Pheasant feathers decorating the tabletop look so pretty, and perfectly suitable for the season. Take this table setting for instance - isn't it beautiful? But does something sit askew with you seeing bird feathers resting on a dinner napkin?
Perhaps they would be better suited in a vase on the tabletop, so they're not actually touching napkins and plates. I've always loved this example from Domino magazine:
Squirmish still? Try taking an oversized cylindrical vase or lidded apothecary jar and dropping feathers down inside. They'll be fully contained yet on display within glass vessels.
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(Images: Marcus Nilsson/Country Living, Domino Magazine)
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It doesn't bother me so much but my mom would be repulsed.
I feel a little weird about it. Ever kept a feather and then... it starts to stink? Just seems unsanitary.
Though I guess it's silly to worry about something like that knowing that our cat has probably walked all over the counter and licked the salt/pepper shakers or something.
I love birds, but as a biologist I also know that feathers can carry mites. Those mites wouldn't bother a human, but its a bit gross.
That said, back when I had pet birds, I'd set a place at the table for them, and they would walk all over tasting everyone's food.
I dunno, it kinda reminds me of hair in the food. Not my favorite thing for a table. I suppose I'm a traditionalist - I think the best thing for the table is usually fruit or flowers.
I hate birds.
My family would always get after me for just picking up feathers, so putting them on a table makes me...wary.
Feathers on table + domestic cat = broken china. Not festive.
In my family, if there's room for anything on the table at Thanksgiving but food, ur doing it rong.
Seriously, though -- what do guests do with the feathers after unfolding the napkins? Tickle one another?
ew. unsanitary and reminding everyone that they are about to eat a dead bird.
Wouldn't bother me. It would add to the whole "using the entire animal" concept. A turkey would be eaten for dinner anyway.
If someone's concerned about the cleanliness, couldn't they be washed/rinsed?
NO.
Gross. Feather just conjure up images of germs and diseases for me and I'm guessing plenty of other people. Even if they were contained (or fake) I still find it unappetizing.
Seems a little Catalog Living to me.
That is just disgusting to me. We are anti-feather.
Very pro-feather. Absolutely. There are probably just as many germs in cut flowers... I'll risk the bird flu for a nice presentation any day ;)
I think it's beautiful, and feathers can be washed.
Not so much. MAYBE if they were treated feathers and just used in a contained centrepiece, but definitely not "found" feathers and definitely not on plates or napkins, that's just gross.
I'd be a bit disappointed if you weren't actually serving pheasant.
I have pet birds of house and yard variety. They are dirty.
Not loving feathers near food.
it would depend on the source of the feathers. if you had bought high-quality, professionally cleaned feathers, i'd be fine.
if they were from a bird you'd plucked, or from outside....yuck yuck yuck. i know you can catch diseases from birds -- one of my friends got some horrible bacterial infection in her cheek from kissing a parrot and lost part of the flesh of her cheek. definitely not something i'd want near my food.
Love the feathers!
I'd desinfect them first. But I do think they look pretty!