Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
Tableware, Like Gowns, Has
No Happy Medium.
MODELS OF SIMPLICITY
LOVING CUPS ARE THE FANCY
OF THE DAY
Strides in the Art of the
lverslnith-Unique De-
signs.

The fortunate matron who has planned
10 add to her establishment few choice
specimens of the silversmith's art will find
herself forced to decide between two ex-
tremes in selecting the new pieces for her
dinner service There is no medium this
season in the finish of sterling silver
Either it Is marvelously simple in design
or superlatively elaborate. Some of 1t is
positive offense to the woman of good
taste as. for instance, a set OF fiat table,
ware with handles showing a womans
head her flowing locks following the line
of the handle and twining lovingly about
it, This may be art from the decorative
standpoint, but to the woman VINO Delights
in suitable table service 1t does not APP
peal.
In fiat ware the simple beaded pattern is
in high favor and to match the beading on
handles of forks and spoons the knives
now come with a fine line of beading sepa-
rating the blade from the handle.
Flowers seem to be much in demand for
decorating the more elaborate fiat services
and almost every blossom is reproduced,
from field daisies to orchids. With the
elaborate patterns dull finish is applied
to the silver but for the beaded designs
the finish is in highly, polished satin eff
feet.
In complete hollow sets, including the
coffee urn, the various pots and accompa-
signs seem to lead Both are severely
plain, rather low, with long spouts and a
highly polished surface. The colonial de-
sign shows uncompromlsng square lines,
the empire has more gracious curves. The
colonial has no beading, but 1t Is some
times seen on the empire sets. The real
earmark of the empire design, however, is
the empire wreath always associated with
the first empire decorations.
Both the colonial and the empire styles
are shown in candlesticks of silver and
gold but the plain glass sticks used so
much last season have entirely disappeared.
both are
in demand.
The fad of the moment in both silver and
gold is the loving cup and the custom OF
passing this cup from guest to guest at va
rious functions grows, germ and sanitary
cranks to the contrary notwithstanding.
On Colonial Lines.
These loving cups come in bewildering
variety of designs and sizes. The simplest
model is built on colonial lines, with three
square handles 1t has satin finish and
stands on an ebony pedestal. Next in price
comes the empire design. with it's simple
wreath, and from this point the cups soar
in price and elaboration to massive AFFAIRS
which cost several thousands of dollars.
One superb specimen of the silversmiths
art is cup which would spoil check in
four figures. The base is of ebony, upon
which rests a cluster of grapes in dull Sill
YER AS the stem of the cup rises and
spreads out into the bowl these grapes be-
come gradually smaller and more highly
polished, until they seem to vanish or melt
into the highly polished satin surface of the
plain bowl. This cup has two handles and
is lined with gold.
All the better grades of loving cups have
a substantial look, with a tendency toward
repousse designs. Dull silver is raised ON
a satin finish cup and vice versa. Ham
mered copper loving cups are also shown,
and these are lined with gold, though the
more accepted combination is silver and
gold.
Old Fashions Liked
Even the newborn heir to millions re-
ceives his wee loving cup in solid silver or
gold, which is presumably used to drink
his health at the christening, but many of
the social elect still bark back to old-fash-
toned mugs for babies. An offering in this
line. which is marked $50, is a mass of Sill
yer rose buds, lined with gold.
A marvellous punch set is of gold and sill
YER curously combined in an orchid pat
tern The ladies' handle is a perfect orchid
of gold and each of the dozen gold cups Is
a great orchid. The set is displayed on an
oval mirror with a gold frame.
Oval mirrors are again In vogue potn IoT
punch sets and for table centerpieces. A
curious idea, but decidedly effective, for the
dinner table is mirror of this sort framed
in ferns and sprinkied lightly with water
upon which appears to float tiny Whlte
swans and ducks, which can be obtained
at certain japanese bazaars.
A novel fruit basket is of dull silver In
the form of a huge lily. The stem of the
blossom forms the handle. A cut-glass
bowl for holding orchids has broad fiat
rim of silver showing orchids Another
novelty Is a copper set, for serving peer
The pitcher is low and squat looking and
is surrounded by twelve copper stems.