New crockery.

[caseydog]

We use Corning Ware (Corelle) dishes. lots of different styles, very durable and easy to find replacements. Available in many different patterns.

Corelle is terrible at keeping food hot. They work kinda' like heat sync, drawing heat out of the food. A chef told me that. It's one reason you almost never see them in even cheap restaurants.

My family had Corelle until the late 80s. Then they finally switched to something along the lines of earthenware.

CD

 

[caseydog]

I just use the restaurant grade plates etc, mostly white. I do have a serving for 8 with serving dishes in fine china purchased at Ashley's on Bloor St. in Toronto years ago all zipped up for special occasions.

https://www.williamashley.com/our-story

My ex-wife and I had twelve setting of Royal Doulton china, Waterford crystal, and I don't remember what the silverware was. We used it twice. I gave it to her in the divorce.

CD

 

[jennyema]

In Boston we have Fiestaware (newer) in many colors plus ancient Crate and Barrel stuff. On the Cape we have my wife’s mother’s stuff.

I do have 2 of my grandmothers original Fiestaware platters. I think one is the radioactive color.

 

[Kathleen]

@Katie H Tell us more!!!!!!

 

[Katie H]

@Katie H Tell us more!!!!!!

What would you like to know? I've probably forgotten more than some folks know, but I'm willing to share what I do remember.

 

[taxlady]

I have two sets of dishes. Neither one is special. I bought the Duralex set in the 1970s. It's the one in dark amber glass. The other one is stoneware that Stirling had when we got together. It's grey with a blue ring near the edge. Stirling's set has larger dinner plates. I often decide which to use based on the size of the meal.

If I had spare money and wanted to get new dinnerware, I would probably get Royal Copenhagen. I would probably get some Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted and some Royal Copenhagen Blue Mega Fluted.

Blue Fluted:

Blue Mega Fluted:

 

[Jusa]

I have two sets of dishes. Neither one is special. I bought the Duralex set in the 1970s. It's the one in dark amber glass. The other one is stoneware that Stirling had when we got together. It's grey with a blue ring near the edge. Stirling's set has larger dinner plates. I often decide which to use based on the size of the meal.

If I had spare money and wanted to get new dinnerware, I would probably get Royal Copenhagen. I would probably get some Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted and some Royal Copenhagen Blue Mega Fluted.

Blue Fluted:

Blue Mega Fluted:

I like the mega blue the best!

 

[Meryl]

I have two sets of dishes. Neither one is special. I bought the Duralex set in the 1970s. It's the one in dark amber glass. The other one is stoneware that Stirling had when we got together. It's grey with a blue ring near the edge. Stirling's set has larger dinner plates. I often decide which to use based on the size of the meal.

If I had spare money and wanted to get new dinnerware, I would probably get Royal Copenhagen. I would probably get some Royal Copenhagen Blue Fluted and some Royal Copenhagen Blue Mega Fluted.

Blue Fluted:

Blue Mega Fluted:

These are so lovely @taxlady!

 

[taxlady]

I like the mega blue the best!

Did you notice that it's the same pattern, just magnified? The other one is a classic that everyone's parents had and it was even used in some upscale restos in a special thicker, sturdier version. I love that the much newer mega is a nod to the old tradition. I saw it in the window of a boutique on a trip to Denmark and my jaw dropped. I was an instant fan.

 

[In A Pickle]

I favor planer plates over ones with intricate designs or scenes.
But that one posted is a pretty plate.

My basic plates are fairly old. The ones with the blue around the edge y'all have seen. Maybe 40 years.
And then I have a few that work better for certain foods.

I don't seem to need any replaced. What I need are more dinner forks. My ex live-in used to carry a fork and spoon around with her and if anyone needed one, she's give it to them. I found this out one day when someone with us wanted a spoon and she surprised me by taking one out of her purse.

I'm short a few spoons, but only have four dinner forks. And that irritates me.
But getting new silverware would irritate me more getting used to it.

That drives me nuts too! I have separate pretty decent cutlery in the drawer for taking out of the house but they still take the main cutlery. I’m down one fork and three desert spoons. Every now and then like a loon I count the cutlery and demand everyone goes and looks in their room and bags for it

So I’ve ordered three ‘trial sets’ (try before you buy) and will be buying the cutlery I’ll likely have for the rest of my life soon!

Anyone interested in cutlery might want to read on, anyone one else I’d advise you to cut your losses now

Yesterday I visited a cutlery shop in the Cotswolds to have a look and feel of the cutlery because they have been producing good cutlery since the 50s and I want to be able to replace a single piece when they go missing.

