Talk:Table setting

Image

I will be uploading an image tonight of a single place setting, please feel free to critique and make suggestions. KillerChihuahua^?!? 14:32, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

• Dessert fork and spoon can be set above the plate, fork pointing right, to match the other forks, spoon pointing left. never ever ever do the spoon and fork go at the top at a form al dinner, they go on the inside of the setting fork on left spoon on right, but if at all possible only the fork is used (in the right hand), as only babies put spoons on their mouths Giano | talk 15:01, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

That's how I have them set for my pciture, the "less formal" setting. If you want me to move them let me know. I also set a place for a casual dinner, with Salad fork, Dinner fork, Plate, Knife, spoon (tea); one glass and coffee cup and saucer. For the formal picture I have salad fork, dinner fork, charger/plate/underplate/cream soup, knife, soup spoon. At upper left, bread plate and knife, and salt cellar and spoon. At upper right, water, red wine, champagne glasses. Tell me now what changes are desired. Ask questions. KillerChihuahua^?!? 16:33, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Oh and I have seafood forks... I was thinking of including them. I have no place spoons, no ice tea spoons, no ice cream forks, etc. in the sterling. Ask if you want something in the setting picture and I'll see what I can do. KillerChihuahua^?!? 16:36, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Why don't you do it exactly as it is done in The States, and I'll do one exactly as it's done formally in Britain - informally is probably about the same. The British are split 50/50 on fish knives some think them smart others less smart so no one is ever going to completely agree. Giano | talk 17:15, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Because a) I don't have all the pieces, and b) it varies. KillerChihuahua^?!? 17:23, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Well just do whatever you do, according to my book (published 2003) the Iced tea spoons are only used in southern US, my book also says it is not correct to use an ice cream spoon at a formal diner you must use a spoon and fork, and I was always taught to use the spoon only if the ice-cteam was melted! So take your pick, that's why I think we need a formal one of both sides of the Atlantic Giano | talk 17:43, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Well I'll do what I can with what I have, but as there are variations I am more than willing to move pieces around and add and subtract depending upon the pieces I have available. Out of curiousity, you are planning to post an image or two also? KillerChihuahua^?!? 17:46, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Didn't come out as well as I'd hoped, here 'tis:

Semi-formal table setting

. KillerChihuahua^?!? 15:15, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

And darnit just noticed forgot to move the seafood fork... ah well. KillerChihuahua^?!? 15:16, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

Hello? I want to know if I should bother taking another pic without the oyster fork, or if other changes are desired. Changing image link to image to gain attention. KillerChihuahua^?!? 12:40, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

KillerChihuahua, I think we should do one semi-formal that is basic. One semi-formal that is loaded. One formal that is basic and one that is loaded. I'm busy trying to calm down content dispute so I cannot be more specific now. You need to go ahead with out me if you're in a hurry. FloNight ^talk 12:55, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Nope no problem, have fun with your content dispute, and when you have time let me know exactly what you want and I will attempt to provide it. KillerChihuahua^?!? 13:08, 2 July 2006 (UTC)

Different for breakfast, luncheon, and dinner

Different table setting based on different times of the day. Also different if the meal is served or placed on the table by the host/hostess. I'll start with the most formal (served dinner) and then the most common (informal dinner). FloNight ^talk 15:22, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

• Do we need the section "Handy Mnemonics"?You would need to be a complete moron to need that, and they are not that easy to remember either. Giano | talk 17:19, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Put the Mnemonics back! Call me "a moron" all you want: sums up how much you know about etiquette. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 88.153.173.55 (talk • contribs) .

