A close friend of mine, Austin Fremont, once described my apartment this way: "It's a Park Avenue penthouse crammed into a tiny 5th floor walk-up in Hell's Kitchen." Having said that, in my infinitely small New York City apartment, I have a punch bowl so large, one would think I just want to be prepared to serve eggnog to a party of fifty at a moment's notice. Truth is, when I had my own catering company, I used it all the time, but even now, I always keep it out.
It's early American depression glass, probably from the 20s, in a pattern called English Hobnail. I love its sawtooth edge, the diamond-like forms, and the way light refracts in its surface. I love too that it's in two parts: a bowl and pedestal. It always make such a great centerpiece at parties. As a caterer, I used it to serve salads, cold soups and, you guessed it, brandied egg nog at the holidays. But really I use it throughout the year: Sometimes, I'll fill it with fresh moss and ferns from the Flower Market; other times, when I'm entertaining in the fall, for example, and want something dramatic, I'll do a big beautiful arrangement of tree hydrangeas in soft, muted shades of cinnamon and cream. So, even if you're place is like mine and tends to get a little cramped, just don't let it cramp your style.
Comments