Festive tableware with a touch of gold

It’s mid-November, and even though there’s no sign of winter yet, we’re already thinking about the holidays. Just like for you, for me this magical time is all about the warmth of home, the Christmas tree, and gifts. But one of the leading roles is played by the. It accompanies us throughout the entire Christmas season, whether we like it or not. So here are a few inspirations for you that break away from the traditional holiday table setting.

I’m really bored with green reindeer, tin drums, colorful plates with green Christmas trees, and gilded pinecones. It’s all been done before—which is why it feels so uninspired. I’ve been dreaming of a large holiday table set, but one with a touch of nonchalance and a hint of madness.

So my inspiration is based on the theme of gold. It’s a material that embodies luxury, which is very close to my heart. Most of the products used are handcrafted works of applied art. I have been working with such pieces for years and promote these kinds of ateliers on the Platform.

High value, beautiful craftsmanship, and excellent materials have never had a price tag. This is the absolute honesty of European artisans and the people behind the world’s most exceptional brands!

Festive tableware – porcelain sets for the whole family

Every large multigenerational family has its own porcelain dinnerware set. This material has long been a staple of gatherings around the table, grand banquets, unique meetings, and magical moments. For centuries, porcelain has created an extraordinary charm and brings incredible joy in everyday use.

And I’m not talking about cheap mass-produced items—our money is too valuable to waste on poorly made products. If you want high-quality porcelain, look to the manufacturers in Italy, Germany, and Portugal. That’s where the finest workshops are based, producing top-tier pieces for many years.

Holiday tableware should be truly representative, so let me show you some pieces from Porcel. Portuguese porcelain has always been highly sought after, which is why it’s one of my top picks—especially when it comes to porcelain dinnerware.

My favorite gold collection is called Belle Epoque

This is an exceptional and truly luxurious holiday dinnerware set, consisting of 68 pieces. The set is designed for a family of 12. What captivated me here is the incredible whiteness of Portuguese porcelain paired with gold marble-like accents. These golden brushstrokes and embellishments make a perfect duo, giving the set a highly distinguished and elegant appearance.

It’s a nod to exquisite dining tables, but with a touch of restraint and elegance. This isn’t your typical baroque, gold-laden holiday dinnerware set, but rather a delicately decorated white collection.

Here is the composition of this Portuguese set: Pickle dish x2, Sauce bowl with saucer x1, Dinner plate x24, Soup plate x12, Dessert plate x12, Bread and butter plate x12, Salad bowl x1, Tureen x1, Large serving plate x1, Small serving plate x2.

I believe that every large family table should have such exclusive and prestigious porcelain. The only downside I see with this type of gold embellishment is the restriction on dishwasher use. However, not all handmade products offer the same functionalities as regular dinnerware sets.

Festive tableware – a porcelain and cutlery duo

Gold-plated cutlery is a perfect match for this porcelain collection. That’s why I deliberately chose the Delarboulas brand. This manufacturer specializes in truly unique cutlery designs. The Libellule Or, Contemporain Or, Bambou, Elle, and Lui lines will create a stunning composition with the porcelain.

This awareness of the correlation between gold, its flecks, and its prestigious character will elevate the entire set to a higher status. Holiday tableware simply isn’t complete without high-quality cutlery. That’s why my suggestion for this duo is Delarboulas.

French Elegance!

The French manufactory has been creating true works of applied art for years. I don’t like boredom or poor-quality products. That’s why these pieces are especially close to my heart. The creator of these beautiful items combines fine materials like pewter and gold to ensure they serve us for many years.

And this isn’t about pairing gold with gold, but rather about combining two very similar themed product lines. Here, gold serves as a decoration, a highlight, and a distinguishing accent. It’s what gives meaning to the entire tableware set, and the holidays are the perfect occasion to bring out such an exquisite collection.

It’s not every day you use this kind of luxurious tableware set, so let the holiday season be your moment to showcase it. Guests, family, and everyone who sits at such a beautifully arranged table will surely be delighted not only by the dishes, but above all by the presentation and the tableware itself.

You can never have too much gold!

Alright, we’re still working on this particular set, so we’ll need some gold accessories. There was a lot of white and gold there, so our table isn’t overloaded just yet. I’d like you to meet a few of my table friends, all in the gold theme.

If you already think your table will look flashy at this stage, you’re mistaken. The biggest transformation will come with the choice of tablecloth. But more on that later!

In my inspirations, where the holiday tableware becomes the centerpiece of dining and conversation, accessories also play an important role. First up are the candle holders. On a smaller table, a single large four- or five-arm candelabrum placed in the center is enough.

A large candle holder or two small ones?

On smaller tables, however, there should be at least two or three-arm luxury candelabras. Of course, I chose ones with gold accents to further emphasize the character of our table.

There’s one very important thing: I always choose all additional accessories to match the porcelain set. As I mentioned before, this isn’t your typical baroque rococo! That’s why the other accessories need to strike a balance between modernity and classic style. They absolutely cannot be minimalist or ultra-designer—that would be a mistake.

I’ve selected candle holders for you mainly from Italy, which we’ve had in our collection for many years. As I mentioned, they don’t represent a distinctly antique or modernist style. They’ll blend perfectly with the rest of the set.

Glasses, stemware, decanters – product overview

Glass is, of course, the most popular choice, but true prestige comes from crystal. For many years, it has brought elegance and luxury to our tables. And while it may not be as rare as it once was, it still has its devoted admirers today.

