Hot metal: why shiny tableware is a holy grail of hosting

‘A metallic, reflective element always adds drama and glamour to the table scene,’ says Wallpaper* entertaining director Melina Keays. ‘Just one piece lifts everything.’ Take your pick from these shining tableware examples – from a silver-plated coffee pot to cute stainless-steel cups – as selected by interiors editor Olly Mason (arbiter of taste at the Wallpaper* gleam team).

Coffee is served with a bold dose of Bauhaus-inspired allure thanks to these stainless steel cups and saucers, adorned only by assertive geometric handles. Part of the new ‘SR’ collection by Copenhagen-based designer Louise Roe Andersen and her daughter Sophia Roe, they are available online from the family firm, louise-roe.com.

Ably demonstrating that tablescaping is a question of balance is this ‘Interconnect’ candleholder by Colin King. The American interior stylist and product designer studied dance before changing paths, and it shows in this perfectly poised design, described simply as ‘a sphere, an angle and a line’. Available in two sizes and various finishes from audocph.com.

Cutlery rarely prompts a double-take. These pieces, designed by Natalia Criado and handcrafted in Italy from plated brass, will give your guests a conversation starter; available from nataliacriado.com and artemest.com. Pair with a silver-plated plate from christofle.com and reflect on your impeccable table-setting skills.

Resembling a 3D geometry puzzle more than a bowl, this stainless steel centrepiece has plenty of edge(s) and an architectural appeal. It is formed from five triangular segments and is supported by a star-shaped, five-piece, hand-welded base. Available from normanncopenhagen.com and nordicnest.com.

A pair of dinky lava-stone spheres on either side of this silver-plated brass plate, artisan-made in Italy, are an unexpectedly cute detail, and a welcome shot of earthy tactility – a bit of rough to go with your smooth. Available from nataliacriado.com and artemest.com.

Not a retro-futuristic telecom tower, but a clear signal that coffee is ready to be served, the ‘Gigogne’ coffee pot unstacks into three deliciously modernist pieces: a sugar bowl, a milk jug, and the coffee pot itself. Designed in 1926 by Danish silversmith Christian Fjerdingstad for Christofle, the ‘Gigogne’ has been reissued and is available from christofle.com and netaporter.com.

For espresso lovers, go Italian with Alessi, the country’s shining star of kitchenware. The new ‘Menhir’ espresso maker by Michael Anastassiades, its form echoing the eponymous upright standing stones, has an air of strength and simplicity – like good coffee. Available in three-cup and six-cup sizes, from selfridges.com and alessi.com. Don't forget Italian ice cream for dessert while coffee's brewing – double your shine factor with Jasper Morrison's ‘JM16’ bowl, also from alessi.com.

Forget mundane melamine. This stainless steel tray brings a subtly deco refinement to proceedings, whether you're serving up afternoon tea or postprandial liqueurs. Find it at bettinaceramica.com.

Last but not least, silvery vases make a light-catching backdrop to a tumbling floral display, and will always offset whatever colours you've chosen. For these examples, hand-welded in polished stainless steel, we've looked again to Denmark's louise-roe.com.

May your next dinner glimmer.