epergne

/i'pə:n/

Thân thiện

A hostess arranges fresh flowers in the silver epergne on the dining table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large table centerpiece with branching holders for fruit or sweets or flowers: An "epergne" is a decorative object, often made of glass, silver, or porcelain, designed to be placed in the center of a dining table. It typically features several arms or branches extending from a central stem, each holding a small bowl or dish for holding items like fruit, candies, or flowers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The antique epergne, filled with fresh roses, was the focal point of the banquet table.
  • For the dessert course, the hostess used a crystal epergne to display an assortment of chocolates and petits fours.

Advanced Usage

• Historical and Decorative Context: The epergne was especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries as a symbol of opulence and refined dining etiquette. It is primarily a decorative and functional piece for formal table settings.
  • The museum's collection of Georgian silver includes a magnificent epergne from 1760.

Variants and Related Words

• Centerpiece (n): A general term for any decorative object placed in the middle of a table. An epergne is a specific type of centerpiece.
  • The floral arrangement served as a simple centerpiece.

Synonyms

• Centerpiece: A decorative object for the center of a table.
• Étagère (in some contexts, though an étagère is typically a freestanding shelf): A piece of furniture with open shelves for displaying objects.

Antonyms

• There are no direct antonyms, but a bare or undecorated table would be the conceptual opposite of a table featuring an epergne.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a large table centerpiece with branching holders for fruit or sweets or flowers