Four sets of tableware to enhance any Instagram post

A new set of crockery is a simple boost for your dinner table or social media feed. Here's four specially-selected collections worth investing in

Burmese brand, Kalinko, works with artisans all over the country to create home accessories (Kalinko)

As I write this, there are 283,940,545 #food posts on Instagram. Scrolling through, it becomes evident that, besides the single-hand-holding-bubble-waffle-with-busy-yet-blurred-metropolitan-background posts, all the images feature delightful bowls, boards and plates.

It seems the humble food flat lay has become something of a phenomena.

Dinner goes cold, congealing as you find the perfect angle, while egg yolks are punctured for the perfect “runny” boomerang. But underlying (literally) all of this weird and wonderful #foodporn is gorgeous crockery, modern and sleek, or antique and mismatched.

Below are my top picks for your Instagram grid and beyond.

Burleigh Pottery’s dove grey Asiatic Pheasants range (Burleigh Pottery) (Author provided)

A new launch from Burleigh Pottery breathes new life into one of the brand’s most iconic designs, the Asiatic Pheasants. The original range was launched in 1862, and is now available in a contemporary dove grey. Burleigh is the last pottery of its kind to practice tissue transfer printing, where tissue paper is printed with the motif, and transferred by hand to the ceramics. There are just 11 people left in the world who are trained in this rare method, all of which work at Middleport Pottery where Burleigh ware is produced.

Kalinko’s Minshin cutlery collection (Kalinko)

Burmese homeware brand, Kalinko, works with artisans all over the country to create gorgeous home accessories. The Minshin cutlery collection provides the perfect modern accent for your table, combining hand carved mother of pearl and jade cut from a single piece of the stone.

As with all home accessories made from natural materials, much of the Minshin collection’s beauty can be credited to the organic uniqueness of each individual product. On top of this, the Minshin spoons and butter knives boast a satisfying density – an underrated consideration when choosing items with which to adorn your table.

The Curious Department’s Insect Mandala collection (The Curious Department) (Author provided)

Designed in London, and handmade, high-fired and hand decorated in Stoke-on-Trent, the Insect Mandala collection from The Curious Department is a fusion of African and Asian influences, spiked with the glamour of the Roaring Twenties.

The somehow gothic, hectic symmetry of the collection’s motif is offset by glorious gold edging, while the classical silhouettes of the stand-out pieces contrast with the contemporary design.

Denby Pottery’s stoneware collection, Studio Blue (Denby Pottery) (Author provided)

For a more casual look, Denby Pottery’s new stoneware collection, Studio Blue, has a rustic freshness to it, perfect for casual lunches with friends. The four tonal glazes of sea-blues found in the range were inspired by the coastal colours and textures, including stones and minerals.

The collection also goes to make a point about modern dining trends, as bowls usurp classic dinner plate. Studio Blue offers four bowl size variations, reflecting the global popularity of bowl food.

So why not expand your tableware horizons and experiment with colour, pattern, material and shape? Invest in some beautiful, handcrafted pieces for your table and give your dinner guests something to admire and discuss, on top of your (excellent, I’m sure) cooking skills. Bon appetit!