. The shapes are modern and the bright colors give the collection a youthful look. 

Rosenthal’s Landscape pattern features asymmetrical, organic shapes and is adorned with a lace-like pattern on the borders and on the handles of the cups and teapot.

Many of Christofle’s introductions take on a modern approach this market. Atomes d’Argent, designed by Dutch designer Richard Hutten, uses spheres, as shown at the right,  in this collection of candlesticks, vases, bowls and centerpieces. The pieces take on a futuristic look, and yet remain classic in design. 

Wallace Home Accessories is also taking a more modern approach in its serveware collection, including a selection of contemporary wood accessories. The line includes bowls, trays and more.

BIA Cordon Bleu has added four-piece place-settings to its popular Wavey Bakeware serving pieces that can go from oven to table. The palette includes 10 colors, one of the newest – a trendy eggplant color. The company was also showing some very cool and very giftable boxed sets of egg cups and separately, boxed espresso gift sets. BIA’s “Carryout” series and cheese plate selections offer a variety of serving pieces for entertaining.

Gibson Overseas was offering youthful and trendy pieces in a fresh and updated look for the Coca-Cola license. The company was also on trend with today’s socially conscious younger set with a line of outdoor tabletop that is eco-friendly and sustainable.  

Oh Baby!
Nambé introduced a new collection of baby gifts under the brand Baby Nambé. The line includes plates, cups, a rattle, fork and spoon set, frames and a bank all in the company’s signature metal.

Léo Léa is a new baby collection from Christofle. The playful characters have a retro feel and can be found on a frame, napkin rings, a fork and spoon set and cup.

The Zrike Company is expanding its Disney license to include Hannah Montana and High School Musical. The new lines will include plates, vases, chip and dip, jewelry box, tumblers, mugs, popcorn bowls and more.

New to Market
Christopher Jagmin Design made its debut in New York with a collection of contemporary dinnerware and glassware. The sketeched patterns are done in black and white and include Yes or No dinnerware, Boy/Girl dinnerware and Barbara dinnerware featuring flora and fauna.

Also new to New York is HL Home. This company offers a selection of Italian serveware made from Murano glass and ceramic. The designs go from very ornate to a bit more subtle and include serving bowls, salad servers, spreaders and more.

Andrea by Sadek back in the neighborhood after having closed its 26th Street showroom a few years ago .The company came back to New York City for this April’s market by taking a booth in 7W’s Market Suites.

New company Grant Dawson Collections also made its debut in the Market Suites. The company offers tabletop, desk accessories, as well as home accents made from sustainable or recycled materials. The pieces take on an elegant, yet organic feel by combining woods with traditional motifs. For example one of the company’s vases made of maple wood rests on recycled glass spheres featuring a Marvelous Spatuletail Hummingbird in antiqued gold. Most of the animals used represent endangered and threatened species.

Home accessories vendor, Zodax could also be found in the Market Suites, as well as Italian ceramicware vendor, Abbiamo Tutto - some of whose pieces are pictured at left - which made its debut at Tabletop this season. Tabletop designer Michael Wainwright also exhibited at Tabletop for the first time.

In the permanent showrooms, Arte Italica introduced Riverbero, pictured  at right, a hand-painted ceramic dinnerware collection. The name refers to an ancient Italian technique of painting a lustrous design upon ceramic and was originally used to create wall plates which depicted noble rank or the coat of arms of wealthy Italian families.

Ritzenhoff, found in Gallery on Six, introduced a smaller beer glass size for wheat beer. Also new is Grano Amado, a collection of coffee sets. The company is also expanding its tabletop line to include home accessories with a collection of lamps. The Light no. 1 line is in keeping with the company’s contemporary look featuring graphic motifs.

Zak! Designs introduced its Walt Disney Signature Collection of dinnerware this market, some of which is pictured at left. Not what you might expect, the line finds inspiration in the man not the movies. The line includes Kingswell decorated and Kingswell two-tone, Fresco and Spotlight, a drinkware collection. Kingswell finds inspiration in Sleeping Beauty, where the design comes from a branches from the tree in the movie. Fresco looks to the movie Bambi for its inspiration, when Bambi experiences his first rainstorm. Both patterns have a nature theme featuring botanical designs.



Toasting and Signing
Topping out the market’s highlights, 41 Madison hosted a book signing and reception for former retailer Ira Jacobson, founder of Brielle Galleries, Brielle, NJ. The occasion marked the launch of Jacobson’s book, A Quest for Excellence. The book recounts the history and growth of Jacobson’s store, which achieved worldwide renown. In his brief address to the assembled guests, Jacobson noted that he hopes that with the advantages that today’s retailers have with the Internet, they can learn from his experiences and attain an even greater level of success.

Jacobson and Brielle Galleries rank among a long list of G&DA’s REA Award winners and were among the five retailers that G&DA followed “Into the 21st Century.”

See you at Stationery Show!