Fine China- Which set do you have and how often do you use it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have Royal Doulton Melrose. I’m in my mid-30s, and was gifted it by my grandparents when they downsized. We’ve never used it, but this thread has inspired me to pull it out for fun occasions! I have a lot of it and it’s okay if some pieces break.

I also have Spode Christmas Tree china that we use a few times during the holidays.

Royal Doulton Melrose is absolutely gorgeous! I hope you are using it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have Opal Innocence from Lenox which I bought myself soon after I got married. I thought that every woman needs fine china. I still love this set, it is beautiful. But I rarely use it. We don't have family nearby and don't entertain much, so the china set just sits on display. Honestly, I would not buy it again.

You don’t have to wait for guests to arrive to use your china. Use it for yourself.

[Anonymous]

No china. And I am a Boomer. Never ordered any. I typically use sturdy glass plates and zuzgh it up with table things- linens, flowers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have Royal Doulton Melrose. I’m in my mid-30s, and was gifted it by my grandparents when they downsized. We’ve never used it, but this thread has inspired me to pull it out for fun occasions! I have a lot of it and it’s okay if some pieces break.

I also have Spode Christmas Tree china that we use a few times during the holidays.

Royal Doulton Melrose is absolutely gorgeous! I hope you are using it now.

Royal Doulton Melrose is beautiful. I love the teal.

[Anonymous]

Versace china ; use it for holidays

[Anonymous]

I have a huge set of Wedgewood Columbia Gold from 1965. Mom gave it to me several years ago. We drove it up from Florida and it's still boxed up un my basement. There are soooo many pieces, terrines, vegetable servers, gravy boats...the whole kit and kaboodle.

I've not unpacked it up b/c I don't have enough room in my cabinets, LOL.

But I'm inspired hearing other people say they use theirs. Maybe this will be a summer project for me...to finally unpack it and use it!

[Anonymous]

We have Noritake White Palace from our wedding.
https://www.replacements.com/china-noritake-white-palace-5-piece-place-setting/p/60379001

I inherited my grandma's Lennox Holiday china after she passed away, along with her two corner china cabinets.
https://www.replacements.com/china-noritake-white-palace-5-piece-place-setting/p/60379001

I like that my set is pretty plain so it can be mixed with other patterns.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I recently learned that a lot of (like most) vintage china has lead in it, often a lot. I was using my china fairly regularly but have now stopped after testing it - I may use it occasionally but not sure. https://tamararubin.com/2018/11/dishes/

[Anonymous]

I have my great-aunt’s Lenox Westchester Cobalt pattern. Looks beautiful with contemporary solid-color linens, esp the Parentesi placemats by La Gallina Matta. I also use it with burlap. I never entertain, but always have my table set beautifully. Was a kindergarten teacher before retiring, so I suspect tablescaping is a substitute for seasonal bulletin boards (lol!).

The pattern (also known as Lenox M139B it M139K) is what Edith Wilson, Woodrow’s wife, chose as the base design for the first American-made White House State Dinner Service. To the original base pattern, Lenox added a gold presidential seal in the center and 48 stars (48 states) around the perimeter of the center ivory portion of the plate. Lenox Westchester Cobalt dates to around 1915. Approximately 1500 pieces were purchased for the White House; the pattern is still in use there.

[Anonymous]

Ugggh I knew about lead crystal, but I had no idea about lead in antique and painted china. Going to buy testing kits now.

I use a mix of three different patterns from Bernardaud and Royal Copenhagen literally every single day (bread, salad and dinner each in its own pattern). All of it is all-white and received as new wedding presents, so I’m hopeful that these don’t contain lead. I have some Juliska as well. Everything goes in the dishwasher.

I was also handed down some simple, gold-rimmed china from Herend, and a scattering of Rothschild bird to go with it. Part of me would absolutely love to add some green fishnet to the mix, but it is so expensive, I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to justify paying for it.

The set I’m quite concerned about is some Real Old Willow that I think is beautiful because I have such happy childhood memories attached to it. (Thankfully?) I haven’t reached for it too too much recently.

Like PPs above, I grew up in a family that had different breakfast china, as did my grandparents. It actually feels weird to me that I don’t do it now.

Anyway I’m thankful to find this thread for flagging the lead issue, and also for reminding me that I bought a bunch of Spode Woodland dinner plates last year that are perfect for fall. I’ll bust them out after I test them for lead.

Btw I’m a millennial, and a lot of people I know registered for both formal and informal china. Some regional variations in the NE and the South, but Mottahedeh, Wedgwood, and Juliska were popular across the board.

[Anonymous]

Russell Wright — my parents’ wedding pattern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Russell Wright — my parents’ wedding pattern

I rarely use it. I have smaller sets from Pottery Barn and maybe Williams Sonoma that I use every day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We aren't formal so no fine china for us.

We went with high-quality, everyday porcelain dishes that are still holding up 20 years later.

High quality porcelain is fine china, no?

[Anonymous]

I have Lenox Tin Can Alley and use it everyday. It can go in the microwave and dishwasher but still is nice enough to be put out for the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who are using your china daily, are you always cooking and then serving the nightly dinner with place settings etc and everyone sits down to eat and just use it that way?
Or, do you use it to just eat a bowl of ice cream or a plate of fruit for a snack or a bowl of soup etc ?
Or using it with reheated leftovers or to serve take out food on?

As a single guy who just uses those stackable plates from Target I have no idea what I’d do with real china

We use it for all those things. You have to eat everyday— why not eat off fancy plates? Aren’t you good enough to deserve to do that?