Details on Head Table, floral arrangements, linens...Buckingham Palace released details about the historic silver and china being used at tonight's State Banquet hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in honor of President Obama. The items range from the eighteenth forward, and include tableware, flatware, candelabrum and other pieces of service. (Above: The President during his toast to Her Majesty)
The Banquet Hall was arranged with a head table at the top, where The Queen, the President, Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, First Lady Obama, and The Duchess of Cornwall were seated. Two long continuous tables held the rest of the guests. Linens were cream colored, and floral arrangements were a mix of soft blues, pinks, mauves, and white with greens, and included roses and dahlias, ranunculus and poppies. Oversize bouquets were on the long tables, and positioned around the Hall, with a low arrangement on the head table. The State Banquet menu IS HERE, and the guest list IS HERE. The First Lady wore a gown designed by American Tom Ford.
Silver and Service For State Banquet
China Sweet plates - V R Minton Made for Queen Victoria 1876.
Fruit service - Tournai French dessert service 1787-1789.
Green sevre - soft paste porcelain made for Louis XVI (behind top table) 1790s.
Rockingham (from the Rockingham works in Yorkshire) dessert service made for William IV 1830 (first used on Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838).
Gilt
In front of The Queen and The President:
St. George and the Dragon – A grand candelabrum carrying twelve branches. At the base are four boys bearing suitable Emblems of the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. John Bridge – 1832
To the right and left of The Queen:
Two large candelabras with three double and six single branches. One design is ‘The Graces gathering the Apples of the Hesperides and the Dragon watching’. The other ‘Mercury descending with the Infant Bacchus, and presenting him to the Attendant Nymphs.’ Both bases are enriched with three piping fauns and supported on double lion’s paw feet. Paul Storr - 1816.
Also on the table are four large dessert ornaments made for Pineapples originally. Used nowadays to hold flowers. With Pine leaf ornaments and branches carrying six vine leaf baskets from Bon-Bons. The bases are enriched with Dancing Bacchantes. Paul Storr – 1813.
The fish and main course plates – Date from 1805 – 1831 made by a variety of silversmiths. All commissioned by King George III.
Pair of spice boxes by Nicholas Clausen (used by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh).
Set of 36 Triton salts. 25 by Paul Storr 1813/1814 and 11 by Philip Rundell 1819/1820 (used by The President of the United States and Mrs Obama).
Set of 36 Egyptian Salts (1802-1820).
Set of 12 Scroll Foot Cruets by Thomas Heming (1761).
Set of 36 Pepper Casters Garrads for George V.
*Getty photo
