Ornamental objects or arrangements placed in the center of a table for decoration, or the central or most important feature of something.
From 'center' (Latin 'centrum') plus 'piece' (Old French 'pece'). The compound became popular in Victorian era for formal dining.
The medieval 'void' course in fancy meals was replaced by the Renaissance centerpiece—a shift that shows how dining aesthetics changed when the goal moved from showing off wealth to creating atmosphere.
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