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Viktor-C'e
My partner and I have laboured for years to restore our beautiful Queen Anne and since we're nearing completion, we wanted to hold a large dinner party since our table accomodates 12. What were curious is how to do it in a very formal almost 19th century manner, to play into the character of the home. I assume one would entertain guests before the fire in the parlor, first, yes? Then when everyone arrives would we move to the dining room? We have gaslights/electric light-combos, should we eat under a gas chandelier or combine both and add the electric for extra light? I have china and silver and I can set the table properly, I'm just curious how the evening played out--note we do not have a butler, cook, nor a maid like the original family haha.
I misspoke, we have a drawing room and a parlor (or if you prefer, double parlor), guests are only to be entertained in the drawing room (the first parlor) and the second is reserved for familiar affairs, right?
Answer
Make sure you serve the proper foods that were appropriate to that age. According to a book I read, that included cold meats heavily seasoned with spice to preserve them (no fridges back then, you recall). They ate hare, wolf, venison, eel, and whatever the groundsman could hunt up for them. Remember that without washing machines, the table linens weren't sparkling clean. So a little tobacco spittle, spilt wine, and sputum should be acceptable to even the finest of guests.
Is this an English-style party? Then you should definitely make plenteous garbage part of the atmosphere. The English, who made the French look like neat freaks, threw bones and other refuse over the back of their chairs when finished dining. They then stood up, stretched, and took a whiz onto the same pile (the dogs did likewise). Perfumes were very popular during this era.
Will housemaids be provided to the male guests to service their needs during the night? That would be a grand gesture befitting the finest nobleman.
Did they use gas or coal? I think coal would give it that century-old feel. And if you think I'm trolling, think again. I find nineteenth-century table manners tremendously fascinating.
Make sure you serve the proper foods that were appropriate to that age. According to a book I read, that included cold meats heavily seasoned with spice to preserve them (no fridges back then, you recall). They ate hare, wolf, venison, eel, and whatever the groundsman could hunt up for them. Remember that without washing machines, the table linens weren't sparkling clean. So a little tobacco spittle, spilt wine, and sputum should be acceptable to even the finest of guests.
Is this an English-style party? Then you should definitely make plenteous garbage part of the atmosphere. The English, who made the French look like neat freaks, threw bones and other refuse over the back of their chairs when finished dining. They then stood up, stretched, and took a whiz onto the same pile (the dogs did likewise). Perfumes were very popular during this era.
Will housemaids be provided to the male guests to service their needs during the night? That would be a grand gesture befitting the finest nobleman.
Did they use gas or coal? I think coal would give it that century-old feel. And if you think I'm trolling, think again. I find nineteenth-century table manners tremendously fascinating.
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Title Post: How to have a dinner party 19th century style?
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