Crystals were more sought after in the 20th century, especially in countries where they were scarce. Today, this material is considered a luxury good. My favorite manufacturer is. A German producing top-quality crystal products.

Heavy crystal – light design

And many of them feature gold-plated accents, making them a perfect match for our entire festive tableware set! It’s a wonderful combination, so I’m intentionally including this brand.

Arnstad’s collections include glasses and decanters that are heavily sculpted and gilded. But I think they would be too showy and heavy. So I chose pieces that are more sensual, unique, and light.

If one can speak of lightness when it comes to massive crystal pieces, I tried to find a touch of delicacy. Germany has been producing quality crystalware for many years, so this brand simply has to grace our holiday tables.

Christmas tableware – a wide range of accessories

We have porcelain, cutlery, and candle holders, so now it’s time for the remaining items. These include containers and tissue holders—I hope we haven’t overlooked this detail. I’ve selected those that, of course, feature gold accents and in some way complement the overall festive table setting.

Tissue holders, or napkin rings, are a charming and fairly common holiday decoration, but most of them look almost identical. My suggestion is to go for very.

And just like in the other cases, they’re neither too modern nor old-fashioned—because that’s exactly what our entire holiday tableware is like. Cheerful, prestigious, a bit classic with a hint of whimsy!

Salt and pepper shakers – an absolute must-have

Exactly—if you want your table to look impressive and complete, you need the right salt and pepper accessories. And here you go… endless options, no gimmicks, no mediocre products. Only niche manufacturers, giving you a quality edge for your holiday table. Because quality on your table should—and can—make all the difference!

I deliberately didn’t choose brass or gold-plated metal here. We already have plenty of that on our table, so once again, we’ll go with porcelain. A festive table setting simply must include luxurious salt and pepper shakers.

Portuguese inspirations

I’ve chosen the brand for you—this Portuguese manufacturer is renowned worldwide. Their collection features plenty of bold, unconventional designs. So, it’s not just classic, traditional porcelain pieces, but also a variety of creative variations, which I believe are crafted by a younger generation of designers.

Some of these items break away from the style we’ve seen so far. But they still retain at least a hint of gold. It all needs to remain cohesive.

Festive tableware with an exquisite cake stand

There’s no rose without thorns, and there’s no Christmas without cake! That’s a given, so I had to include a few high-quality cake stands. They certainly take up quite a bit of space on the table, but they’re truly wonderful! Most of them are made in Italy—a synonym for luxury and top quality.

Some made of glass, others of crystal, will be among the brightest highlights on your holiday table. And it’s no exaggeration to say that these are truly unique cake stands, ones you won’t find among domestic manufacturers.

Italians have a passion for beautiful design, shaped by their country’s location and the blending of cultures and people. Art from around the world has found its pinnacle in southern Europe. That’s why thousands of workshops continue to create the most exquisite pieces to this day.

With a lid or without?

But without straying too far from the topic, I’m sharing a few open cake stands as well as ones with lids. Both options are perfect! I’m showing examples with gilded accents, as that’s the character of the entire holiday set. But I’ve also chosen some plain glass pieces without gold, which will match every part of the collection.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that some cake stands are 80% glass, with just the legs, for example, being gilded. It’s very important not to overdo the gold on the entire table. That’s why we choose products that feature just a touch of gold.

And this is a great way to put together an entire holiday tableware set that exudes prestige and style.

Tablecloths, runners, and placemats to complete your masterpiece

We basically have most of the products, but we’re missing a festive table setting. That’s where the Italian brand Claudia Barbari comes in. This designer has specialized for many years in creating luxurious tablecloths.

All are crafted from the highest quality materials and feature signature studs. The artist puts a great deal of handwork into her creations, resulting in a truly beautiful tablecloth. We value this, which is why our collaboration has lasted so long.

Italian artist blends various techniques

Claudia also creates incredible throws and blankets, but that’s a separate story. She uses cotton, cashmere, wool, silk, and finally linen in her production. These materials ensure a prestigious, high-end quality, which is why her products maintain their value.

Her range also includes smaller placemats, table runners, and napkin rings. It’s a broad collection that lets us choose something truly unique.

I opted for tablecloths adorned with striking sequins and rhinestones. This is a key piece of the puzzle, adding that essential golden touch. It’s a deliberate choice that completes the whole arrangement, making the festive table setting truly complete. Claudia Barbari creates truly exceptional pieces—our clients have been using her products for years.

Festive tableware – summary

I don’t think we need to add more products, as our table is already abundant and beautiful. Overloading the table during the holidays is an increasingly common mistake. After all, in addition to the items mentioned above, there are also dishes and other accessories to consider.

We need to remember not to clutter the table with too many items. The best solution—which you often use anyway—is to serve things in stages. After all, the cake stand, carafe, or coffee set can make their appearance on the table later on, as the gathering progresses.

These are simple solutions that will bring us many benefits. The most important thing is that our holiday table setting pleases us. After all, it’s we who should feel comfortable in our own space with a beautifully decorated table. And that’s what I wish for all of you.

Holiday tableware can bring joy for many years, but it must be of high quality. This is an absolute requirement for a well-made set. The most important aspect is that it can serve many generations of our family.

If you need inspiration for your holiday tableware, just write to me—I’ll take care of it: