At the Ambiente trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, form was once again a hot topic for the table. However, different from a year ago, shapes were not so much mixed in each place setting as they were mixed on the table.
Rosenthal showed the look best. This company’s approach was more of a blending than a mix as they brought six different yet coordinating dinnerware patterns together in an À la Carte approach that inspired the collection’s name. Every place at a featured dining table in their space was set with a different pattern: Origami, Scoop, Poncho, Tatami, Papyrus and Nimbus. Each porcelain service, comprised of three sculpture-like sets that assume the functions of bowls and plates, shared the unifying principals of unique design and a common color story.
All of these designs felt like a work of art. Put them all together and the result was nearly breathtaking.
Of course, all of the pieces can be mixed and matched, crossing from one group to another, but I liked the way the table looked when each pattern was highlighted at a place, allowing the inspiration behind the forms to make a style statement.