Beating all previous events, Geoff Clark has celebrated Christmas 2009 and the 25th birthday of The Country Trader Emporium in the most extravagant way: Wonderland never looked so good.

After weeks of preparation, on Sunday the 15th of November Clark portrayed Lewis Carroll’s amazing story of “Alice in Wonderland”.

The whole showroom became a live image of the tale. Alice, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter were accompanied by live ducks, goats, sheep, ponies, hens and a rooster. This quacking, bleating and gaggling assortment of characters commemorated the happy “unbirthday” of 25 years of The Country Trader, along with more than a thousand clients as they joined the Tea Party throughout the day.

Multicolour lights blended with cacophonous music and sounds following every anecdote of Wonderland. Squirrel cages, crystal chandeliers, banquet tables, and an iron conservatory with garden statues, completed the theatrical event. A collection of stylish hats hanging from chandeliers recreated the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and French headless black mannequins with playing cards formed the Queen of Hearts’ devoted army.

On arrival at the showroom, guests walked through two significant forged iron gates, starting the marvellous sunny day with scrambled eggs on brioche. Cooked on the spot and served in a recreation of the Duchess’s Kitchen, this marvellous setting included all the accoutrements of kitchen wonderland including copper pans, cheese and bread boards, glazed comfit pots and French white china soupiers and ladles.

At lunchtime, a Parisian street cart filled with chicken sandwiches appeared in The Country Trader Wonderland. This was followedby The High Tea Party with hundreds of colourful macaroons in superb facetted glass bowls, mini cakes on a large collection of enormous 19^th Century  silver trays and jellies on a white and gold china service. This absolute extravagance of party fare was set on a more than five metres long mahogany dining table that positively spangled with illumination delivered as an ever-changing rotation of colours. Ah, the magic of Clark!

And, as per usual – and the charming want of Clark,  an endless flow of Moet&Chandon was sipped and savoured throughout the day. This delectable ambrosia was served (as it should be) in crystal Champagne flutes, a new item available at The Country Trader, which have been designed especially for wine fanatics.

Once again, Geoff Clark nailed the event with his everlasting imagination and creativity. All guests were transported to Wonderland and enjoyed the trip and its craziness, playing with the characters and the piglets, bunnies, baby ducks and little chickens. And, while the occasion included the release of the new collection of whimsical items from around the world (stunning!), the real star was The Country Trader’s ongoing affair of the imagination.

 

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