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I definitely would not use expensive china for every day use but I can understand that some might want to do that. This is my everyday china below. They don't make it anymore but I pick up pieces occasionally from eBay....I have placesettings for 20 so I use it for dinner parties and everyday - it is relatively inexpensive china and I really like white or cream for a base to put food on - just looks nicer. I do have several kinds (colors/patterns) of salad plates and I will mix it up with the white china for everyday.
Johnson Brothers China Regency White 20 Piece Dinnerware Set $72, You Save $48.00 (http://www.distinctive-decor.com/johnson-brothers-regency-white-20-piece-dinnerware-set.html - broken link)
Here is the spode I use for Easter and Christmas...I was lucky to find someone locally who was selling my same pattern and color - they were moving back to England and had big platters, gravy boats and vegetable dishes that I bought at a very good price.
Regency is one of the classics that looks great for formal or casual. My sister had that pattern as her only china. Congrats on the deal on the Spode. That pattern has an antique look to it - just lovely.
One thing that the article does not mention: Bone China is "whiter" than fine china. If you are trying to mix/match patterns, and one is bone china, and one is not, the "whites" will not match.
And, unless I am mistaken, bone china is stronger than fine china.
Lol I see we shall differ on the subject. I want something nice, but I also don't want to leave cr@p to the kids I plan to have...
Honey, my China isn't "crap" lenox, another set of Royal worchestchsire, another ser of villeroy & Boch, but.....if you refuse to eat on my finest, my chinet, then I shall remove you from my guestlist forthwith!
Leave "crap" to the kids.....hey, they would sell it on Ebay in a heartbeat, anyways!
One thing that the article does not mention: Bone China is "whiter" than fine china. If you are trying to mix/match patterns, and one is bone china, and one is not, the "whites" will not match.
And, unless I am mistaken, bone china is stronger than fine china.
Hope that helps.
Do you know what bone china is made of? Ummm....bones!
Lenox is made form a certain type of clay, indigenous to the USA, I'm not sure where, look it up if you're so inclined.....
But seriously, my "finest" is Chinet....that's what I've served my little ones on, pretty paper plates, no worry about them breaking things, easy to clean up afterwards, hey, does anyone really care about the patterns, etc, anymore?
My pattern is discontinued, so, people will either think I inherited it, or bought it at the Goodwill---seriously, I saw a nice set of Nortikae at Goodwill, and, what was I doing there? why, going out to lunch with my friends from Grosse Pointe!
My favorite isn't even China---its stoneware, Desert Rose, Franciscian Ware. My MIL hates it, says its "gaudy' but I just love it, those pretty pink roses, I have fun mixing up the tablecloths, last Easter I used bright blue tableclothes, purple runners, the pink plates, and green tinted glassware i bought at.....Goodwill! hey, it really looked nice!
You know, if you ever get a hankering for really fine china, you can always rent it. My mother rented china from a caterer for an open house, it was great, let them worry about breakage, etc
I like Portmeirion Botanical (Earthenware) which I began collecting in the 1970's when I was traveling internationally and was in Ireland or England on a weekly basis. I have various place settings (the botanical designs all mix and match), teapots, mugs, casseroles, serving plates, etc. It holds up to everyday use and is dishwasher safe. For holidays and formal entertaining I have Lenox Eternal which was a wedding gift that survived my 1st marriage! The Lenox has to be handwashed due to the 24kt. gold band, but it is classically beautiful and adapts to a wide variety of themes and tablescapes. I've also picked up china at antique and thrift stores. I'm kind of a place setting junkie! I've been known to "smuggle" them in the house and into cabinets before DH notices...
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