Throughout human history the table has always been a meeting place. A story of relationships unfolds around the table: family life, chatting with friends, bickering with lovers. Life is played out around the table: births, weddings and funerals are always celebrated with a meal, seated around the table. In order to turn it from a tabula rasa into a place of ritual the table must be laid: sparingly for the everyday, sumptuously when the time comes to celebrate. The way the table is laid sets the tone for the event. New ways of laying the table are needed in order to provide a special or contemporary feel. This is the aim of 'Tables: Design and Style: brand new ways of laying the table in a variety of different styles', from the classic to the contemporary, including ethnic, pure design and kitsch, not forgetting designer and those that make use of high-quality traditional craftsmanship.