Seagrass! How perfect and so pretty!

Bpath those are so beautiful!

Ded, were they your Mom's? Gorgeous.

Love seeing everyone's china.. so pretty and so many different personalities!

Mtn, yes they were mom’s. She also had a gorgeous set of gold rimmed Limoges, but that was too fancy for me. I actually like the Spode better.

Seagrass, I love that turkey platter. I know there was a set of Johnson Brothers somewhere . Maybe my sister took them long ago. It was Old Britain Pink Castles. There certainly were enough sets of china in my family. I have the Franciscan Apples, too.

Um.

Sue, i think food looks best on a white plate. My every day plate is

I wash my Noritake by hand. China from the 50’s, that belonged to my MIL. How fun to see everyones china!

No china in the dishwasher, it all has gold— some patterns more than others. No crystal in the dw either, but I do put the silver in now.

Royal Doulton Tonkin. Was my mom’s and now it’s my daughter’s.

Noritake Nancy. My aunt gave her set when I got married a million years ago.

No to the dishwasher. I once read the gold rim is at it’s most vulnerable state when the dishes are very hot. The advice was to allow dishes to cool down before emptying the dishwasher.

Yes it goes in the dishwasher. Mine is Mikassa Trousdale. We wash the stemware by hand.

Lenox Autumn Harvest.

This photo is from Lenox, my table is not nearly as festive. l leave room for food.

I should set the table soon.

Lenox Hayworth for dinner, maybe shaking it up using Lenox Holiday for pie.

No, we wash the "special occasion" tableware by hand. There's something almost ceremonial about it to me, and I think DH feels the same. We hand wash together and enjoy the process.

Here you go! 40 years old. In and out of a Dishwasher for 40 years. I was young and so scared of color.
Noritake

Still beautiful!

Thanks, Mtn. It was my grandmother’s pattern and I always loved it. When she passed away another relative got the china, so I bought abd registered for it on my own. Still love it. It doesn’t coordinate with my dining room decor, but I’m not on Pinterest anyway so, it still makes me happy.

It still amazes me that I have never had good china because I truly love it. If not using plain white, this set from the early '90's usually makes an appearance. Stephen Dweck fruit mosaics and plum plates by Sasaki. Makes a pretty but pretty casual table. I also have some plum stemware I can add. Love seeing all your beautiful china!

No, mine is

Pink Spray Theodore Haviland NY. It was my grandmother’s and is hand painted. I do put my Christmas china that my husband bought for me in the dishwasher. It seems fine.

I love that so many of the china was handed down from Moms and Grandmothers. It does make you think of them when you use it.

I fell in love with Pfaltzgraff Naturewood, and later they came out with Winterwood. It seemed that for years and years everyone got me pieces of one or the other.

I use them for everyday and for holidays.

Jennifer Hogan - I came very close so many times to buying that Winterwood pattern. I still love it.

Sigh. I must be in the H**zz doghouse. I've tried to post twice to this thread and it got poofed. Was it something I said? Haha

Nice to see your china sets everyone! If my post(s) show up then you can see mine.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Back to the kitchen for me. Enjoy your day! Oh, and I handwash the china and crystal, in case my post never shows up.

edit to add: but this post shows up...

Ruby, that pattern is gorgeous!

I love everyone’s china. We’re not entertaining, but here’s mine Noritake Gardena ans Heisey Orchid glassware. They didn’t produce Gardena for bery long, so a little harder to find.

Oh no, more china to envy! The gardenia, swoon... and that china cabinet!

Ded, my china is from my Dad. He thought that "ladies" should have certain things. I recall these included things like a strand of Mikimoto pearls, a set of fine china, and a rocking chair. My sister, SIL, and I all got to pick these things out over the years. They were not give for a birthday or holiday, just gifts. He was a very sentimental person and loved beautiful things, even moreso than my Mom.

