Etiquette and Tablescaping

Kudos to the Farm Bureau Home Department! — Competitive ‘tablescaping’ and table setting contests, staples of the county fair and philanthropic circuits, have been held since the late 1800’s in the United States. The tables shown above were set for competition in the Los Angeles County Fair Tablescaping Competition in the late 1990’s - early 2000’s. Tables are usually judged on etiquette, artistic touches and interpretation of the theme. Points weigh heavily on the etiquette. Taking artistic license with the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of proper place settings is generally frowned upon.
— Photo, Etiquipedia’s private library
 

Etiquette Contest Won by Farm Women

All the buzzing inside of the big fair tent last Friday was not caused by Bill Oates’ bees. It seems that The Record’s society reporter committed a faux pas in mentioning the fact that two of our most exclusive social organizations—the Alpha Club and Civic Club—were competing for a prize, and failing to state that the Women of the Farm Bureau Home Department were entered in this contest. 

We sent the editor of the sports’ column around in the afternoon and his well-trained nose easily detected the cause of the rumpus. To the chagrin of some of our social leaders, the Farm Women moved in and won this contest on etiquette. The judges noted such fine details as the placing of the salad fork and the cocktail spoon and had decreed that the Farm Women were the only ones who had set their table properly. The Civic Club won second prize and the Alpha Club third prize. We humbly apologize to the Farm Women for failing to note their prize winning entry in Friday’s issue. — Lompoc Record, 1927

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia