February 11th, 2022
The New York Times
‘It’s a Fine Time for Fine China’
After I posted on Aerin Lauder’s talk about her book Entertaining Beautifully last September, I started using my fine china daily. It’s a Fine Time for Fine China, an article in this week’s NYTs, reminded me of that post as it’s based on the same premise. To make things easier, I selected a few pieces from my favorite patterns and moved them from the pantry to a drawer in the kitchen. The easy access made all the difference. Now I have breakfast on my mother’s, grandmother’s, and great-grandmother’s china almost every day.
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I do the same though it is the vintage sets I bought on Replacements while I was supervising our renovation ! Makes me so happy !
LOVE Replacements, just bought plates in my everyday pattern, ivory Wedgwood Edme, in pale blue — they make me so happy!
We have Sunday dinner on our China almost every weekend and use our “good” flatware as well. I’ve stopped collecting plates since our apartment can only fit so much, but I’ve been keeping my eye on a few patterns on Replacements.
So beautiful. And smart! I particularly love the pattern on the bottom right. My sister had quite a collection of china teacups and saucers so divvied them out and kept some but it spurred me to go through a box of china my father left me that I’d been avoiding. Well didn’t I find about thirty pieces of my grandmother’s china. Not a pattern I would have chosen but who cares, she loved it so that fills me with joy every time I use it.
P. S. What is Replacements (besides a great 90’s band)? Thanks
Click here – Replacements
I love this! I recently converted our “creation station” (the boy’s craft/study area when young) to a butler’s pantry. This makes my china, silver, and linens so accessible that we use them all the time! In fact, just finished setting our table for a Valentine’s/Birthday dinner party tomorrow and it was a breeze. I used to “save” but have learned to ENJOY!
Do you put your fine China in the dishwasher? Or wash them by hand?
I hand wash the gold rimmed pieces. But, I remember the housekeeper putting all of it in the dishwasher.
I’ve been planning on some kitchen reorganization so I can do this (need to polish the silver first) and this is just the impetus I needed to move it to the top of my list. Great idea.
Use to do a lot of “saving” for just special occasions.
Now, I select from one of our fine china patterns what will show off best what I’m serving –
makes dining even more fun and pleasurable.
Ditto the silver – love its patina and heft.
No more “saving!!”
I feel that if I am fortunate enough to have beautiful table settings (inherited, bought or gifted) we should use and enjoy them. While my husband does think my china collection is a bit excessive, he does really enjoy using our pieces.
Yes, yes, and yes to all of the above!
I use the dishwasher for my everyday Wedgewood but hand wash all of my fine china, silver and stemware, especially the old, and irreplaceable. Touching, caring for, and using all of the tabletop pieces our mothers and grandmothers used before us is a beautiful way to honor our past and keep memories alive. I wish I could see everyone’s china! Such great stories!
Well you know I love and agree with this directive! Adding more tabletop storage to the kitchen this spring so my husband can have back some of his office closet
Kathy, We have been using our inherited silver for many years now. You might need to give yours an initial polish but we have found that if you rotate and use all of the pieces regularly, then there is no need to polish them. We don’t put our silver in the dishwasher but with the gentler dishwashers these days, I bet you could. Love, Pamela
I love this idea of using your good china and enjoying your beautiful things rather than saving them for the “right moment”. Preston, what is the floral pattern on the bottom right of your photo? Beautiful. I have the same Anna Weatherley coffee service as shown in the Aerin Lauder article and believe me, my coffee tastes better in the morning!
It’s Limoges Adriana. I use it at breakfast mostly.
Thanks Pamela – that’s good to know. I do think mine needs an initial polish, but I have heard with regular use, it’s OK. And, I do have a new, gentle dishwasher! Xo
Not only do I love using my inherited china and silver for its beauty but I genuinely appreciate that my grandmothers are part of my every day life as I do so. Each woman took great pride in acquiring their pieces so taking care of them and having them accessible feels like an appropriate homage.