Your thoughts on china. The dinnerware, not the country.
Okay. So. After sharing my strongly-held opinions on dinnerware here at SE and with many a newly-engaged couple, blossoming chef, etc., I've decided it's time to jump in and take my own advice. Yes, I'm admitting with great embarrassment that, although I talk the lots-of-good-quality-plain-white-porcelain talk, I don't walk the walk. (There are reasons for this, but they are sad and boring.) Lucky for me, when I told hubby it was time we got ourselves the good dinnerware we'll have the rest of our lives, he was 100% on board. Not only am I blessed with a mate who indulges my few wants and whims, but he's got the means to spare no expense. Lucky for him, I'm frugal, and like to get great quality at a good price. I'll be buying open stock (no pre-packed settings for me), and lots of it. I've been leaning toward something practical and durable, along the lines of Apilco or Pillivuyt. But hubby's been doing his own research, and has suggested Wedgwood White or Villeroy & Boch as something that would be likely to outlive us and be appreciated by heirs. I know bone china is the best stuff, and it's probably a better value overall, but I'm torn. I want it to be pretty, durable, and easily added to or replaced. But I hate to spend more than is actually necessary.
So, if you could have ANY white dinnerware you wanted, which would be your first choice? And which would be a close second?
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16 Comments:
Well amongst the options you listed I would go with the Wedgwood. It is great quality and will last many many years to come. If you wanted a more formal china any white dinnerware with a platinum rim is great, and can be mixed and matched pretty easily. I just got married and we received the Waterfod Kilbarry china, which is a really nice white china with a platinum rim.
Sarahrm at 4:25PM on 12/07/07
I am a china and tableware hussy (not to be confused with tablescapes). Yes you heard it here on SE. I have so many sets. I tend to change my mood and go out and buy what moves me.
I like Villeroy and Boch because it is not the standard. Every woman in my family has Lenox eternal and I hate hate hate it. We tend to buy plates more than anything else usually 12 of them. Sometimes I get the salad plates and a few serving dishes. I do have one primary set of china with practcally every darn piece they made, it is Mikasa. We hardly ever use it anymore. It just is not sexy anymore.
I will again remind you Mikasa is closing their retail outlets and they have marked down and then added an additional 40% off. So if you live near a retail location wouldn't hurt to pop in and look. They had lots of white sets when I was there in Nov.
Also check ebay, estate sales etc. People often sell their pattern to buy a new one.
The gold and platinum plates go in and out of style. I have them both.
JerzeeTomato at 4:52PM on 12/07/07
Royal Copenhagen (I have it), but few can afford it. It's above all else.
jonfoxx at 5:19PM on 12/07/07
Clarification:
This will be both our everyday and formal china, so only plain white is being considered (no metal, decorations, etc.). Our tastes in all areas of life are timeless/classic, clean lines, elegant not fussy, etc.
Additional question:
Would you go rimmed or rimless on plates? I have an opinion, but I want yours.
Thanks everyone!
LoCo at 6:03PM on 12/07/07
I have a lovely set purchased eleventy jillion years ago from a company called The Treasure Chest. It's white with a very small platinum colored pattern all around the edge of the plate. I don't like plates with busy patterns in the center of the plate because when I serve food, I want my food to be star of the show.
If you want to use anything you purchase for everyday use, get bone china. It's a bit more durable than fine china. Don't get a trendy pattern that will be discontinued a half hour after you make your purchase. Get something timeless, that can be used with a number of tableware patterns - I like metallics for this reason.
If I had my "druthers" I'd have gone with something gold because it's hard to coordinate my platinum edged-white dish with warmer colors for Autum (T-Giving!).
chiff0nade at 12:19PM on 12/08/07
i absolutely adore my heavy white french bistro plates that are so deep and so wide rimmed that they could double as soup plates. they turn everything into an instant feast. i got them on sale at fishs eddy for almost nothing and they are my dinnerware of choice.
having said that, i'm a sucker for villeroy and boch flowered platters and bowls.
cybercita at 12:22PM on 12/08/07
Wow, I wish that I could weigh in on this discussion, because all of these sound beautiful. Sadly, all of my dishes have come from antique and "junque" stores over the years -- same-ish colors, but nothing matches. Hopefully I'll be able to have nice china someday! :)
sheeats at 12:28PM on 12/08/07
I have Wedgwood Strawberry and Vine - a plain white with a raised pattern of strawberries and leaves (no colour - there is another WW pattern that has strawberries painted on - pretty, but that's not it). I love it. I have just about every piece you can get in it except the soup tureen. It is versatile, looks fabulous in winter against dark table coverings, and delicate in summer against floral patterns. No regrets on choosing that when I got married - even if I regret the guy I married (he's now my ex!)
