Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for December 29, 2020

so according to Alice, is an epergne of the Autobots or of the Decepticons?

https://www.google.com/search?channel=trow2&client=firefox-b-d&q=epergne

And it’s quite epistatic, almost plasmatic.

The thing looks like it should hold chips and dip. It would work except that the salt would tarnish the silver. Also, it would be strange beyond belief. So, flowers, fruit and sometimes candles. Also rather strange. Therefore, Victorian.

Victorian? So, the top bowl is for Mama & the lesser bowlets are for those whom she deems deserving ?

Making something like that and having it not turn into a robot seems like such a waste.

Shopping for one gets pricey

People at Google are scratching their heads and wondering why the sudden spike in searches for “Epergne”. Don’t be surprised if you notice a rash of ads for the butt-ugly things.

guessing google search for epergne goes up 150% today!

Alice has a great appreciation of all that is gothic, should she ever age beyond 5 she may go all goth in her teens.

It sort of goes with the fountain that Alice got last year.

Mrs. Otterloop has the stunned stare of someone who’s been given a family heirloom and hasn’t a clue what to do with it or where to put it and who really doesn’t like the thing.

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy game, there’s a thing your aunt gave you that you don’t know what it is.

As long as it doesn’t start dancing and singing “Be our Guest…”

My only family heirlooms are Dad’s golf clubs. And I’m not sure they count.

Epergne (/ɪˈpɜːrn, eɪ-/ ih-PURN, ay-) is a type of table centerpiece that is usually made of silver but may be made of any metal or glass or porcelain.

An epergne generally has a large central “bowl” or basket sitting on three to five feet. From this center “bowl” radiate branches supporting small baskets, dishes, or candleholders.1 There may be between two and seven branches. Epergnes were traditionally made from silver, however from around the start of the 20th century, glass was also employed.

NameThe derivation is probably from the French épargne meaning “saving,” the idea being that dinner guests were saved the trouble of passing dishes (although an epergne in French is called a surtout). In addition the word épergne in French can also mean “spare”, another way of saying “to save”, or a spare, meaning “reserve or extra”.

UsageAn epergne may be used to hold any type of food or dessert. It may also be used as a designer object to hold candles, flowers or ornaments for a holiday etc. In traditional use, an epergne is a fancy way to display side dishes, fruit, or sweetmeats, or can be used for chips, *dips, or other finger foods etc

I was working in my home office when one of my little boys asked, “Can I play with your android?” This had me puzzled. I didn’t have any android. “That,” he pointed. On top of the credenza was one of those hobby holding tools with the magnifier and two aligator (roach) clips. “Oh! I guess that does look like an android! Sure, you can play with that.”

“ an ornamental centerpiece for a dining table, typically used for holding fruit or flowers.” I was thinking candies.

You’re going to have nightmares about it, Alice.

Looks like a dust collector to me.

Looking at the prices on EBay. That way a pretty expensive gift.

Sell that puppy on eBay

Put a few articulating joints in that thing and it would make a fine robot.

R.T.’s drawing style is so full of animation, I half expect that “heirloom” to spring to life at any moment.

Put that baby on ebay and turn it into monie!

Madeline’s serious response to Alice in panel 3 is priceless.

But I think Alice loves the word “epergne” even more than she loves the object itself….