Art Deco Dining Accessories
Art deco dining accessories bring geometric elegance and silver polish to the table, offering practical adornment that turns everyday meals into formal occasions.
Art Deco Dining Accessories
When you search for art deco dining accessories, you encounter table pieces spanning from the nineteen-tens through the nineteen-fifties, with a strong concentration from the nineteen-thirties. These items range from solid sterling silver napkin rings and menu holders to sauce boats, serving dishes, and knife rests.
The objects on this page reflect both British and continental origins, including French silver plate and Scandinavian silver gilt work. You are most likely to meet cased sets of silver napkin rings alongside occasional serving pieces like asparagus sets and lazy susans.
How they were made
Silversmiths utilised solid sterling silver and silver plate as the primary structural materials for these table pieces, shaping them through traditional casting and smithing techniques. Makers applied hallmarks to verify assay office origins and silver standards.
Colour entered the repertoire through guilloche enamel and contrasting velvet or silk linings inside presentation cases. Bakelite appeared in sets of knife rests, marking the industrial shift toward durable synthetic resins during the period.
Art Deco Dining Accessories Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for art deco dining accessories among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Horseshoe napkin rings bring equestrian luck straight to the dining table, ensuring every guest dines under the sign of fortune.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the precision of the metalwork, the weight of the silver, and the sophistication of the decorative motifs. Pieces carrying distinct maker marks and clear city hallmarks command greater attention than unmarked wares.
The integrity of applied enamel, the preservation of original fitted presentation cases, and the presence of uncommon forms like aesthetic designs or specialised serving sets distinguish superior examples from standard production.
R. E. Stone·Christofle Gallia·David Andersen·Walker and Hall·Henry Wilkinson
The Art Deco Dining Accessories Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver by mass, providing durability for tableware while maintaining a bright metallic lustre.
- Silver plate
- A layer of silver applied to a base metal core, offering the visual appeal of solid silver at a different scale of production.
- Guilloche enamel
- A decorative technique where translucent enamel is layered over engine-turned metal engraving, creating geometric patterns beneath the colour.
- Knife rests
- Small supports placed beside plates to keep cutlery elevated above the tablecloth between courses.
- Assay mark
- A stamp indicating the purity of precious metal, applied by an official office after testing the item.
Art Deco Dining Accessories: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use napkin rings at dinner?
Napkin rings identify individual seating places or hold rolled napkins between meals. They add formal structure to table settings without requiring complex folding.
Place them to the left of the dinner plate or directly above it when setting out silver accessories for guests.
What are menu holders used for?
Menu holders stand upright on the dining table to display the evening bill of fare or place cards for guests. They keep information visible during multi-course meals.
These small silver stands coordinate with other tabletop pieces to maintain a unified decorative scheme.
How do I care for silver table accessories?
Silver requires gentle cleaning with specialised polish to remove tarnish while preserving hallmarks and fine surface details. Store items in dry environments away from direct moisture.
Using lined presentation cases helps protect silver gilt and enamel surfaces from unnecessary friction.
How do I date these silver pieces?
British silver items carry date letters within their hallmarks that correspond to specific assay office registry years. Comparing these stamps against historical charts provides the exact year of manufacture.
Stylistic cues, such as nineteen-thirties geometric lines or earlier aesthetic movement motifs, help confirm the period when hallmarks are faint.