Host the perfect party!

Party season is once again upon us and what better way to kick off the festivities than refreshing your party wares as well as your drinks cabinet!


06/10/2017    

Party season is once again upon us and what better way to kick off the festivities than refreshing your party wares as well as your drinks cabinet!

People often tell me formal dinners and cocktail parties are a thing of the past, nostalgia indulged by the period drama or elderly relative. In my opinion this isn’t the case. Retail catalogues and shops are full of Art Deco inspired glasses, cocktail shakers and canape dishes, but why not buy the real thing?

Auctions are the perfect place to pick up both affordable and luxury entertaining essentials.

A great present for the cocktail lover would no doubt be lot 55, an unusual novelty mid-20th century chromium plated and glass spirit decanter in the form of a penguin. It also contains a musical movement in its base, meaning every time it’s picked up you’re greeted with a tune…perhaps the makings of a drinking game!

Lot 55: A novelty glass and chromium plated musical spirit decanter in the form of a penguin, 31cm high

If you like an olive in your martini, or perhaps just prefer a cup of coffee, lot 54 is the perfect opportunity to cater for both cravings as it comprises not only a cased set of eight silver and enamel coffee spoons but you also get a cased set of six silver and enamelled cocktail sticks. To accompany your spoons, lot 38, a set of French silver cups and saucers engraved with bird and flower decoration, provide the perfect alternative to the more traditional bone china.

If a good bottle of wine is more preferable than a concoction of liqueurs or caffeine, lot 8 or 98 are a must. Silver mounted wine coasters are always popular and can be used throughout the year. Lot 8 is particularly desirable due to its elongated height and pierced decoration.

Lot 98: A silver mounted wine coaster, M C Hersey & Son Ltd, London 2003, 12.5cm diameter, together with a further silver mounted coaster, B & Co, Birmingham 2001, 9cm diameter (2)

If sheer luxury is what you want, lot 105, a large two handled silver tray would certainly be a show stopper for bringing in the champagne flutes.

No drinks party would be complete without a few nibbles to tickle the taste buds and what better way to serve them than in a bon bon dish. Don’t be fooled by the name, small silver dishes can be used to present both the sweet and the savoury. Lot 7 or 63 could provide the perfect centrepiece, or lot 120, a collection of eight stemmed bowls, would be ideal for the buffet table or placed around the room so you are never far from a tasty morsel!

A set of eight silver pedestal bon bon dishes, Mappin & Webb, Sheffield 1927, each of plain polished circular form raised on stem with circular foot, 10cm high, total weight 54.1oz (8)

Whatever your budget or taste there will always be something that takes your fancy at an auction, so during this festive season don’t leave the cocktail parties to the period dramas, host your own to rival that of Downton Abbey!

 

If any of these lots tempt you for your next party view the catalogue by click the cover below or go to the event page for more auction and bidding information.

 


 

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