Robert Welch have been producing their most popular ‘Radford bright’ cutlery since 1986 and the one I like the look of ‘Ashbury bright’ since 2006
Both of those ranges are round ended so a lot of it can be put together seamlessly, hopefully that means I should be able to always get replacements.

They also offer trial sets. You choose up to three sets, they send them to you to try for a month and then you send them back. Postage and packing both ways is free of charge but you have to pay £24 per trial set. This is refunded or credited against any purchase.

They aren’t cheap but it will hopefully be a case of buy right buy once

I thought this is worth mentioning because Robert Welch is also very popular in America. Apparently so popular that they produce an ‘English Teaspoon’ and an ‘American teaspoon’

I don’t know if they offer the trial thing in other countries but they certainly carry some of their lines in some American stores.

 

[In A Pickle]

I spent many years with Buck running our furniture repair/restoration business and antiques shop, in which I specialized in china, silver and glassware. I fell in love with everything that came into our shop and ended up with 3 different types of china (all with a service for 18), along with glassware and silverplated flatware, etc.

The "casual" set is called LuRay Pastels, made in the late '40s by Taylor Smith & Taylor and looks like this:
View attachment 77166
I even found LuRay Pastels fabric to make a tablecloth and napkins.

The other two sets would be considered our "good" china that gets used for special occasions and holidays, but I do use it "just for fun" every once in a while.

One is Blue Willow and is the oldest most continuously produced china pattern in the world. At one time, there were more than 200 manufacturers over the globe. Sadly, the number of the makers is now in the single digits.

Our collection includes pieces from many countries and some of the serving pieces are well over 100 years old. You've no doubt seen some. Here's a reminder:
View attachment 77167
I have been in love with the legend that is displayed in its design:

The story centers on Kwang-se, the beautiful daughter of wealthy merchant Tso Ling, who lived in a magnificent pagoda beside a willow tree.

Tso Ling arranged for his daughter to marry a prosperous businessman, but Kwang-se had already fallen deeply in love with Chang, her father's humble but kind-hearted clerk. When Tso Ling discovered their secret romance, he was furious. To prevent their relationship from disrupting his ambitious plans, he imprisoned Kwang-se within their home.

Undeterred by these obstacles, the lovers managed to escape across the sea to a modest cottage. Enraged, Tso Ling pursued them by boat, intent on their capture. Just as he was about to have them killed, the gods, moved by the couple's devotion, transformed Kwang-se and Chang into turtle doves, allowing them to soar together for eternity.

The lovers' story is intricately woven into the design itself, with two birds in flight capturing the essence of their forbidden romance.

We always gave a copy of the legend to folks who bought our shop Blue Willow.

Our third china pattern is a pattern by U.S. maker Homer Laughlin and is called Virginia Rose. However, Laughlin was referring to the "blank" of the dishware rather than the pattern ON it. The blank has a rose-like design incised in the edges/rims before applying the pattern, then glazed and fired. The rims are edged in platinum. Truly sets a beautiful table.

Here:
View attachment 77168

As for our everyday dishware, we depend on Corning's Corelle "Summer Blush." It's a real work horse and simply looks "happy" on the table:
View attachment 77169

Long answer, but perhaps some of you enjoyed it.

Lovely sets
I really like Willow pattern and that was my original choice (love the story too) but there’s no consistent producer in the UK and being able to replace a single plate when I need to was important so I went with Spode instead. Their version was apparently designed for them in 1790 and has been in continuous for over 200 years. I still think the Willow pattern print is nicer though!

 

[In A Pickle]

I just use the restaurant grade plates etc, mostly white. I do have a serving for 8 with serving dishes in fine china purchased at Ashley's on Bloor St. in Toronto years ago all zipped up for special occasions.

https://www.williamashley.com/our-story

I am so glad there’s not one of those here, it would be quite conflicting to feel like you’d died and gone to heaven whilst plunging yourself into a financial hell

 

[pacanis]

Trial cutlery is a great idea.

 

[dragnlaw]

Blue Mega Fluted:

Go for it taxy! I like that one best too. Seems the pattern is a little more spread out.

 

[Shining Wizard]

Now everyone here is telling me buy plates. And I probably will

 

[pictonguy]

I am so glad there’s not one of those here, it would be quite conflicting to feel like you’d died and gone to heaven whilst plunging yourself into a financial hell

Yeah, they are something. I'm not what they would consider a qualitied client, I don't have the money or do I able myself to frequent the store on a regular basis.