Maureen at 12:29PM on 12/08/07
I might be considered a white porcelain junkie, :). I mainly do open stock. In addition to the brands you mentioned, check out Revol as well.
If you want something a bit more delicate, but still possible to put in the dishwasher, my absolute favorite pieces are from Bernardaud "Naxos" and "Fusion Blanc". I don't know what part of the country you are from, but in California, Macy's carries Naxos. A friend of mine has Bernardaud "Louvre"; it is a bit more ornate, but still white porcelain and the line contains an amazing number of different pieces to collect.
souvenir at 1:34PM on 12/08/07
Personally I would go one or both of two routes. Rosenthal has a line called Thomas Loft with subtle concentric circles around the outside of some pieces and covering others. The dishes are white porcelain with an Asian aesthetique.
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Rosenthal-Loft-Tableware-Collection/dp/B000E7P9TQ
For plain white along the lines of Apilco I like the house selection at Crate and Barrel. The quality is the same, but the price is much more gentle.
zapatista at 3:59PM on 12/08/07
If we go porcelain, I think we're down to Apilco or Denby White. I know there are Denby lovers out there... thoughts?
If we decide on bone, it's either Wedgwood White or Eternity. I'm leaning toward bone for it's formal uses. But we'd be using it as true everyday tableware, too. Which means dinner five nights a week, breakfast every day, and daily runs through the dishwasher... crazy?
What about rimmed plates or rimless? I see advantages and disadvantages to both. What's your experience?
LoCo at 7:23PM on 12/08/07
I have a combined set of my parents' and my late aunt's Arzberg 1328 pattern. Plainest white, no embellishments, and I love it.
AdamH at 9:45PM on 12/08/07
I'm getting rid of my "good" china. I have 20 place settings with everything you can imagine. I bought them in 1968, prior to my wedding, and used them for every special occasion. The only damage is a small chip in the sugar bowl. My sister bought the same set and we have merged on occasion. Mine is now packed up and I want to split it between my daughters, but neither has really settled down and they're not into material things - too hard to move they say. I'm no longer able to entertain a house full of guests and I have some everyday dishes that I just love. They are oven and microwave safe, not too expensive to replace. Haven't decided if I should find someplace to store them (I'm moving and downsizing), sell them, or give to my sister. Glad I bought them when I was young.
p.s. I was given a boatload of white china as a wedding present. I gave a huge dinner party on that first New Year's Eve, stacked the piles of washed dishes on ....tray tables...(you guessing yet?), then we all went clubbing. Arrived home the next morning and every piece was broken.
PerkyMac at 11:11PM on 12/08/07
I have always loved Apilco - plain and simple, but lovely and classic. If you were going for 2 sets, one for every day, and another for formal, then I might chose something in addition to the Apilco.
dettling05 at 1:54PM on 12/10/07
Re: rimmed or rimless
It's funny... until you asked the question, I've never thought about which I prefer. Now that I am thinking about it, while I have both, I use my rimmed pieces more often.
If you can find whites that look good together, you could go for small amounts of both (say place settings for 2), and try both modes out for awhile to see which you prefer.
souvenir at 12:00PM on 12/12/07
I currently am having a similar dilema. I am living in Switzerland which is on the boarder of France. Though Alpico and Pillivuyt gets alot of attention in the states, Revol seems to be the brand of French porcelan that is most popular here. Yes, you can find alpico and pillivuyt, but most of the department stores carry revol. These are all French brands, so I guess the French public/ chefs prefer Revol. This was the same when we went to Paris over the holidays. Most of the restaurant supply stores carrying top quality products always carried revol. Hope this helps
willoadams at 6:40AM on 01/12/08