We are having a small dinner party this weekend for our "couples" book club. We love getting together with a small group of friends to share our lives as well as thoughts about what we've been reading. The book we chose for our friends to read and discuss is a classic, I, Claudius by Robert Graves. It is about the Roman emperors Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and finally Claudius. Well, I couldn't quite come up with a Roman theme for the party , so I'm going Italian. I've pulled together several things that I think look quite elegant.
On our trip to Italy several years ago I bought several tapestries at the San Lorenzo market in Florence. I've used one as a table topper and turned it on a diagonal.
I've used gold chargers, Wedgwood White dinner plates and hand painted salad plates. Each plate has a slightly different motif.
I'm using my sterling flatware made by the Italian silversmith Buccellati. The pattern is Milano. I've always considered it to be classic and timeless. Simple white linen napkins are dressed up with gold beaded napkin rings.
For a centerpiece I filled an Italian cachepot with Christmas ornaments that have yet to be put away! Maybe I'll swap them out for some flowers by Saturday!
Iron candle holders with some gold beading adds a little sparkle. I've placed them on my vintage Florentine trays, which you can read more about HERE.
And some vintage ruby red goblets add even more richness to the table.
For dinner I'll be serving turkey tetrazinni,
lasagna florentine, caesar salad (of course) rustic Italian breads, assorted cheeses and Nutella pound cake and gelato for dessert. I'll share recipes in a few days!
I like to join these parties
