Should we be using our 'best' china?

We have a Doulton "Tumbling Leaves" dinner service given as a wedding present in 1964 which has been used every day since including by my two sons as soon as they were old enough. We have had very few breakages (bone china is very tough) but after years of dishwashing most of the pattern has gone. We have enjoyed it for 52 years now (better than being kept unused for all that time, I think!) We also have cut glass wine glasses (usually only used for best), but I'm sure the younger generation won't want them as their tastes are so different from ours.

We don't have 'best' anything. What we have, we use. Why keep things hidden away? If they're beautiful then bring them out into the open and let everyone enjoy them. I understand the concern about delicate items, but at least have them somewhere they're not going to get broken but can be appreciated.

I must admit that the family failing is clumsiness. So nothing delicate would ever exist for long with us.

Anything with gilding is a nightmare it comes off even hand washing but dishwasher is the enemy, also can't go in microwave.

Please don't be tempted to put crystal in dishwasher - makes glass more brittle & liable to break.

I have my Dinner Set from when DH & I married in 1991 - M & S Ashberry which is suitable for dishwasher but I rarely use it now I am on my own (widow). I do however have some Bone China mugs for my Fruit Tea in the afternoon - tastes much better

DD is a florist and china cups and saucers are very popular made up with a floral display, they are very popular for Mothers day and vintage style weddings.
I have now given all of my china to her and she now buys them from charity shops.

But somebody will buy them and love them, jenpax

It's such a shame that lovely china and crystal is no longer valued it's the same with dark wood furniture. My great grandparents on my fathers side loved collecting antiques and so did my mothers family as a result I have a house full of lovely old pieces such as 19th century French side board and a full silver cutlery service in a rosewood case.
My mother loved her furniture and china etc and I used to help her clean the silver wear and polish the wood so I grew to love it too! I have tried to look after her things since she died although I did get rid of a couple of small items but my own three daughters have no interest in inheriting any of this! They look for different things!
The eldest might like a couple of bits but her house is already fully kitted out, the middle daughter might like a couple of things but again space is an issue but the youngest likes white French style stuff and modern things so I am sure lots will end up at the charity shop

Use it. Everyone seems to use plain white china these days so nobody wants the (expensive) beautiful old stuff ?

The tea service with cherubs actually sounds charming if you were thinking of selling it let me know!

Bluesmum that was a bargain, I paid almost that for each dinner plate 24 years ago. Enjoy your china

I save nothing for best. Life's too short. I was roundly told off on Gransnet for mentioning in passing that I'd worn a new summer (sale) dress while looking after one of my grandsons. As far as I'm concerned, pretty things are meant to be worn, not to hang in a wardrobe for most of the year. The same goes for china, linen, perfume (particularly perfume, in fact - what good is it when it goes off?). How sad that beautiful things are found in drawers unwrapped and unused when someone dies.

Definitely use it, but continue to do so with care. My friend has a beautiful Royal Doulton tea service that is never used, being oreserved for Heaven kniws what, it is simply a possession. She knows i have always coveted it so you can imagine my delight when i saw exactly the same set,, but complete with sugar basins and milk jugs, 8 breakfast plates, 8 other plates slighter smaller, 8 tea plates, eight cups and eight saucers, all for the princely sum of £30!!!! I very quickly went in and bought it and now i use it every day with absolute pleasure!

I once read a story about an old man laying out clothes for his wife to be buried in. He opened a box and took out some beautiful silk underwear that was wrapped in tissue. When asked about it he said his wife had been saving it for a special occasion. Says it all really. Use the china and enjoy

Not china, but I have a set of 6 heavy and decorative solid silver 'ice cream spoons' - supposedly Georgian, and they do look old. They were a silver wedding present to my parents and AFAIK they were never used. And we've never used them, either - does seem a shame but I hardly ever serve anything where they'd be suitable - they're only about large-teaspoon size.

I just had this conversation with my sister last night, she was urging me to use my Royal Doulton china. The dinner, tea and coffee sets plus all the add ons like tureens take up so much room. I love china coffee and teapots but I am not to be trusted near a sink or tap, the spouts are at risk.
I think we should use them because they will just end up in a skip when we are gone, the next generation may not feel the same about pretty china.

I don't have any best china and wouldn't want some, I know it would sit unused in a cupboard.

I do have a set of six lemonade glasses and a matching jug which was my grandmothers which sits in a box on top of the cupboard.

After reading this I'm going to get them out and use them. I will cry if one gets broken though, perhaps I should sell them, if someone is willing to pay for them surely that will show they will appreciate them?

Oh do use it! I use wedding present cutlery, beautiful heavy silver, every day although it is hand wash. Only takes a minute to do, and it makes everything look special, even toast. I sometimes reflect that 'this could be my last meal' (not pessimistic, just realistic, as one day it will be) and I want to have eaten it off a decent plate with my lovely cutlery in use. Do use it!

Use it and enjoy it I'm the same with most of my possessions these days including clothes I don't keep things for best any longer everyday is the best day now I've reached a certain age.

Our "best" set is Old English Country Roses, which we use most weekends. I've broken a few items lately, and replacements are available online. I don't think it's china though?
After Mum died I cleared all their stuff and tried to sell a beautiful dinner service, also a very fine bone china tea service of my grandparents, from China. Tried a few auction houses, but they all said "there's no demand".

When I was younger my little sister told me her friend always wore her nicest clothes and went out looking her best on every occasion. It struck me then that this was a very good way of enjoying every moment and making the most of life. At the time we were pretty poor and saved things 'for best' so it was a bit of a revelation. I also met a woman many years later whose best frind died suddenly when she was only 17 and this friend never scrimped on anything with the idea that you never knew how long you had left.

I try to use and wear my finest things and clothes but still sometimes have to fight my instincts to 'save things up for best'.

It's Sunday and I am sitting in bestist clothes, in my bling and eating off the Spode Blue Itaian china

Heard a talk by antiques dealer recently. Apparently no-one wants crystal these days .I suppose because it's elaborate and doesn't go in dishwashers .We have 6 glasses (wedding present) which we use only on high days and holidays .Maybe Aldi wine would taste (even) better from them...
I have three very pretty tea sets-one is Japanese antique (wedding present) one Chinese ditto(gift from husbands aunt who knew I loved it )and one from my mum ,which is also quite old ,which I do occasionally use as it's bone chins and quite robust. Though I do wash it by hand. .They are in a kitchen display cupboard, so while not in use they are ''admired'
My 12 settings dinner service(Royal Worcester ,plain white with silver rim,bought quite recently ) only comes out at Christmas but as my second best set -bought years ago in Tesco's -is dwindling (we use plain white for every day)I may need to bring it out of store soon
I rarely use the beautiful damask tablecloth and the embroidered ones I inherited either.Mainly because they are a pain to iron !

With a dishwasher which did 30 deg washes I risked our 1974 wedding presents with gold trim. So far, so good, and regularly used with visitors, not everyday. At least we're getting more use than in the years it stayed in the cupboard.

Use them, use them! That is, if it gives you pleasure. Not if you feel obliged. If something doesn't give you pleasure - get rid! Hindus (I think) have a custom of getting rid of stuff in their 60s, simplifying their lives.

I recently gave several sets of china tea sets to the charity shop. They were mum's pride and joy. I also have loads of Waterford crystal which stays in the cupboard because it's not dishwasher proof. I have three decanters. Who uses them? I know my family won't want these things. What to do ...

Not guests American......guests here! ☹️

Guests American for a week; we used the unused best China and haven't stopped. A lovely way to remember the donor of 46 years ago. Should have done it sooner!?