330 TABLE EQUIPMENT

Materials. Flowers are the most popular of all table decora-
tions because of their loveliness. Although flowers are ordinarily
placed in the center of the table they may be put elsewhere. In-
teresting variations are a bouquet at each of the four corners of a
square table, or a nosegay, which is to be worn later, at each plate.
A long narrow table may have all the flowers along one side and
the covers along the other. Low arrangements are desirable as
they do not obstruct the view. When vines, leaves, flowers, or
berries are placed directly on the table without containers, they
should be held to a definite organized composition, with the great-
est mass at the center and less at subordinate places.

Many special flower containers for tables are now on the market.
Those with curved lines look best on round tables. Some re-
ceptacles come in sections so that a small or large arrangement can
be made with different aggregates of parts. The sections can be
separated and placed around a central arrangement of some kind
or distributed on the table.

Fruit or vegetables combined with seedpods or green leaves also
make interesting table decorations, supplying rich, warm colors
that are especially plfeasing in autumn and winter. See page 381.
Artichokes, grapes, acorns, leaves, and other plant materials
covered with silver paint make attractive table decoration; they
look well with the silverware. Whatever is used to decorate the
table must appear immaculate and appetizing.

When flowers, potted plants, or leaves are not available, other
materials should be supplied. The shops sometimes have clever
centerpieces of glass or plastics. Infrequently artificial flowers
made of glass, wire, or other odd materials can be found that are
so well designed as to form desirable centerpieces. Flowers or
fruit that could never have grown on land or sea because they are
pure design are usually good looking. One offering is an orange-
colored pottery pineapple decorated with diamond-shaped sections,
each one bearing a small tin rosette and sprouting shiny leaves of
tin at the top. Mexican pottery fruit and gourds both plain and
decorated gayly with dots and dashes are cheering. Lest this men-
tion of artificial fruit and flowers be misunderstood, it is necessary
to state that nearly all artificial fruit and flowers should not be
used on the table or elsewhere, because they are mere imitations
of natural fruits and flowers.