America Goes Crazy for Quatrefoil: A Pattern from Antiquity Proves both Timeless and Timely
The classic quatrefoil shape has graced fine art, architecture and design for centuries. During the ancient Greek and Persian empires it appeared in relief on gold coins. It formed high drama windows and punctuated balustrades in Medieval, Renaissance and Gothic Revival architecture. It showed up in a lattice-like repeat on iron gates and tiled floors in Morocco and that same trellis pattern was liberally and repeatedly splashed across glamorous Hollywood Regency-style interiors. Yet despite starring roles in majestic cathedrals, mysterious souks and Beverly Hills bungalows, never has the quatrefoil enjoyed more popularity than it does today. Search it on the inspiration-board-style photo sharing site Pinterest and you’ll see over 100 boards lovingly devoted entirely to the quatrefoil. It seems bright quatrefoil prints are wrapping everything from iphones to cupcakes, not to mention covering beds, draping windows and papering walls. There are quatrefoil mirrors, carpets and chandeliers, and on the fashion front, everything from the finest jewelry to a custom dog collar has taken on this timeless four-leaf (quatre-foil) look.
When it comes to the tabletop, millions of quatrefoil aficionados need look no further than America’s iconic name in fine china, Lenox, whose Quatrefoil dinnerware features the pattern delicately outlined in platinum and repeated in bands throughout the collection. Brilliance meets nuance where Lenox has connected the platinum leaf elements with tiny, lustrous gold dots. This technique lends the pattern a jewelry-like quality – if you could lift it off of the plate it would be your favorite necklace. A soft mica grey hugs one edge of the quatrefoil bands, highlighting them perfectly against a backdrop of white bone china. Precious materials, subtle design details applied by hand and superb craftsmanship make Lenox’s Quatrefoil a timeless choice of heirloom quality that also lets you indulge in one of today’s hottest decorating and fashion trends.
As a child, I remember my mom always trying to buy me fine china place settings for Christmas. It started when I was about 9 until I moved out. I tried, nicely, to tell her that I was still a kid and would rather have a CD of my favorite band (NKOTB and N’Sync), clothes or money. Now that I am older I look back and realize I could now have a beautiful fine set of fine china for at least 12 people! She has always been a huge fan of Lenox and would give me a catalog to look through. How I wish I would have taken her up on that offer! The Lenox Quatrefoil dinnerware is absolutely gorgeous! I guess it’s never too late to start collecting! The grey bands around the edge of each piece match the black/grey colors of my kitchen perfectly. I would like to think that if I had seen this design years ago, I might have told my mom to go for it! The quatrefoil design inside the grey band is so intricate and makes the set feel even more luxurious. I also love that the Quatrefoil by Lenox pieces are dishwasher safe! Whenever we would use our fine china growing up it would take so long to hand wash everything! Especially after a huge meal on Christmas or Thanksgiving. I am so excited to have my first set of Lenox fine china and can’t wait to add to this beautiful collection.
A five-piece place setting of Quatrefoil by Lenox includes a dinner plate, salad plate, butter plate, cup and saucer. Statement pieces for entertaining include a serving bowl and an oval platter. The collection is entirely dishwasher safe and made in America. Quatrefoil and dozens of classic and contemporary Lenox patterns are offered at Lenox.com.
Disclosure: I received a set of Lenox Quatrefoil dishes in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own and any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.