Originally they would have a once a year sale, normally around boxing day, and not one of those lame sales they would have everything half price or more, it was a crazy place during that time for obvious reasons. Now it's in their warehouse in the town of Vaughan just outside the city of Toronto, where the discounts are even more.

 

[In A Pickle]

Yeah, they are something. I'm not what they would consider a qualitied client, I don't have the money or do I able myself to frequent the store on a regular basis.

Originally they would have a once a year sale, normally around boxing day, and not one of those lame sales they would have everything half price or more, it was a crazy place during that time for obvious reasons. Now it's in their warehouse in the town of Vaughan just outside the city of Toronto, where the discounts are even more.

Nice. I love a good a proper price slash dinnerware sale.

 

[Jusa]

That drives me nuts too! I have separate pretty decent cutlery in the drawer for taking out of the house but they still take the main cutlery. I’m down one fork and three desert spoons. Every now and then like a loon I count the cutlery and demand everyone goes and looks in their room and bags for it

So I’ve ordered three ‘trial sets’ (try before you buy) and will be buying the cutlery I’ll likely have for the rest of my life soon!

Anyone interested in cutlery might want to read on, anyone one else I’d advise you to cut your losses now

Yesterday I visited a cutlery shop in the Cotswolds to have a look and feel of the cutlery because they have been producing good cutlery since the 50s and I want to be able to replace a single piece when they go missing.

Robert Welch have been producing their most popular ‘Radford bright’ cutlery since 1986 and the one I like the look of ‘Ashbury bright’ since 2006
Both of those ranges are round ended so a lot of it can be put together seamlessly, hopefully that means I should be able to always get replacements.

They also offer trial sets. You choose up to three sets, they send them to you to try for a month and then you send them back. Postage and packing both ways is free of charge but you have to pay £24 per trial set. This is refunded or credited against any purchase.

They aren’t cheap but it will hopefully be a case of buy right buy once

I thought this is worth mentioning because Robert Welch is also very popular in America. Apparently so popular that they produce an ‘English Teaspoon’ and an ‘American teaspoon’

I don’t know if they offer the trial thing in other countries but they certainly carry some of their lines in some American stores.

It's time to put a note in the cutlery drawer, lol. "STOP! DO NOT TAKE THIS OUT OF THE KITCHEN OR HOUSE!"

 

[Kathleen]

What would you like to know? I've probably forgotten more than some folks know, but I'm willing to share what I do remember.

Anything! I love learning about historical patterns and old items. I'd love to know how my grocery store pattern made the jump to be considered "fine china."

I've inherited a lot of older items. Most of my things were never sold in fine establishments. My family did not have that kind of money. I'm very fortunate that I do have some really nice things though. My great grandmother received a ton of hand-painted china - each piece unique - as a wedding gift. Also as wedding gifts, she received some very pretty sterling but again nothing matches, which is all fine with me. Later in life, her 8 siblings bought her a Wm Rogers Memory 1937/Hiawatha grilling set. I'd love to know more about what was the original thought of grilling sets other than they were different and sorta swank for the time. The forks and knives are very different than traditional dinner sets or even luncheon sets. Was it meant to replace the luncheon sets? It's what she used it for.

Some people collect coins. I collect sterling flatware - specifically in Gorham/Durham Fairfax pattern. At this point, I have a pretty complete and large set having just received ice cream forks for my birthday this year! Now...egg spoons.....*sighs* It's a good hobby for me. When people go junk shopping or antiquing, I either look to add to what I have or seek what I am missing. I'm really sad that very few antique shops now keep sterling.

On a side note: I keep nothing sacred for "good or formal" meals. The only one that comes close is my Christmas dish set, which belonged to my grandmother. She bought two sets from Woolworths during an after-Christmas sale and only used them during the 12 days of Christmas. I use them from right after Thanksgiving through Jan 6. Again, not fancy or expensive but priceless to me. The pattern is Poinsettias and Ribbons. I now have many serving pieces as well as glasses to go with it. PLUS, I found some cloth napkins. I feel her near every time I touch them.

 

[In A Pickle]

It's time to put a note in the cutlery drawer, lol. "STOP! DO NOT TAKE THIS OUT OF THE KITCHEN OR HOUSE!"

Funny you should say that, I’m a one for writing instructions on things, the last dishwasher cartridge says LAST ONE. TELL ME BEFORE USING! the washing machine detergent has the same thing written on it and on Tuesday after enduring another no loo roll disaster it too joined their ranks and the last roll at the bottom of the bag now says

Thing is I can’t keep track of it because the boys come home and silently shop for free on my reserves of toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and any other toiletries they’ve run out of!