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1920s Table Settings

The 1920s ushered in an era of prosperity for the American middle class, as working people suddenly found that they could aspire to owning their own homes and cars and, by doing so, achieve a new level of social status. Dinner parties, once the province of the wealthy, became a popular form of home entertainment for American families. During this decade, industries producing dinnerware, silverware and glassware thrived, and women learned to become experienced hostesses -- thanks, in part, to a writer named Emily Post.

Emily Post and "Etiquette"
- Emily Post's "Etiquette" book featured instructions on correctly setting a table.
  
  In 1922, a book entitled "Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home" (known as "Etiquette" for short) became a runaway bestseller. Written by socialite Emily Post, the book fulfilled a demand created by the thriving American middle class, as Post instructed her readers, many of whom had never entertained on such a grand scale before, about formal and informal entertaining. Because of "Etiquette," women learned how to select china, silverware and glassware for a dinner party and how to properly set a table for any occasion.
China and Silverware
- Colored glassware and French Havilland china were popular in the 1920s.
  
  While those who could afford it still purchased their sterling silver flatware and imported china at jewelers and specialty shops, many 1920s American women availed themselves of the catalogs published by Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Wards, which offered beautifully-made, mass-produced imported china dinnerware, as well as silver-plated flatware, all at a fraction of the cost of more expensive name brands. Sears prided itself on offering "Haviland" and "Limoges" china from France and advertised elegant silver-plated flatware designed to look like real sterling silver.
Popular patterns
- Many hostesses owned at least one set of ornately patterned European china.
  
  American middle-class families wanted affordable luxury in the 1920s, and after World War I the European design influence was stronger than ever. The height of elegance was to own a set of French- or German-made china, in lavish floral patterns rimmed in 14k gold leaf. Patterns from Japan were popular as well, and many American hostesses owned at least one tea set made of Japanese lusterware, a type of delicate china with a lustrous, translucent glaze.
Glassware
- 1920s American glass companies produced beautifully etched glassware.
  
  Glassware became a popular alternative to china during the 1920s, as American companies such as Fostoria and Indiana Glass produced some of their most attractive place settings. Also popular were fan-shaped or square-shaped glass snack sets, which consisted of a small dessert or appetizer plate indented in one corner to hold a matching glass or cup. Popular patterns included grape leaf and floral designs, as well as a knobby pattern known as "hobnail" glass. Fostoria's "American," a pattern featuring heavily faceted cubes, was a particular bestseller during this Art Deco era of design.

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