Old Money · sterling-cloche-lift-card-rises opening

Silver Service

A polished sterling cloche on white damask, by candlelight: lift it and the engraved invitation rises from the charger.

A dinner-by-candlelight birthday invitation, photographed rather than drawn: a sterling cloche on a gadrooned silver charger sits on crisp white damask in a dark panelled dining room, two tapers and a crystal glass soft in the background, the lamp's reflection and the candle flames caught in the silver. One tap and the finial turns, the rim lets go of the charger with a breath of light, the cloche is lifted clear and its shadow leaves the cloth; the lamp finds the plate and a heavy cotton card with silver-gilt edges stands up off the charger and is presented to the guest, the guest of honour's name engraved on it. Inside: a note from the hosts beneath a sterling milestone numeral, a countdown on engraved tent cards, a silver service bell to ring, the evening set out as a menu card and a reply card on a beaded salver.