Removed unsourced opinion and insult

I removed the unsourced opinion and insult. The way the article is written now, the reference I added appears to support text introduce by other editors. --FloNight 13:23, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

I reverted back to a version that is well sourced. FloNight 13:38, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Please add where a knife rest goes

If anyone knows, please add information about the placement of a knife rest. Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.100.139.207 (talk) 19:08, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

Western Bias

Why does the article begin with a neutral tone but actually is TOTALLY western culture biased? I don't mind if the article only focuses on western culture's table settings but that needs to be made known. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.146.10.166 (talk) 21:05, 16 September 2009 (UTC)

Feel free to add information regarding other cultures table settings. Gmcbjames (talk) 16:10, 11 August 2011 (UTC)

Etiquette for proper table setting image

Here is a great explanation of a / formal table setting —Preceding unsigned comment added by Forkman2 (talk • contribs) 00:18, 2 December 2010 (UTC)

Image gallery

Thank you for the addition of multiple images Hopefulromntic. I have rolled back to the gallery format rather than having the images line the right side of the article - as the image clutter is beyond the WP:MOS for images - especially since at this point the article is a stub article and the images overwhelm the article. Please don't rollback the image gallery Hopefulromntic prior to a discussion on this issue on this talk page.

I have enlarged the images in the gallery as this may be a concern and have titled the gallery section Formal dining. This will allow for images for informal dining to be used. If the other images on the page should be in the gallery, feel free to move them, especially the "Victorian image at the top of the page." I would suggest a more colorful image for the first image of the article in the future when one becomes available.

For image guidelines see: Wikipedia:Image use policy. Multiple images are discouraged as this is the purpose of Wikipedia Commons. However, since the images illustrate the article, I believe the use of a gallery is appropriate - see WP:Galleries. Gmcbjames (talk) 16:59, 10 October 2011 (UTC)

Laying a Table

The common English/British term is "Laying a Table", which I am adding to help searchers. The Article should certainly be largely divided into sections for different cultures; for example, if I recall aright, American practice differs from that found in Europe. 94.30.84.71 (talk) 07:23, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Lobster pick?

In the first image lobster picks and formal dinners are coupled. At a formal dinner a lobster pick would never be used. The lobster would either be served with the meat ready scooped, or as a mousse. It's doubtful at a formal dinner that a lobster in its shell would ever be served anyway as it would be far too filling for a fish course and never be served as the entree. Giano (talk) 11:32, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

According to the Wikimedia Commons page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Silbertafel_Reiss_3_rem.jpg, the photo was taken by User:AndreasPraefcke. I am notifying him about your concern and hope that he will respond here. Sincerely, BeenAroundAWhile (talk) 13:18, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

Sorry, since I am not an expert in 19th-century table manners, I really cannot say anything about that. If Giano is indeed right, I guess the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim just got it wrong in their display. It's probably no use asking the museum, however, since they are surely too busy sueing me and Wikimedia for uploading/hosting these photos (see the latest news about this museum). --AndreasPraefcke (talk) 18:47, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

• Yes, indeed they got it wrong! Nothing to do with the 19th century - some of us at least once a year still dine properly. Where shall I start? Those horrible silvery wine goblets would never be seen at a formal dinner. One has a wine glass, one for every course, placed just above the point of the knife for that course. The wine bottle should not be on the table at all; and we won't even speculate as to what the things like miniature wine coolers are used for; although, anyone who's ever dined in an officers' mess, with long speeches, will have a suggestion. The only time such a place setting may be acceptable is in a Germanic hunting lodge, but then lobster would not be served or ice on the table required. Regarding their [1] law suit - Good Luck with that, I would ditch their photos. Giano (talk) 19:30, 13 October 2016 (UTC)

Oh yeah, I forgot, if you using silver salvers to denote places, there should be a surtout de table in the center of the table with flowers, fruit and (only if evening) candles. Candles and there sticks should only be on the table in the evening - never, ever, ever at luncheon. Here endeth the lesson on etiquette by Giano.

More errors

This depiction of a formal place setting is ridiculous. Such a formal meal should never be served on so narrow a table. Nor would a candlestick be placed on the end of the table. Such a formal meal requires a far wider table, probably with a surtout de table in the centre or a least large floral arrangement and candles etc. The person opposite at, a formal meal, should never be so close that conversation is possible. At this distance one could spit in their soup! Also, in reality, such an array of cutlery and glass would be deemed ostentatious and vulgar in civilised society. As for a green napkin - never in a million years, napkins on formal occasions are white, no other colour is acceptable. The napkin ring is even more vulgar as it implies the napkin is going to be used again. Where are these images coming from? Giano (talk) 20:38, 8 February 2020 (UTC)