The Italian art of the table: entertaining with elegance

Setting a beautiful table in the Italian manner means blending refined materials with the warmth of a generous welcome. From the placement of the cutlery to the choice of lighting, discover the codes of Mediterranean hospitality and the signature pieces to compose your exceptional table.

The Italian art of the table: a philosophy of entertaining

The Italian art of the table means far more than a place setting: it is a way of welcoming, inherited from the great houses of the Peninsula, where the beauty of the décor always serves the pleasure of sharing.

Convivialità as a Mediterranean art of living

In Italy, entertaining is known as convivialità: a generosity in which the table becomes the stage for reunions. The true centrepiece is not the object but the moment, and the entire setting is designed to put guests at ease.

Restraint, elegance and noble materials: the Italian aesthetic codes

The Italian aesthetic favours a luminous restraint over ostentation, with a pronounced taste for noble materials — patinated brass, fine porcelain, silver, artisanal earthenware. It is this very restraint that creates the impression of true luxury.

The difference between an everyday table and a table set for entertaining

The everyday table remains simple and functional; the table set for entertaining, by contrast, is composed like a painting, orchestrating linens, glassware, serving pieces and light. Understanding this nuance is the first key to entertaining with elegance.

The fundamentals of a beautiful table: linens, tableware and cutlery

Before any pursuit of effect, a beautiful table rests on carefully considered foundations: linens, tableware and cutlery form the grammar to master in order to set an elegant table.

Table linens: tablecloth, table runner and napkins in harmony

The linens set the tone: a washed linen tablecloth, a table runner in muted shades, napkins folded with care should harmonise without blending together. Natural fibres are preferred, their drape immediately evoking the Italian art of hospitality.

Choosing your tableware: brass plates, porcelain and artisanal earthenware

Tableware is the heart of the setting. Luxury tableware in brass brings a warm glow and a sculptural presence, while porcelain and artisanal earthenware add finesse and character. Discover our selection in the Art of the Table category, where every piece is designed to last.

Correct placement of cutlery and rules of etiquette

• Forks are placed to the left of the plate, tines facing upwards.
• Knives and the soup spoon are set to the right, the knife blade facing the plate.
• Dessert cutlery is laid above the plate, horizontally.
• Glasses are aligned at the top right, from largest to smallest.
• Cutlery is arranged from the outside in, in the order of service.

Glassware and serving: enhancing every dish

Glasses and serving pieces extend the harmony of the table: it is here that a refined table setting takes on its full dimension.

Choosing your glasses: water, wine and harmony with the table

Plan for at least a water glass, a red wine glass and a white wine glass, aligned by order of size. Understated crystal, without overworked engraving, lets the light play freely and converses with the reflections of the brass.

Trays and serving pieces in silver and brass

A beautiful tray structures the service and draws the eye. Our rectangular silver tray holds carafes, petits fours or canapés with discreet elegance.

The tea and coffee service to extend the meal in the Italian manner

In the Italian manner, the meal is gladly extended around a coffee or an infusion. The World of Tea category brings together exceptional pieces, such as this Art Deco porcelain teapot, to close a dinner with refinement.

Creating an atmosphere: light, centrepiece and décor

An exceptional table is recognised by its atmosphere as much as by its tableware: light and décor transform a meal into a suspended moment.

Soft lighting: candlesticks, tealight holders and lanterns

Nothing matches the warmth of candlelight. Brass candlesticks, iridescent tealight holders and vintage lanterns create an enveloping glow. Explore these pieces in the Lighting category to compose a soft, lived-in scenography.

Composing an elegant centrepiece without overcrowding

An elegant centrepiece is built around a single statement piece, without obstructing conversation. The centrepiece candlestick plays this role beautifully: it draws the eye while staying at the height of conversation between guests.

Playing with heights, flowers and symmetry

Vary the heights with slender candlesticks and low floral arrangements, in a relaxed symmetry. A few well-chosen flowers and a clean line are always preferable to a disorderly profusion.

Harmonising materials and colours with taste

The secret of an accomplished table lies in the harmony of materials and shades: the subtle art of pairing without uniformity.

Pairing brass, silver and porcelain

Warm brass, cool silver and immaculate porcelain answer one another when dosed with precision. To extend this harmony beyond the table, the Home Decoration category offers mirrors and objects echoing these noble materials.

Colour palette: muted tones, golden hues and touches of colour

Favour a base of muted tones — ecru, taupe, deep green — warmed with golden accents. A single touch of vivid colour, on the napkins or a tealight holder, is enough to add depth.

Avoiding lapses in taste: clutter, unintentional mismatching

• Avoid accumulating too many decorative objects: let the table breathe.
• Deliberate mismatching is chic, while imposed mismatching looks careless.
• Limit the number of dominant materials to three to preserve coherence.

The eye for detail inherent in Craftsmanship guides each of these choices towards the right balance.

Setting the table to suit the occasion

To each occasion its register: knowing how to adjust the level of refinement is a mark of elegance.

Sunday family lunch: relaxed yet refined

For Sunday lunch, the setting stays informal without sacrificing care: a table runner, beautiful earthenware plates, a single candlestick. The mood remains easy, the table stays lovely.

A dinner for entertaining and grand occasions: the register of refinement

A dinner for entertaining allows the full display: an immaculate tablecloth, aligned glassware, brass plates, silver serving pieces and candlelight. It is the occasion to fully express the fine art of the table.

The festive table (Christmas, weddings): measured Italian splendour

For grand celebrations, splendour makes its entrance — but always with measure. An exceptional table is built up gradually by investing in key pieces to be rediscovered each year, rather than in a disposable décor.

Composing your exceptional table with Maison Imperiale

A memorable table is built over time, piece by piece, around objects chosen to endure for years.

Investing in durable, artisanal pieces rather than ephemeral ones

It is better to acquire a few noble pieces gradually than to multiply soulless purchases. A beautiful plate, a silver tray, a patinated candlestick will pass through countless gatherings, gaining in character.

A selection of signature pieces: brass plates, silver tray, candlesticks

• Brass plates, in large and medium sizes, for a setting of rare presence.
• A silver tray for serving drinks and sweet treats.
• The large brass candlestick to punctuate the table with its warm light.

Care advice for noble materials (brass, silver, porcelain)

• Brass is cleaned with a soft cloth; you may let its patina settle in or revive it with lemon and bicarbonate of soda.
• Silver should be polished regularly and stored away from humidity to prevent oxidation.
• Fine porcelain should be washed by hand, in lukewarm water, away from thermal shocks.

For the most exclusive pieces, let yourself be inspired by our Rarity universe. Compose your table with complete confidence: free delivery on orders over £150 and returns accepted within 30 days. Discover the Art of the Table collection now and give your gatherings the elegance of a true Italian art of living.