April 11, 2019 — By Meg Fox  

5 Takeaways from the New York Tabletop Show

It was a brisk but exhilarating walk from Penn Station to Forty One Madison last week — the site of the semi-annual New York Tabletop Show: a premier destination for all that’s new and next in tableware and accessories.

Always a spring classic, the fresh forsythia and other colorful blooms that greeted us in the lobby were a prelude into the innovative array of tableware designs that waited in 23 floors of showrooms.

SOME OF OUR TOP TAKEAWAYS:

1. Honoring heritage: Iconic brands marked milestones with modern interpretations of core designs.

In addition to commemorative ornaments, Wedgwood collaborated with artist Hitomi Hosono, to create cutting-edge and innovative versions of the company’s timeless Jasperware designs in tribute to the company’s 260th anniversary in 2019.

  • Artist Hitomi Hosono incorporated yellow and pink pastel tones in her limited edition collection alongside Wedgwood’s heritage hue in classic blue. www.wedgwood.com

     

  • 2019 holiday ornaments take inspiration from classic Jasper imagery and archive designs.

     

  • Wild Strawberry, an iconic 50-year old pattern, was brought up to date with a new gold-accented collection.

     

Portmierion reinterpreted its 40 years old Botanic Garden in updated motifs including a modern interpretation called Harmony. www.portmeirion.com

  • Portmeirion Botanic Garden Harmony.

     

  • Portmeirion Botanic Garden New Motif.

     

  • New pet bowls allow furry friends to dine in coordinating style.

     

Villeroy & Boch has re-worked its bestselling archive design French Garden with a contemporary feel taking elements of the design and creating close-up oversized motifs in two collections: Green Line and Modern Fruits.

  • Details of the existing fruit motifs were elaborated and enlarged for a pop of color in Modern Fruits.

     

  • Green Line features well known scalloped edges and raised curves from the original collection style with a new twist: a subtle border of delicate leaves and green ribbons.

     

2. Tabletop brands tapped into the millennial mindset: casual entertaining, mix-and-match combinations, expression of individual style and sustainability.

  • Christina Monteleone, a spokesperson for Villeroy & Boch, gave us an enlightening tour of the company’s new It’s My Love millennial-inspired collection designed for the young professional, foodie-lover or fashionista on the go. The collection features two lines: It’s My Match and It’s My Moment, both developed by a team of young Villeroy & Boch employees.

     

  • It’s My Match was inspired by abstract botanical motifs that are highly textured and rendered in millennial pink, green and white tones that are easy to combine with other products.

     

  • Inspired by moments of indulgence and “me time,” mugs from It’s My Moment feature a relief with an embroidered look in almond and white.

     

3. Nature-inspired designs were in abundance.

  • Smoky Bloom — a porcelain collection from Lenox — showcases a watercolor palette of trending cool grays, coral and plum. www.lenox.com

     

  • Villeroy & Boch’s new Flow Couture collection — said to be their number one selling pattern in Australia — takes inspiration from embroidered patterns with floral motifs that are delicate, yet modern. The collection hits the U.S. market in May/June.

     

  • Hermés’ newest A Walk in the Garden celebrates the magic of springtime and all the colors that come with it.

     

4. Texture played key roles. So did organic-inspired shapes and handcrafted looks.

Lenox’s new mix-and-match Textured Neutrals line includes soft tones, textured patterns with an artisanal quality and hand-carved wood pieces from India.

5. Debuts in black and white were chic, sophisticated and timeless.

  • Nova Platinum by J. Seignolles for New Jersey-based Mottahedeh exudes energy in a modern design that appears to burst off the plate. www.mottahedeh.com

     

  • Villeroy-Boch’s Manufacture Rock resembles natural slate, while Rock Blanc offers pieces in crisp white: a perfect canvas for Instagram-worthy foodie photos, company reps say.

     

  • As fans of architect and designer Barry Goralnick, we were excited to see his first tabletop collection called Metro Chic for Villeroy & Boch.  (Goralnick also has licensed lighting collections with Currey & Company and Visual Comfort, furniture for Vanguard, and rugs for Stark Carpet).  The striking design, inspired by Art Deco, consist of a thick 20-carat gold coating, making the collection truly one-of-a-kind. www.barrygoralnick.com  www.villeroy-boch.com