Special furniture forms played a role in the taking of meals as well; sideboards served as staging areas for the meal. Balance, an important classical patterning device, was achieved by placing a knife box at either end with decanters, presentation pieces, and serving plates arranged in between. Silver plateaus served as the focal point of the dining table with dishes arranged symmetrically around the centerpiece. One of the Tayloe granddaughters recalled, “Lights of wax candles and pyramids of fruit, candies, grapes, and oranges at each end, which reflected in the glass, looked particularly pretty.”
