Guests hold a cocktail plate one-handed, set it down on a windowsill, and come back twice more before the evening ends, so it has to be sturdy and worth looking at. The Ernaldus Cocktail Plate is hand painted in Portugal with holly branches and berries, shaped by hand into a softly organic form, and made from stoneware fired until it vitrifies into something dense and durable. It handles canapes, a wedge of cheese, a couple of cookies, or a slice of panettone. Dishwasher and microwave safe, it goes back into rotation fast. Stack a dozen on the drinks table in December and let them do the rounds all evening.
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