Knowing Your Tableware:
5 of Our Most Beautiful Ranges for the Perfect Table Setting
Talking with customers in our shops it’s amazing how passionate people can feel about the perfect mug. We all know that feeling when a cup feels the right shape and size for your hand - the perfect mug can enhance our enjoyment of the perfect cuppa, the same as the perfect plate can enhance our enjoyment of each meal. We spend a lot of time eating and what we eat can form part of our identity, is often full of memories and family history, so finding the right tableware for your home can be a really exciting experience.
We’ve spent years building up our favourite ranges of ceramics at Fig1. Here are some of our most beautiful settings and why we love them.
Jules Stoneware Plates by Bloomingville
The Jules range of stoneware plates by Bloomingville is one of our favourite ranges. The glaze is reactive, which means the patterns develop in the kiln - no two plates are therefore the same. The Jules range has a weight to it and the plates are a flatter shape which gives the range a modern feel, however the umber and blue pattination has a retro hint to it too.
Feast Tableware by Ottolenghi: Colourful Bowls, Plates and Cups
This is the beautiful and bright wow factor range of plates - you can’t miss it and it comes with a hefty side serving of good vibes. Feast Tableware by Ottolenghi has been developed by the chef together with his creative partner Italian artist Ivo Bisignano, Some of the bigger serving pieces can be paired with your existing tableware to make a statement when you bring food to the table, or it looks even better as a complete collection. This range is also stoneware but is thinner than other stoneware so has a lighter feel. The cups in this range are handleless which gives them a particularly continental feel - perfect for strong black coffee.
Ama Splatter Pattern Plates: Simple but Effective Tableware
Simple but gorgeous the Ama splatter pattern plates by Nkuku are striking but effective. Also a thinner and lighter weight range of tableware, these plates are tactile with an organic shape which makes them great to hold. The splatter pattern is applied by hand making each one unique. As well as being hand made by artisans, they are fairly traded so you are supporting crafts people in other countries when buying this range. The neutral colours of this range really shows off your food, while the unusual pattern means the plates are still a talking point. This range is hard not to fall in love with!
Rose and Tulipani Plates: Colourful Impact at a Great Price
The Rose and Tulipani range is made in Italy and comes in at a great price. It comes in a glorious range of colours which look great mixed and matched, or as a simple setting on its own. The plates are slightly textured which makes them nice in the hand. Being Italian, they do a Cappuccino style cup which feels beautiful for all milky drinks in your hand, and the cutest espresso coffee cups with saucers. The unusual square plates are great for serving tapas-style dishes for a great casual dining experience.
Neri Tableware by Bloomingville
This striking black tableware by Bloomingville is a real show-stopper. Dramatic black with a starburst pattern, the glaze is low-sheen so these plates are all about the texture. Contrasting well with your food they’re perfect for an opulent feel on your table - we simply adore them. The range is reminiscent of Japanese tableware, full of sophistication and beauty.
FAQs
What are Stoneware Plates and Why are they Good?
Stoneware is a broad term for ceramic that is fired at a higher temperature. Stoneware tableware is non porous and thicker than ceramic tableware, giving it a more durable quality that is often desired for everyday use at home. Stoneware tableware overall is an easy to care for option for your dining table.
Reactive glazes - what are they?
A reactive glaze that reacts when fired, creating a completely unique finish to the product. During firing, the glaze undergoes changes such as oxidation or melting - giving it a unique variegation to the colour and pattern. Most common on stoneware, the addition of a reactive glaze adds extra depth and colour to your dinnerware.
What are “Organic shapes” in ceramics and why are they fashionable?
Organic shapes add a sense of nature to your table. Stemming from the unusual shapes found in nature such as pebbles, plants and pools, organic ceramic tableware often has a tactile feel to it - adding a beautifully rustic feel to your dining table. Each gorgeous organic tableware piece adds a unique, asymmetric touch to your home decor, we think it really adds something to your home decor!
Contemporary or classic? How to choose tableware that matches your home aesthetic.
Take a look around your home. Are you more of a modern decor person or do you adore the classic interior look? We’ve always loved having a wide range of tableware of all designs in our stores. From ceramic plates to stoneware bowls and mugs, choose a tableware set that compliments your home decor. If you don’t shy away from a splash of colour, try the Rose and Tulipani colourful stoneware table sets or the Ottolenghi Feast stoneware dinner set however if you’re a fan of a more sleek, modern look try the Japanese inspired Neri stoneware tableware from Bloomingville or the Ama splatter range - a unique black splattered white clay tableware range from Nkuku.
What to look for when choosing dinnerware.
We recommend looking at a number of things when buying such as the weight, if you’re a fan of a heavy mug or plate, stoneware dinner sets will be a great choice - they add a solid, hefty feel that really adds to the quality of the dinnerware. How is the set sold? From our Jules stoneware collection to the Rose and Tulipani collections, all our tableware is open stock, meaning if you smash a piece you can simply replace rather than forking out for a whole new set. Is it comfortable to hold and how does it feel when placed on the table? If you’re looking to buy a lot of tableware we recommend ordering a test piece - a mug or plate which can help you get a feel for the tableware before you put your order in.