Tablescape 001
Foundation
Wood, terracotta, brass—cream, black, and amber. Every piece is timeless in its design and color, and in many cases: an object that will truly only get better with age.
By Drew McConnell
BRASS
A plate that’ll never break, never crack in the dishwasher. Instead, it’ll take on color and scratches, spotting and waves as it patinas through use. These brass pieces, handmade by Lue in Setouchi, Japan, have become my favorite pieces of the tablescape. They’re so unexpected and alive, they take on personality with every single use. They’ll most certainly outlive me.
WOOD
I always had a thing for the wooden salad bowls that seemed ubiquitous where I grew up. Wood has a warmth and resonance that other materials don’t have, there isn’t any sharp *clang* when eating from them, and like the brass, they only get more beautiful with use and age. A hold over from the Medieval pre-ceramic periods, they’ve stuck around in Galicia as the mainstay plate for “Pulpo Gallego”.
TERRACOTTA
There is no better way to feel grounded and foundational than to have baked earth on your table. It’s the perfect way to anchor the whimsical. Much like the wood and brass, it’s a material that is seemingly all around us yet completely notable when you’re eating and drinking from it. Often, magical moments for your guests are assumed to be ostentatious—but I strongly believe in the subtle moments of magic that come from simply eating from a surface that’s unexpected and uncommon. It’s palpably human.
GLASS
We’re surrounded by glass. It should make it harder to find the stand outs, but instead, it seems to make it easier. Sophienwald wine glasses feel as though they may take flight and drift up from your hand they’re so light and masterfully made. The Kinto cups from Japan have the most delicate sloping curves in amber borosilicate. And the porrons, both vintage and new, are a world of action and party bundled into a hand-blown glass centerpieces.
