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

[Anonymous]

Royal Copenhagen Curved Blue Flowers. I like to use it a few times a week. East Fork is our everyday tablewear. Drinkwear is either some old Waterford or Schott Zweisel.

[Anonymous]

If you inherited "china", how do you know if it's microwave and dishwasher safe? I have my grandmother's set, but I suspect it's not bone china, but more like pottery? It's by Winfield, a company in California, and she got it in the late 1940s. I've thought about just using it daily instead of displaying it, but while I don't care if I lose a piece here or there, I do want to take a reasonable amount of care with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you inherited "china", how do you know if it's microwave and dishwasher safe? I have my grandmother's set, but I suspect it's not bone china, but more like pottery? It's by Winfield, a company in California, and she got it in the late 1940s. I've thought about just using it daily instead of displaying it, but while I don't care if I lose a piece here or there, I do want to take a reasonable amount of care with it.

You could do a web search for the specific pattern to find details. I did a quick search of that company and they made both porcelain china and earthenware pottery. You can also hold it up to the light - earthenware pottery is not translucent. Metallic designs are not microwave safe and are best hand washed (i.e gold trim or accents).

[Anonymous]

Also, if you fill a cup with water and nuke it for a minute, and the cup is cool but the water is hot, it's microwave safe. If they're both getting hot, or if the cup is heating up more than the water, nope.

[Anonymous]

I have Royal Doulton passed down to me from my mother from her mother - and I never, ever use it. It is still boxed up in the basement.

[Anonymous]

Wedgewood Blue Florentine
Royal Doulton Floradora Green
Lennox Hancock
Royal Albert Lady Carlyle

Casserole set of Sedak Buckingham

Daily workhorse dishes of Spode Blue Italian and Churchill Willow in blue

I use them all frequently as both art and to make things nicer for my little family, because art inspires and enriches life and because no one is more important than my family to me. Home is a way to express that importance to them. And… I am no where near 70. I still have a high schooler. And I am not wealthy. I cook rather than eat out a lot and do not drive expensive vehicles or engage in expensive activities. But I understand that may be imbued with significance for some folks. I do not resent those expressions in others though I do not nor cannot partake. I see the value in particularly nice vehicles. I just do not own one. I collected my china as gifts and as self-purchases because I value the art and history of the pieces and the investment in my home. I am so happy to see there are others who still value this form of expression and art as well!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a full set of Royal Albert Old Country Roses that I got as a gift from my aunt. When I was a little girl, I once told her how beautiful I thought her plates were and that I was going to have the same ones when I grew up. So when I got my first house, she presented me with a full set of that china.

Probably not what I would have chosen as an adult, but I love that she remembered and gave them to me. I host Thanksgiving and Christmas now, and they make a beautiful holiday table.

Old Country Roses is one of the most popular china patterns in the world for a reason. It’s beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have something super fancy from my grandmother. It's in a box somewhere ... I think maybe my garage? I have no use for it.

List it on Facebook Marketplace. There is a growing community of china lovers. Someone will buy it if it’s well-priced.

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a set of Wedgwood Blue Siam secondhand. It’s really beautiful, but I own several other sets of china, so I don’t need it. I may decide to sell it.

[Anonymous]

Noritake Christmas Ball, inherited from dh's grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you inherited "china", how do you know if it's microwave and dishwasher safe? I have my grandmother's set, but I suspect it's not bone china, but more like pottery? It's by Winfield, a company in California, and she got it in the late 1940s. I've thought about just using it daily instead of displaying it, but while I don't care if I lose a piece here or there, I do want to take a reasonable amount of care with it.

I don't do either with my old China. I only use for special occasions and handwash and do not microwave.