Love seeing all the beautiful china. Today I’m using my vintage Mason’s Bow Bells ironstone along with my vintage Wilkinson Royal Staffordshire ironstone. I use the Wilkinson (off white) every day and do put it in the dishwasher. The Mason’s I will hand wash. At Christmas I use the Wilkinson with red transfer ware.

Teeda - gorgeous w the layered placemats (i am stealing that idea). Love the olives (?) too!

I love seeing your beautiful china! Our Thanksgiving “china” was passed down to me from my mother in law. DH doesn’t remember a Thanksgiving without these plates. You have a choice of green or yellow for your dining pleasure and be sure to fill each puka (hole).

Our pattern is Johns Service Plate, Hollywood California. Plates are 13”!!

We always have a big gang of random people at our beach house and one year the plates came out and someone exclaimed ”prison plates!” So that’s what we eat on once a year, prison plates. My family and friends would want nothing less!!

Such beautiful pieces. Love seeing all the patterns. If I could do it over again I would select a different pattern for each place setting - then I wouldn't be restricted to just one design. When we initially picked out china it never occurred to me that there was a different option.

Oh, my, you all are feeding my china obsession.

The china is in the dishwasher now, the pots can wait.

BpathBoathouse, exactly the same here. Recovering from turkey coma. Pots in awhile, not yet.

Looking at all this lovely china, so much of it handed down from parent to child, it amazes me when i read that ” your children don’t want your china, crystal and silver”. That is a sad thought. I hope younger generations learn to appreciate fine things —— and brown furniture!

Ded - I'm afraid that is all too true. Would your sons be interested in those pieces that you treasure?

I was happy to hear DS#2 ask if were using the 'good' silver tonight. I had to remind him that there is only one set of silver, the other set is everyday stainless steel. But we did use the silver and he commented a second time that I even gave the little kids (all under 5 ) silver.

I wonder every now and then if any of my three kids would want my china, crystal or silver. I think my DDIL might end up with it. She grew up in a formal household and appreciates quality items. Both DD and DS#2 live in condos and really don't have room for any of it. Plus DD is a minimalist and is happy with with my old Corningware. DS#2 likes using it but would never want to care for it in his own home.

I ended up using my second set of china that does go into the dishwasher. We had one guest coming late and two others leaving early so that was just easier.

Neither of my sons have any interest. Two of my three nieces already have nice china from their mother and grandmother.

I was delighted when my son’s SO saw the table last night and commented on the pretty china. Hopefully it will be hers one day although they have no children so heaven knows where it eill go after that.

I enjoyed using the sterling silver flatware. Since it too likely has nowhere to go after me, Im considering using it every day. It’s so nice to hold, with just the right weight and balance. Why hide it away only to come out once or twice a year? Of course there is the issue of polishing it.

My kids want my stuff, so I consider myself lucky in that regard. Oh and,, brown furniture is starting to pop up again.

My Mom convinced me years ago to use my good silver every day. It doesn't really need polishing when in continuous use, unless you like it blinding. IMHO when it's too polished it can start to look fake. IME, I regretted using it every day (esp w young kids). Lots of disappearing spoons, a few things mangled in the disposal, etc. But adults should use it, yes!

We use the sterling several times a month but not daily and only the tips of the fork tines need to be polished every now and then. Reed & Barton closed in 2015 and I only have service for 12 so I'd rather not have to replace a missing spoon. We have 20 place settings of my china. Orignally we had service for 12 but one year Wanamaker's mistakenly advertised it at some ridiculously low price. I was out of town visiting family and DH called them to inquire about the price - he even told them it was an error. They said they would honor the price and when I returned he surprised me with 8 extra place settings.

I have three 12 piece place settings of my stainless so we never run out. Gorham is another company that's no longer in business.

When DS & DDIL replaced their old stainless they bought 2 sets and extra spoons.

