NEW YORK— Lenox Corporation, in its Forty One Madison showroom last month, debuted a new mixed material home entertaining concept called Platform. During the New York Tabletop Market, the company also debuted new flatware patterns designed in partnership with Michael Wainwright under its Gorham brand.
Lenox Platform, with its wood and marble combination, is designed to offer the consumer style and flexibility in entertaining, explained Jim Mylonas, vp/gm, Lenox Crystal & Metals/Dansk/Gorham.
“We have noticed that the category of entertaining is growing. When talking to consumers, their key goal was function. They wanted products that were multifunctional and to have movable parts within the piece. We selected beech wood and the black and white marble because we felt together the contrast worked well,” said Mylonas.
In terms of movable parts, he noted that the dip bowl in Platform’s chip n’ dip set is not stationary. The consumer can move it to the middle or the side or use each bowl by itself. With the Lazy Susan in the collection, the design features six bowls which can removed when they get to an individual’s place setting or each bowl can have something different for each table guest to share. In the Lazy Susan’s center is a marble piece that can hold flowers or celery stalks, Mylonas suggested.
The collection also presents an interesting shape story, he noted, in that many of the pieces are hexagonal, including the chip n’ dip bowl and Lazy Susan.
The collection is also designed to be stylish when not in use, creating a home décor setting. For example, Platform’s set of four coasters can serve an architectural look on the table, while the marble salt and pepper shakers offer a sculptural look. The Platform series also includes a wood tray with three bowls, a set of four cheese knives, white marble olive tray, wood cracker tray, votive/taper candle holders, bowl, cheeseboard, three-piece salad set and a two-piece server.
“I would categorize the audience as people in all age groups who are looking for items that are stylish, functional and design driven,” said Mylonas.
The suggested retail price range of the Platform line is $40 to $150. The collection will have its retail rollout in spring 2018, and Lenox has started to design drinkware for the collection as well.
At the Tabletop Market, Gorham also debuted three new flatware patterns, referred to collectively as “the metals group,” each taking on the periodic table designation for its finish: copper (CU29), gold (AU79) and silver (AG47).
Designer Michael Wainwright had experimented in his studio with different finishes on metal, and Gorham applied it to 18/10 stainless steel flatware. Each pattern is craft-oriented, enduring multiple burnishing processes and hand finishing.
“Gorham, throughout its history, in the flatware category from 1831, has been known for taking chances and pushing the envelope, so we thought it was the perfect fit,” said Mylonas.
The three elemental flatware patterns can find a home with a variety of table décors, from rustic to modern. Despite the craftsmanship behind the flatware patterns, each place setting has an affordable suggested retail price of $59.
