Table Decorations. 5^ 



ments that taste has to achieve. If very dwarf, they are insignificant, except 

 to the guests beside them ; if of medium height, and closely ornamented 

 with flowers and foliage, they intercept all vis-a-vis communication, and 

 destroy the effect which ought to be produced by the toict ensemble of the 

 table ; if tall, so that a portion of the floral decoration is above the heads 

 of the guests, and the remainder on the level of the table, the effect of those 

 separated portions of decoration is extraordinarily weakened. This design, 

 we think, avoids all these defects. Though of medium height, the upper 

 part is of a form not to obstruct the eye of the guest in any direction ; yet 

 the floral decoration is sufficiently raised to entirely rescue it from being 

 considered insignificant, even by the guests most distant from it. 



The figure may be thus briefly described : A glass stalk rises perpen- 

 dicularly from the centre of a circular glass mirror ; and, from the outer 

 edges of this mirror, glass chains connect it with the top of the centra! 

 stalk. These glass chains are not by any means small and fragile, but 

 sturdy-looking links, stouter than those of iron that are used by wagoners 

 for yoking horses ; and they, not being tight, give a graceful and easy bend 

 to what is, in reality, a brace. The outer rim of this mirror is very taste- 

 fully dressed with flowers and foliage ; and a little, but very little, of these 

 is laid against the three chains, which form so important a part of the 

 design ; the whole requiring very little of either flowers or foliage. 



The flowers used are blue and white iris and double narcissus, foliage of 

 the same, and a few ferns and variegated leaves in character. For the 

 border, small plants of lily of the valley and .of ferns, intermixed with ivy. 

 Side devices, rather smaller than the centre, may have crimson and rose 

 rhododendrons, with buds and foliage of the same ; a few variegated leaves ; 

 Virginia-creeper leaves round the top border ; and some maiden-hair fern. 



The frame of this device, or epergne, is of solid glass, and rests on a 

 plateau of silvered glass, ornamented with glass chain-work ; and there are 

 three corresponding chains of glass from the top to the base. 



The specimens shown were intended for a large banquet or buffet. The 

 proportions would require to be reduced for an ordinaiy dinner-table. 



Another dinner-table decoration consisted of three circles of looking- 

 glass, having an edging of ferns, lycopods, and a few flowers, interspersed; 

 with a few taller fronds, and pieces of the white-variegated Cyperus 



