Etiquette of Regency Era Place Settings

Regency place setting, c.1810 — Photograph: Jeremy Phillips for Fairfax House, York Reproduced by kind permission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

In 1811 the Prince Regent commissioned Rundell, Bridge & Rundell to provide a ‘Grand Service’ for his residence at Carlton House. Comprising over 4,000 pieces, this was sufficient to provide a gilt place setting for 180 guests at both first and second courses.

All the great silversmiths of their day played their part, with plates by Digby Scott, forks and spoons by Paul Storr, verrières and covered dishes by the Smith Brothers and coasters by Phillip Rundell.

The Prince also bought superb linen from Coulsons, the Irish linen weavers at Lisbon and glass from Perrin, Geddes & Co. of Warrington. The wine glasses have a curious and seemingly over-elaborate engraved star shaped base, which makes little sense when seen standing on a table. The glasses are being cooled in the verrière, and it is clear that the guest is meant to be presented with the base of a wine glass shaped and faceted in the form of a garter star.  — From “British Cutlery, An Illustrated History of Design, Evolution and Use”, York Civic Trust, 2001

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