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Displaying an interesting piece of art or an unusual souvenir can break the social ice between guests and spark conversations. A good conversation piece can be anything from an African fertility doll to a candid photograph of a celebrity. It doesn’t have to be expensive or rare, and sometimes a guest’s artwork or photography can suffice. Choosing an appropriate conversation piece is important, and hosts should think like their guests when selecting one.
Encouraging conversation and socializing among guests can be a challenge for any host. A proven method for starting meaningful conversations is to display an interesting piece of art or an unusual photograph or a mysterious souvenir in a prominent location. Such a discussion topic is known as a conversation piece. A good conversation piece could be an African fertility doll or autographed sports memorabilia or abstract sculpture.
The purpose of displaying a conversation piece is to break the social ice between the guests. At least one visitor should ask the host about the history of a certain piece of sculpture or when a candid photograph of a celebrity was taken. Others may start an argument with each other about the quality of the conversation piece, or may even question its authenticity or value. No matter what, the end result is usually a tension-breaking round of small talk.
Few items or souvenirs are ever promoted specifically as conversation pieces, but many people can easily discern whether or not a particular piece would spark conversation. Sometimes an item can be so conventionally unappealing or shocking that it becomes a great conversation piece regardless of its aesthetic. Some people invest in some strange or controversial looking items simply for their value as a conversation starter.
Many times an item becomes a conversation piece by standing out from the rest of a room’s decor. Visitors are immediately drawn to an African mask or Japanese painting when placed in more mundane settings. Curiosity about an item’s origins should lead to an interesting discussion or two, which in turn should spark other conversations throughout a party.
A conversation piece doesn’t have to be an expensive antique or a rare collector’s item. Sometimes a guest’s artwork or home photography would suffice as conversation starters. There’s no guarantee that a particular item will actually be found interesting enough to spark conversation, so a host may showcase several items in hopes of finding one for guests to comment on.
When it comes to finding and showcasing a good conversation piece, it helps to think like a host. If a host finds a particular item personally very interesting, it is very likely that his guests will find it interesting too. Deliberately placing a shocking or unsightly piece of art in a room simply to spark conversation would certainly be in poor taste, so choosing an appropriate conversation piece is highly recommended.
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