Lettuce entertain you: Bethan Laura Wood creates installation for Tory Burch

Nothing quite says 'party' like a canapé and a beautifully set table; this much is true. Merging both worlds with aplomb are British designer Bethan Laura Wood and American fashion designer and philanthropist Tory Burch.
Marking her entrance into tableware, Tory Burch has collaborated with the legendary Palm Beach ceramicist Dodie Thayer to revive the lettuce-themed plates and accoutrements once loved by the likes of Jackie O and the Duchess of Windsor. To celebrate the launch of Lettuce Ware at Salone del Mobile, the lifestyle brand and Wallpaper* commissioned Bethan Laura Wood to create a unique installation.
Known for her rather unique approach and style, Bethan set about interpreting the brand's history and design - by way of retro party nibbles. The result? Instantly cheering, pastel-toned, giant canapé sculptures.
'I was inspired by party food from the 1960s and 1970s for these canapés. I wanted the colours and patterns to really compliment the design and history of the plates,' the artist told Wallpaper* at the via della Spiga store where the installation held court during Salone del Mobile.
Disks of fake meats and cheeses, jellies, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, olives - and even a jumbo-sized shrimp - were all stacked on the iconic lettuce plates. A larger sculpture used the dishes as decorative garnish, too.
Each one of Bethan's sculptures was named after a TV chefs or a character from that period, 'so there's Delia, Margot and Barbara from The Good Life, Fanny Craddock and others,' explains the artist. 'I really wanted to design something that was joyful. Something for the "hostess with the most-est".'
Following their debut in Milan, the installation is due to tour around Tory Burch stores in London, Munich and New York.
'I was inspired by party food from the 1960s and 1970s for these canapés,' says Bethan, each of which takes its name from a TV chef or character from the era
Disks of fake meats and cheeses, jellies, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, olives - and even a jumbo-sized shrimp - were all stacked on the iconic lettuce plates.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
All-In is the Paris-based label making full-force fashion for main character dressing
Part of our monthly Uprising series, Wallpaper* meets Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø of All-In, the LVMH Prize-nominated label which bases its collections on a riotous cast of characters – real and imagined
By Orla Brennan
-
Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationship
Announcing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a collection, a car and a long term commitment
By Hugo Macdonald
-
Through an innovative new training program, Poltrona Frau aims to safeguard Italian craft
The heritage furniture manufacturer is training a new generation of leather artisans
By Cristina Kiran Piotti
-
Eight designers to know from Rossana Orlandi Gallery’s Milan Design Week 2025 exhibition
Wallpaper’s highlights from the mega-exhibition at Rossana Orlandi Gallery include some of the most compelling names in design today
By Anna Solomon
-
Bentley’s new home collections bring the ‘potency’ of its cars to Milan Design Week
New furniture, accessories and picnic pieces from Bentley Home take cues from the bold lines and smooth curves of Bentley Motors
By Anna Solomon
-
StoneX partners with Wallpaper* for material alchemy at Milan Design Week and beyond
The natural stone purveyor teams up with Wallpaper* for a three-year partnership of material adventures, starting with an exhibition at Triennale di Milano
By Simon Mills
-
David Rockwell’s Milan Design Week presentation is a love letter to cork
Rockwell Group’s Casa Cork installation showcases this under-appreciated material, which is infinitely recyclable and sequesters carbon for decades
By Anna Solomon
-
Emerging galleries to discover during Milan Design Week
Wallpaper’s Milan editor has the inside track on the younger design galleries coming to town
By Laura May Todd
-
Buccellati brings the forest and Furry Animals to Milan Design Week
The jewellery and silverware maison falls back on tradition for its Milan showcase, presenting its now-emblematic collection of intricately crafted creatures
By Laura May Todd
-
Where next for Salone del Mobile? Maria Porro on the future of the world’s biggest furniture fair
Ahead of Salone del Mobile 2025 in Milan, we sit down with its president to talk design, data and forging the event’s future in a fast-changing world
By Hugo Macdonald
-
What to see at Milan Design Week 2025
A guide to some of the events the Wallpaper* team is checking out at Milan Design Week (7–13 April) – from public installations and major launches to standout venues and must-see exhibitions
By Hugo Macdonald