25 March 2025

Spring Awakening on the Table – Reviving Elegance Through the Art of Mix & Match

In Austria, Easter is one of the most cherished family holidays, a time when loved ones gather to celebrate, share meals, and exchange small gifts. Easter traditions revolve around food and togetherness, with many families enjoying a festive lunch featuring hearty dishes. However, in recent years, Easter brunch has gained popularity as a more relaxed and flexible way to celebrate. A well-prepared brunch often includes Austrian specialties such as Easter ham, colored eggs, sweet Osterpinze, and a variety of pastries—all beautifully arranged to create a welcoming atmosphere.

A beautifully set table plays a key role in these gatherings, enhancing the festive mood and bringing elegance to the occasion. In a recent press release, Dorotheum shared expert tips on how to elevate Easter table settings by skillfully combining fine porcelain, glass, and decorative objects. The secret to an elegant table lies not in a perfectly matched set but in the thoughtful arrangement of high-quality individual pieces. Like a flower meadow, where different blossoms naturally complement one another, a mix & match approach allows diverse designs to harmonize into a cohesive and refined setting.

A New Take on Timeless Elegance – Mixing & Matching with Character
The mix & match trend is ideal for those who appreciate quality but may only own single pieces from renowned collections or have inherited incomplete sets. Instead of searching for exact replacements, this approach celebrates the beauty of combining fine porcelain, glasses, silver from different manufacturers and sets, emphasizing craftsmanship and artful design. The key is to skillfully curate individual elements, transforming them into an effortlessly stylish table setting.

Discovering Exquisite Pieces at the Dorotheum Gallery
Dorotheum's press release, highlighting mix & match and Easter table décor, was accompanied by a curated selection of tableware and accessories from the Dorotheum Gallery. As part of Austria's prestigious auction house, the gallery offers an extensive range of fine porcelain, glass, decorative arts, design objects, interiors, paintings and jewelry available for direct purchase. Renowned for its expertise in art and antiques, the gallery showcases masterpieces from distinguished manufacturers such as Meissen, Herend, and Augarten. Exceptional craftsmanship and timeless design can turn even a single plate, cup or decorative piece into an eye-catching focal point on the table.

Expert Tips for a Stylish Easter and Summer Table
Dorotheum's press release includes key recommendations for achieving an elegant yet effortless table setting, suitable for festive Easter brunches and relaxed summer gatherings. Under the theme Small Objects, Big Impact, the emphasis is placed on decorative details that enhance the table's charm—such as silver-plated egg cups with mother-of-pearl spoons, artistic rabbits, and elegant knife rests, which serve both aesthetic and functional purposes on the Easter table.

The overarching principle of a refined table setting is Quality Over Quantity. Rather than striving for a full matching set, selecting a few standout pieces—be it an antique glass, a handcrafted porcelain charger, or a unique candlestick—adds elegance and personality to the arrangement.

A Timeless Approach to Stylish Dining
Dorotheum's press release reinforces the idea that true elegance is found in craftsmanship, history, and the artful combination of individual pieces. Instead of replacing incomplete sets, the mix & match approach breathes new life into treasured items, celebrating their uniqueness. The result is a sophisticated and personalized table setting—effortlessly stylish, rich in character, and a perfect reflection of refined taste.


Image: The image showcases an elegant table setting featuring select pieces from the Dorotheum Gallery. A Meissen porcelain coffee pot and sugar bowl take center stage, accompanied by an English egg cup stand. Adding a charming detail to the arrangement is a finely crafted Wiener Bronze—a small, intricately cast and hand-painted bronze figurine, a traditional Viennese art form known for its lifelike details and delicate craftsmanship. In this scene, the Wiener Bronze depicts a rabbit with catkins, adding a playful yet sophisticated touch to the Easter table. Image Courtesy: Dorotheum | Photo: © Magdalena Krainer