I opened the glass fronted cupboard doors so that you might see the everyday basics
The white set is Maxwell Williams
The platter on left is vintage English Ironstone
the one on the right is Meissen
Vintage Franciscan Ware in "Sprout"
and a random collection of mugs
Emma Bridgewater, Dunoon, and some vintage Hornsea.
Sandwich and tea cake plate and cup
a gift from Mother when she downsized to her condo
Such a handy set for an afternoon tea
I have other bone china cups and saucers in the dining room cupboards
The entertaining china...
Royal Albert Lavender Rose
as chosen for us by Mr HB's mother and her cousin
back in 1974
Platters teapots and a punch bowl
hiding behind closed doors waiting...
for a party
Family events, celebrations, buffets, pot lucks, and holidays
all see this china make an entrance
I have only ever broken one piece
unfortunately
it was a large platter
which to replace was over $200
White china is so versatile
styles can be mixed and matched
I am finding the white everyday pieces to be such a great basic
and they have made their way into the dining room more often than the entertaining china has recently!
Do you have a set for everyday and special occasions?
Or do you have one set for both?
What colour/pattern/style do you prefer?
12 comments:
I love Maxwell Williams.
Here in Australia it is priced well enough to be an everyday luxury.
I have bought a tea set for when I watch the Royal Wedding next week.
SSG xxx
Sydney Shop Girl blog
SSG- I hope that you will show us the tea set...such fun!
Maxwell Williams is affordable here too.
Leslie, I love your little tea plates! I myself, have so much china I barely have room to store it. lol. I have (just added it up) over $30, 000.00 in today's market, of Minton's Buckingham alone. Shocking how the price( I have the original receipts) has increased!
I also have so much Royal Doulton, Melrose, (a discontinued pattern), that I use it as my casual china, at the cottage.
I somehow ended up with all of my family's china and silver; which I have to store along with my own patterns. China is not something I was passionate about; but as the only daughter, I was the obvious caretaker. Now I appreciate and cherish my china, and I do use every place setting, depending upon the occasion, and guest count. Fine china aside; I get the most use out of my "cheap as chips" Corelle. It can go in the microwave, and is almost imposible to break. It's hard to find a negative thing to say about Corelle.
The Duchess of H-
WOW!
I would love to see your china, and to imagine that the original receipts were kept.
You have more space than our tiny Bungalow does..I wonder if you built in storage for all of the china?
I could do a post about my boat china which is restaurant ware...sturdy and wave worthy! Cheap as Chips too...we are in good company :)
Your china is beautiful! My Nana has given each of us grandaughters many of her pretty English bone china teacups. She's the one that has taught me about bone china, and I can't help but look at the bottom of teacups and saucers to see what pattern they are. Just last week my 4 year old daughter and I had a little tea party using the special teacups from her Great Nana.
Thank you for sharing your china display Hostess.
I adore fine china and am determined to use mine more once we have moved. My pride is a full compliment Royal Albert tea set in Moss Rose which is quite similar to your pattern.
I inherited my parents gorgeous Noritake dinner set and silver cutlery which is cherished and a Mikasa dinner set that was a wedding gift. Must say after 28yrs the Mikasa is looking very retro!
Over the years my husband has given me individual cup/saucer/plate sets of Shelley and Royal Doulton.
For everyday I also use white Corelle, it owes us nothing. It's truly the best for every day use. Alas I don't like drinking from their mugs so use Maxwell and Williams which are lovely.
How does one remove the fear of breaking a hard to replace piece of china?
xx
The green dishes caught my eye - is there a story to tell?
Yesterday evening I was putting dishes into the dishwasher and noticed all was Arabia: the vintage small spruce-green cup which I use for holding egg-whites when I need only the yolks, the off-white large coffee-cup and the vintage yellow XL soup bowl. I thought I might continue the Arabia-lane since it never let me down.
OMG, you really do have lots of china! I started out with white and have returned back to it. And my minimalism does not come as a surprise.
Beautiful china collection!
For everyday, I am a fan of white. My pieces are from Williams and Sonoma and comprise of their house brand and Apilco. I have some Pillivuyt pieces, too, and may eventually upgrade to that exclusively (I like a heavy plate).
My tea service is Limonosov from St. Petersburg, Russia. I've been to St. Pete three times, and each time I carried back a section of the service in a box on my lap on the airplane home. I use it on Sundays for tea and on special occasions.
Catherine@agardenerinprogress- Nana's are great for giving teacups, and your tea party sounds like you are carrying on the tradition!
AnneMarie- Sounds like you have a lot of china too! I don't worry about breakage as I am careful and there is a website called Replacements.Com which has thousands of pieces for sale.
Paula- The sprout green Franciscan ware was chosen for it's cheery colour and square shape...I've had it for years.
I am familiar with Arabia because my mother has a set and it's very sturdy and smart looking.
metscan- I know probably too much but when most of the china were gifts it's very hard for me to give away a gift.
Rebekah- I am going to google those china patterns...
oh I am impressed that you have a tea set from Russia....sounds exotic!
Dear Hostess: My comment was not meant to criticize you or your china at all. I know, been there, received something as a gift and wondering what and where to place it.
Only after having realized, that a gift given to me is mine ( no longer the giver´s ) and I can do whatever I wish it, everything has become easier.
Have you thought about passing already some of your china for your children or other close friends?
metscan- Oh I didn't take offense at all....please do not worry.
My children will be the first in line to receive these...as they embrace mid century modern, and are fans of Swedish, Finnish an Danish goods I think they will decline:)
If and when, we downsize to a condo I will have to pare down drastically.
Take care,
Hostess
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