Setting a Holiday Table with Christie’s

Designer Alex Papachristidis and I share a love of tabletop so we were delighted when several weeks ago Christie’s asked if we would like to collaborate on setting a holiday table using lots from their upcoming Living with Art sales. Merging a wide range of categories and styles, the sale focuses on how both fine and decorative art live successfully together in our homes. After perusing the offerings, we decided on a mix of silver, china, crystal, furniture and rugs to create a warm and welcoming table for Thanksgiving and any other seasonal celebration.

Holiday table with Christie's including flowers by ZezeStarting with the early 19th century Coalport china we also included more contemporary lots like the timeless Baccarat crystal, Alex’s own ikat napkins and gorgeous flowers from Zeze, to create a table comprised of elements old and new.

setting a holiday table at Christie'sYou can read all about our process, selections and some of our favorite tips for setting a holiday table and Thanksgiving entertaining over on Christie’s site – see you there and happy bidding!

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A little bonus vignette of our holiday table not shown in the Christie’s piece is included below. We enlisted a small charming bench as a table-side bar cart, with one of a pair of gorgeous Baccarat octagonal ice buckets, Harcourt barware and silver tray. A generously sized salt cellar became the receptacle for lemon garnishes. A fun reminder how pieces can be reimagined for new purposes.

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all photos by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence

13 thoughts on “Setting a Holiday Table with Christie’s

  1. An absolutely RAVISHING table, beautifully assembled.

    One practical question: would the lemon slices not tarnish or otherwise affect the silver salt cellar?

    • Love the Zeze flowers and want that antique table for my home. Perhaps the salt cellar was lined with a glass insert?

  2. Beautiful blend of Fall colors from “flowers with fruits” in a lovely silver container to rich colors in the china, napkins, Oriental carpet, etc. The best of all photographs in any magazine. Hope you have a photograph of your Christmas Table!

  3. A ravishing beautiful appointed table. Is that a silver Georgian covered tureen? The gloriosa lilies are glorious

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