Anyone who knows me, knows I like dishes. Different patterns for different occasions. I used to want twelve different patterns, a place setting of each, for a mix and match dinner party.
These two photos were taken the weekend of April 8, 2016, Anna and Aric’s Austin, Texas wedding.
(You might remember Champ the ring bearer)
This week’s photo challenge from Cheri Lucas Rowlands is CURVE
My friend Joanne, mother of the bride, was showing me the fine China she brought to the wedding. Wrapped up carefully and boxed in the back of her car. She had moved it from Omaha to Florida.
Here is the story of the plates- The pink and gold Lenox fine China plates were from Carolin, a dear friend and neighbor where they used to live in Omaha. She has since passed but years ago, Carolin was moving, she gave Joanne the plates to save for her daughter, Anna. Anna had worked for her in high school.
“Antoinette Pink pattern #M356/262, introduced in 1937 and discontinued in 1974”
The smaller plate is made by Rosenthal but we don’t have the name of the pattern. Joanne bought those at an estate sale in Nebraska.
When I got married (42 years ago) people still selected a China pattern, service for twelve, I already had my grandmother’s silver flatware but I think people were selecting silver patterns, too. Nowadays it is mostly stainless steel flatware.
Just this week, my sister sent me an article Oh, for keepsakes! What to do with Grandma’s China by Carolyn Hax of the Washington Post about how children of today’s world don’t care to inherit Grandmother’s dishes.
My own daughter houses my grandmother’s delicate Haviland china. I doubt she’s used them. I love to set a table with pretty china and yes, we know that the gold can’t go into a microwave. In fact, fine china can’t go into a microwave either but there’s something lovely about a pretty plate set on a tablecloth that makes the meal a celebration. I even like washing and handling china, thinking of the good time everyone had at a special dinner. Clearly I am old fashioned. Clearly old.
Joanne served an ice cream dessert in a China tea cup to a young visitor. The little girl was delighted. Joanne’s mother said I never would have thought to use it for anything except a cup of tea. Joanne said a first course of soup in a cup and saucer with a side of cheesestraws is lovely, too.