The Washington times., 1927-12-27
NeU Tendency Noted In Table |
Decorations; Extravaganza Reaction?
Bisque Figures, Porcelains
and uaint Silver Replac-
ing Flowers
By JEAN ELIOT

THOSE who dine out a
L lot in Washington-and
who doesn't9-are noting a
tendency among fashionable
hostesses to use anything but
flowers as table decorations.
It isn't because of the
perishable quality of the
posies, for one finds quanti-
ties Of flowers in drawing
rooms and Railways all
over the house, in fact, ex-
cept in the dining-room. But
more and more one discovers
quaint pottery, statuettes,
and odd silver ornaments
used instead of floral decora-
tions on the table.
y X y
EOR example, when Mrs. Peter
\ Goelet Gerry entertained re-
Gently for the governing board
Of the Congressional Club, of
which she is president, she used
by way of table decorations
quaint bisque figures and great
silver birds. And at one dinner
/ heard about the centerpiece
was a great bowl of colored
crystal balls, looking for all the
world like glorified Christmas
tree decorations. Moreover,
Repre- sentative and Mrs. Sol
Bloom, who have been giving a
series of delightful small dinner
parties in their new apartment
at 1922 Sixteenth ST., always
use on their table quaint Della
Robbia potteries, representing
baskets of fruit and flowers.
These are charming in them
selves and in harmonious accord
with their fine Italian majolica
dinner service and with the
beautiful old Italian things with
which their home is furnished.
X X X
I'm told that in smart Partisan
i houses last summer fruit was
used as a, table decoration almost
to the exclusion Of everything
else-great punches of hamburg
grapes, golden oranges and other
colorful fruits laid flat on the
table. I haven't seen just this
arrangement anywhere in Wash.
ington, but Mrs. Hoover, wife Of
the Secretary Of Commerce. has
long had a penchant for using
fruit on her table, often combining
It with the decorative vegetables
small yellow pumpkins, ears or
corn and even quaint little green
cucumbers. And it Is astonlsh.
ing how many artistic effects she
achieves.
COME thoughtful people see IN
~ this tendency reaction from
the extravagantly lavish use Of
flowers which has marked some
of the parties Of the last few
years. DR.. Work, Secretary of
the Interior, is famous for the
magnificence of the flowers used
at his dinner parties notably
at his dinner for President Cool.
idge last year when there was
solid bank Of roses down the long
table and when veritable hedges
of roses marched round the room.
1t is said that one OF the ladies
of the Senate spent over $500 on
flowers when she was hostess to
this official luncheon club, with
Mrs. Coolidge as an honor guest.
And another party. which was
long discussed and will be long
remembered, was given by former
REPRESENTATIVE and Mrs. Fairchild,
who had garlanded the MayfloWer
ballroom with fresh flowers. even
scattering roses on the floor. and
who presented a corsage bouquet
of orchids to each of the ladies
who were members OF. their large
dinner company.
\ X
HOWEVER,, the florists need
III not begin to worry, for the
use of flowers is constantly in.
creasing and there are many
women in Washington who have
a regular order for fresh flowers
daily. Moreover, lots Of hostesses
still continue to go in for lavish
and lovely decorations. One
hears, for example, mysterious
rumors Of the very elaborate
preparations which are being
made for the dance Mr.. and Mrs.
Eugene Meyer are to give at the
Carlton on December 80 for Miss
Ellen Thoron and Miss Victoria
Tytus. A room just off the patio,
I'm told. is being entirely redecor-
ated, but it's to be surprise and
nobody will tell me yet about the
details. But the decorative
scheme is to be something very
new, very striking and very en-
gaging-and presumably lots Of
f1nyx,A,sa xryi11 no 1,Sad