For buyers interested in mixing and matching with vibrant colors and lasting design, Ginori 1735’s Oriente Italiano Malachite features beautiful, handcrafted porcelain pieces in gorgeous and coordinating colors, including Albus (white and black), Aurum (white and gold), Azalea (lavender and blue), Castagna (newest/brown and white), Citrino (yellow and blue), Iris (aqua blue and blue), Malachite (green and blue), Meringa (newest/taupe and white), Pervinca (periwinkle and blue) and Popora (pink and red). Photos: Chris Emeott
From holiday celebrations to weekday dining, tableware brings timeless elegance.
Preparing a dining table or buffet for life’s special occasions, including Thanksgiving, requires a creative balance that begins with a foundation—setting a lovely and inviting table that expresses to guests, “Join us; we’re thankful you’re here.”
With final cooking preparations and last-minute cleaning tasks at the forefront of the must-do list, building a table tableaux can begin days ahead of guests’ arrivals. For many local hosts, a first step can include a visit to Fox & Willow, which can serve as inspiration for setting a lovely table and creating tabletop milieus that augment any dining experience.
The Wayzata luxury tabletop and fashion boutique is “… where grace and beauty intersect with fun,” owner Shara says. In addition to specialty tableware and décor, it offers expertly curated gifts and even accessories and clothing. Services include business gifting, tablescape design and wedding registry.
With so many options to peruse and purchase at Fox & Willow, where should one even begin? “Invest in what you love,” Shara says. “If a pattern or style brings you joy but is more than you were thinking to spend, then consider adding only a few pieces at a time.”
Preferred tableware and drinkware brands include Capdeco, Bernardaud, Ginori 1735, La DoubleJ, Mottahedeh and William Yeoward Crystal. “We offer a wide range of linens—at various price points—including La DoubleJ, Pomegranate and several other American designers,” Shara says.
“With each item we curate, we pay attention to enduring style and modern flair, plus consider value and utilization,” Shara says. “Many of the tableware products we carry are timeless pieces that you can collect over time. It’s also important to consider pieces that work with your lifestyle. For example, we have several dishwasher-safe plates and flatware as well as stain-resistant placemats and easy-care table linens that are great options for active families.”
Entertaining styles ebb and flow, and there has been a dip in using finer dinnerware, but the proverbial tide seems to be turning as younger buyers return to the notion of the importance of having better dinnerware. “… buyers in general value the strength and durability of better dinnerware vs. dinnerware that has a short lifecycle,” Shara says. “We define ‘better dinnerware’ as pieces that are made by hand [with] quality materials. Fine bone china and porcelain are far stronger and more chip-resistant than stoneware, earthenware and ceramic. It’s a misconception that fine china is fragile and will easily chip. It’s actually one of the strongest materials, durable and often dishwasher safe. If cared for properly, it will last a lifetime.” (See the sidebar for care tips.)
Shara further explains that brands are meeting buyers’ needs for flexibility, authenticity and accessibility. “All the brands that we carry allow buyers to select individual pieces vs. a whole place setting,” she says. “More than ever, it’s easy to mix and match patterns, play with expectations and customize tableware selections. We offer this experience at our store and encourage customers to bring in tableware pieces that they want to refresh with new items.”
Care and Keeping
To help dishes, glassware and linens look their best for their next entertaining mission, it’s important to ensure they’re properly cleaned and stored.
Most porcelain and fine bone china are dishwasher safe, according to Shara of Fox & Willow. “However, pieces with metallic finishes should be washed by hand with a mild detergent to preserve them over the long-term,” she says. “We also recommend hand washing crystal with a mild detergent to preserve its brilliance. You may also use a crystal cleaner like Restaurant Crystal Clean. Finally, when handwashing, we recommend using a sink mat or towel to prevent chipping.”
“We also sell acrylic and lacquered pieces that require special care to preserve their shine,” she says and suggests using a microfiber cloth and avoiding spray window cleaners. “Only use mild soap and water or specialty products like Brillianize to clean and polish acrylics.” (For linens, Shara recommends washing them in cold water on a delicate cycle.)
When stacking plates for storage, use a pad between plates to prevent chipping or scratches. For glassware and crystal, never stack pieces; store glasses upright to prevent damage to the rims.
Utilizing these tips can go a long way in preserving dining elements not only for their next use but for generations to come.
Fox & Willow
Instagram: @foxandwillowshop
