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This pretty little napkin ring is “giving me”, as they say, Viktor & Rolf Spring Summer 2010. Both are at once: feminine, delicate, bold, and surreal. The inspiration behind Viktor & Rolf’s cut-out tulle creations? “With the credit crunch and everybody cutting back, we decided to cut [holes into] tulle ball gowns,” says Rolf. The inspiration behind Urquiola’s napkin ring? Maybe the rolling hills of her native Oviedo, Spain.

Manufacturer: Rosenthal, Germany
Material: Porcelain

[via goodnight cruel world]

Black flatware… 1 cool point. Matte black flatware… 2 cool points. Stainless steel matte black flatware… cool point overload.

Produced in Europe
Manufacturer: TableArt
6-piece place setting available here.
Other black matte flatware and kitchen utensils available here.

Pieter Stockmans brings a touch of modernity to your favorite Old World Champagnes with this sleek porcelain cooler. And when not in use as a cooler, maybe it could work as a vase for billowing tulips or lacecap hydrangeas.

Designer: Pieter Stockmans
Manufacturer: Studio Pieter Stockmans
12.6 x 9.4 inches

Svpply is fast becoming one of my favorite sites. Kris told me about it a while ago, and I swear every time I check it out there’s about a dozen things I add to my bookmarks. If you get a chance, take a look (Svpply). This time, one of those dozen was this anatomical plate.

Design: Lisa Turner, 2009
Manufacturer: The New English, England
Material: Bone China

Anatomica 10″ Plate, $74.00, Buy it here.
Anatomica TNE Teacup & Saucer, $95.00, Buy it here.

I was intrigued by the design of this mouth-blown, Czech crystal glass thinking the bulbous bits were some modern use of animal heads – tapirs perhaps. As it turns out, the concept dates back to the 16th century when most people ate with their hands and the bulbous bits, known as Pupek (dots), kept the glass from slipping out of greasy hands. What’s old really is new.

6.9 inches tall
Special order

Whether you’ve solved ‘the cube’ or not, you might get a kick out of these salt and pepper mills.

These salt and pepper mills are the ultimate tabletop tribute to the 80’s icon. Each cube is built around a high-quality ceramic grinding mill. The top layer of the cube rotates to operate the mill. The action of grinding the pepper or salt has the same feel and sound as the classic cube puzzle.

2.25″ square.

Available as a pair ($34.00) or individually ($17.00).

Happy New Year everyone!

Raise a glass and start the new year off with a toast—in six different languages. Each 4-ounce champagne flute is etched with “cheers” in Chinese, German, French, English, Italian, and Japanese. Set of six comes with one of each language.

2″Dia. x 9.75″T.

This double-walled bucket will keep your bubbly ice-cold inside without condensation on the outside. Plus, it’s on sale, which is always nice.

-Double-walled construction
-Matte finish stainless steel
-Avoid abrasive cleaners

Whether for you or someone on your gift list, these wooden utensils would be a nice set to add to a tabletop setting.

Handcarved from fallen Pennsylvania hardwoods, the sweeping, modernist lines are a perfect counterpoint to the minor variations from piece to piece that show the “hand” of the artisan. Set includes Jam Spoon, Chutney Fork and Spreader. Rinse and wipe down after each use.

6″ Long (Spoon), 6 7/8″ Long (Fork), 6 7/8″ Long (Spreader)

By the man who is known for his simple and inspirational designs, this coffee and tea maker is compact and functional, and luckily, now available in the UK. Now, the question is, who carries it in the US?

“…the Coffee + Tea Maker has the capacity to serve six cups of tea or coffee. The water is filtered within ten minutes, passing through a double activated charcoal filter. There is also a one hour automatic off function.”

0.76 litre capacity.
Dimensions: 239h x 170w x 120 mm deep

For your cyclist friends (as long as they own a bike, they count)…

Materials: Compressed wood with a high gloss melamine finish
Dimensions: H9.5cm x D0.4cm

[via Cool Material]

Inscribed with the names of French cheeses in the geographic area where they are produced, this France-shaped board might be just the thing to get for your favorite turophile. (I had to look that word up, btw.)

set includes a Laguiole Cheese Knife with a stainless steel blade.

Personally, I think the Mustache Napkin Rings have a bit more flair to them, but these chalkboard(ish) rings are simple enough to grace a streamlined tabletop. Might be a fun gift for a someone that loves throwing dinner parties.

set of 4 wood napkin rings with black matte surface, white pencil and sponge included.

Whoa, talk about a steal of a deal. Snap this 6-piece wine set up as a thoughtful gift for that friend or family member that loves playing host, or maybe for yourself if you plan on throwing some holiday get-togethers. If you or the giftee prefer something of the stronger sort, consider the 5-piece shot glass set or 4-piece martini set.

6-piece set: four 9 oz.; 4″H wine glasses, one 52 oz.; 3.75″dia.x16.25″H decanter and one 3.5″dia.x3.75″H funnel.

I like the idea of grouping a few of these cups together as a birthday or anniversary present, or, as the retailer also recommends, as a house warming gift with numbers of the new address.

Numbers 0 through 9 available.

Material: Chinaware
Designer: Takuya Hoshiko
W 4″ x D 2.75″ x H 2.75″

Also available: £13.60