Victorian Luncheon: Yellow Lunch Entertaining Advice

A Victorian Yellow Luncheon Party

From "Home Decoration: A Journal Devoted to Artistic House Furnishing and the Minor Branches of Decorative Work" published February 23, 1889

It has become very much the fashion of late at large luncheon parties to have small tables, at which four or six people can be seated comfortably, instead of one large table. These tables are made to look very pretty, and are more easily decorated than a very large one. A bowl of yellow jonquils placed on a square of yellow satin or silk laid upon the center of the white cloth, a loose bunch of yellow tulips or other flowers at each place, a candle-stick at each corner containing a yellow candle with yellow shade, two or four white and gold compotiers containing bon-bons tied up with yellow ribbons, are all that would be required as to decoration, and the yellow effect would be very prominent.

If, how ever, one prefers a large table arranged in form of a cross, there might be placed upon the white cloth strips of yellow satin covered with open lace, down the center and across the arms. China bowls, filled with yellow flowers may be placed at intervals upon these strips, the central one being the largest and highest-and the smallest ones at the ends. Candelabra filled with yellow candles with shades of the same color would look well upon the table. On each plate, laid upon the napkin, place a bunch of yellow flowers, loosely tied with yellow ribbons.

All yellow flowers are prettier we think than yellow and white mixed-but this is a matter of taste. Place carafes of white crystal at convenient distances, containing iced water, and small dishes with olives and radishes. A very pretty yellow effect is given to a dining-room. by draping the windows with yellow cheese cloth, tied with yellow satin ribbons and by placing yellow scarfs over the pictures. Vases filled with yellow flowers may stand about and the fireplace may be screened with a large yellow Japanese umbrella.

At a large luncheon nothing is served by the hostess. Everything is passed and it is also usual to serve wines with each course, as at a dinner. A toilette of yellow India silk, or with yellow sash and ribbons and trimmings of lace, is youthful and pretty.