There’s something about large Thanksgiving dinners and other holiday gatherings that make hosts – and collectors – want to pull out the best linens, crystal and china, often inherited. The Kovels suggest adding a personal touch to the table setting by using vintage place cards and place card holders.
Place cards have been used for decades in high society and, now, at parties and weddings, to mark each guest’s spot at often very long and elaborately laid-out tables. Emily Post, in her 1922 book “Etiquette,” outlined the ground rules for place cards: They had to be “about an inch and a half high by two inches long, sometimes slightly larger.” If you have a family crest? Well, Ms. Post declared that it should embossed on the place card.
While not many of us have a family crest, we do love to throw large parties during this festive time of year. Place cards are a great way to make sure Aunt Betty, who loves perfume, is not seated next to cousin Billy, who is highly allergic to scents.
Unique or vintage place card holders can be fun and whimsical, or serious and practical. They are made of ceramic, silver, gold, plastic, iron and all materials in between. Forty years ago, sets of vintage place cards were offered at almost every sale. Terry Kovel started collecting place cards in the 1960s when they sold for $25 to $75, but it was before computers and before books or articles about their history could be easily found. Here is a selection of vintage place cards.
Terry Kovel is America’s foremost authority on antiques and collectibles. She is the well-known columnist and author of more than 100 books on antiques and collecting. Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide 2020 is now available at Kovels.com and local bookstores. This all-new 52nd edition of Kovels’ popular annual price guide features 16,000 prices, 500 marks, and more than 2,500 photos, larger than ever before, of items in 700+ categories most sought-after by collectors. Terry Kovel will discuss antiques and collectibles topics with accredited media. Photographs are available.
People love to throw large parties during this festive time of year and giving them option to add personal touch to your offerings can be a great option. With iDesigniBuy’s product design software, you can offer customization services for your products.