Now i have my set and also my mother’s, so I am awash in silver. My set of stainless is looking pretty sad, especially the knives. The style was retired years ago. Ive bought a few replacement knives on ebay. I hate to think of the silver being melted down so I may as well use it. I can see saving the china for fancier occasions because it is more likely to be broken or chipped.

Today I have to think about not eating so much.

I'm glad you've decided to use your silver, especially since you have 2 sets. They manage to elevate even a simple meal. This thread has inspired me to use the good china too - or at least use it more often.

DH's sister inherited 2 sets of sterling and never used them. Her husband's aunt worked in the china department in Gimbel's in downtown Pittsburgh and over the years purchased 2 full sets - one for herself and one for her sister. They were rather ornate and my DIL didn't care for silver. She tossed them into a suitcase and stored it in the basement under the stairs. I wonder whatever happened to them? I'll have to ask my niece someday.

Maire, my MIL had a full set of china, silver and crystal. I often wonder what became of it. I am guessing it ended up in a storage unit until my ex died. He never got rid of a thing! i have a feeling it ended up with wife #2’s daughters. The right thing to do would have been to offer it to my sons, although she probably did them a favor by saving them from having to deal with it.

When my aunt moved to senior living, her son and DDIL were helping clear the house. She had a lovely set of china she bought years before she ever got married, when she was living abroad. It had a nice story and was truly classic, a thin gold Greek key border. When I stopped by the house there were a couple of quiltd boxes left. I asked what became of the rest, her son shrugged. I rescued the two left, just dinner plates and salad plates. They now live under my buffet, but I will use them for Christmas (my ”concept color” this year is gold, and they will be perfect) and she will love seeing them.

I’ve probably told this story here before…

My mom doesn’t use the dishwasher for anything except when she has company. And what does she use when she has company? Her gold rimmed china. I’ve told her and showed her how the dishwasher is ruining the china, but it continues. The silver lining is I’ll feel less guilty if I toss it when she dies, which would be sadder if I didn’t already have my own china buried deep in the basement.

I have a button on my baseball cap that reads "Use the good dishes". (Along with another that says "I fought cancer and kicked its ass").

Wanamaker's... Gimbel's ... next you'll be talking' Strawbridge & Clothier!

You’re funny, Mtn. Dont forget Lit Brothers. Not sure they had a fancy china department.

OMG yes!

Interesting, Lit Brothers was founded by a woman! In 1891, Rachel P. Lit (1858-1919, later surnamed Weddel, still later Arnold) opened a women's clothing shop on the corner of Market and N. 8th Streets. With the administration and innovative advertising techniques of her brothers, Colonel Samuel David Lit (1859-1929) and Jacob David Lit (1872-1950), their small store soon became one of the largest retail stores in Philadelphia.

Define "good china." I think anything hand painted or with metallic finishes should be hand-washed. But the rest of it? Seems fine to put it in the dishwasher. When I got married ca. 2002, I didn't want "good" china. We got Denby everyday, which my ex was drawn to. He kept it in the divorce and I started looking around for something else to eat off of. I found 4-ish place settings on FBM of Franciscan Antigua. I was super familiar with Franciscan Starburst (what MCM person isn't?) and knew of their more serene, Jackie Kennedy-esque Dawn, which was my mother's wedding china. But I had never seen Antigua before and fell for it and its ca. 1966 tiki vibe instantly. I've picked up additional pieces in recent years and will continue to do so. It's my good china, my everyday china. It's all the things.

Nice, Jakabedy. Ill post my mcm Mikasa which is in boxes in the basement, dont ask me why.

Mtn, i did not know that Lit Brothers was started by a woman . How interesting. I do know that the building is known as the cast ironbuilding. I may have to make a pilgrimage in honor of Rachel. Maybe Ill have my hat trimmed. What does that even mean? Is it like trimming a Christmas tree?

More or less. it is adding decorative elements to a hat.

I think they should bring back the Notions department.

Yes! Notions. Wanamakers had the best notions department in the basement.