China lament

I love a China cup for my morning tea but my dinner plates are all odd. I don’t have formal dinners just come and get it dinners so I wanted everything to clash !!! I love all the different designs and colours. It’s not posh, it’s cheery

Ah, I love real China, Fifty years ago we were given as a Wedding present from my Auntie, a dinner service, Royal Doulton, it is exquisite, but has only come out at Christmas time on Christmas Day.The set is complete but I doubt if my Daughter would use it once I pop off, although she will keep in I know, maybe it will come out at Christmases in future, who knows.l

My mother passed away earlier this year. She had a beautiful Royal Doulton tea, dinner service; 91 pieces collected over many years, including dishes, teapot etc. This went to auction and sold for £50!! I have no words - it's tragic that beauty and quality no longer have any value in our throw-away society.

For some reason Royal Albert 'Old country roses' was amazingly popular back in the 70s when I was selling it. I never fell for its particular charms though. Also popular was Paragon 'Victoriana Rose' and 'Kutani Crane'.
I was completely spoiled by the china we stocked. There was such interesting stuff like the 'Blind Earl' s' china which had very raised underglaze flowers and plants so that the blind earl (whoever he was) could feel the design. It was lovely to see and feel.
'Black Victoria' was another Paragon one. Supposed to be Queen Victoria's mourning china. We even had a Wedgewood porous teapot at one point. Pretty pointless I'd have thought.

When we lived in Singapore, Noritake was the 'thing' to buy, but we bought a lovely pale green dinner service from New Zealand and used it constantly; still got a few bits left now (nearly 50 years on).
Then DH's aunty and uncle gave us a lovely green Meakin service when we got married and used that for best. DD has most of it now, as she loves it.
Then we were posted to Australia and bought a new dinner service from Boots to take with us.
About 15 years ago decided to upgrade and started on a Denby collection (again green!). Of course what happened within a year? They discontinued it! But we used to love going up to the Denby factory shop in Derbyshire trying to find things to match it in the seconds shop. Use that service every day now, decided not to keep stuff for best, life's too short. Really really miss the beautiful china and glass shop we used to have in our town, closed down and gone the way of so many other independent shops.

Jane10' I also worked in the China/glass department of a large store and I loved it and learnt so much about the different makes of fine china teasets, We were on commission and whenever American customers came in they bought lot of Royal Albert Old Country Roses, usually 12 of everything of a complete set , so I did very well on those sales, I could never afford Country Roses but always wanted a set, Last year I was given a full teaset , teapot everything , it stays on display in a kitchen cupboard and only comes out for best, Everything comes to those who wait ,, I got my set in the end and I am so happy with it , it's nice to drink tea from a China cup , I,m sure it tastes better too,

I have my mum's Royal Albert, full set of dinner, tea plates, cups and saucers. It's in a display unit which I know is crass but like kitylester, I love my dishwasher. I also know that if other family members were involved in washing it, there would very soon not be a full set.
I have several delicate china desert dishes which are washed by hand. Generally though, we still use the kind of plain white crockery we started buying when the children were young. It's cheap, easy to replace and goes happily into the dishwasher.

poly that depends on what kind of vegetarian you are. Do you buy leather for instance? If you avoid that then you might want to avoid bone China which contains bone ash.

But these by-products inasmuch, usually, of the food industry and if they were not used then they would go to waste. A difficult one.

Thank you grannyactivist. Though I am more confused than before. If real china only comes from China, why are we complaining about the quality, when it's down to the Chinese what that is? And if "bone china" contains bone powder, does that mean that as a vegetarian I should avoid?

polyester This explains the difference.

They'll regret it one day Greyduster!!

The joke is that the wealthy Chinese can't get enough of our quality china. Couldn't make it up could you 1grin]

If you go to any auction house there is acres of top name bone China dinner and tea ware. Full and part sets. Someone must want it because it sells, but doesn’t fetch good prices. I have a twelve place setting service plus a Spode Persian coffee service and a Spode Copeland Italian tea service. Will either of my children want it? Not a chance!

sorry Jane10
Black humour

A good friend is about to downsize and will offload a full dinner and teaset. It's Royal Albert Roses (not sure if there is more than one Roses design). Her G 'ma declared she'd give it as a wedding present despite being told that friend and fiance really wanted Denby.
The set was used twice in 50 years (when G'ma visited) and otherwise has been stored in various lofts. Her sons and DiL's don't want it.
She faced with trying to sell on eBay ( but doesn't want the faff when preparing to move ) or donating to the local charity shop.

Yuk yuk yuk!

Oh!
I hadn't read that far down Jane10.

You could have a cuppa with Grandad every day (or Grandma)

I'm a bit worried about 'Spone' Jalima! Thanks for the link.

I'm sure it was Nantgarw - it is being produced again in Wales.

Still being made in Staffordshire:
www.roykirkham.co.uk/

I saw lovely china items being produced somewhere in England or Wales, shown on the tv only last week, but I can't remember where it was or which programme.

China tea sets have become quite popular again with some young people - I have known them buy them up from charity shops and also mismatched china for using at their weddings! Also places which do afternoon teas use nice china.

I wish I'd bought a china tea set I saw recently in a charity shop because it was very pretty and delicate. I dithered and decided, quite rightly, that it was a daft thing to do!

knowledgenuts.com/2013/12/27/difference-between-fine-china-bone-china-and-porcelain/

I picked up a beautiful bone China tea set in a local charity shop. I’ve added to it via eBay. Now on a sunny day, instead of BBQs (where the men take all the credit after we’ve done all the hard work) I invite the family round for afternoon tea.
Very civilised and much less bother.

Can someone enlighten me on what the difference is between china and porcelain? I have always thought it was one and the same.

I have country roses and Lady Hamilton half sets , I offered them to an antique shop for free and they wouldn't take them !

I do love fine china and have passed down from my mum the full 12 person setting of Royal Albert Old Country Roses it includes 2 x tureens and teapot & coffee pot with sugar and milk jugs.
All but 2 place setting are stored in the loft as I have nowhere to store it so it will go to my DD when the time comes I rather doubt she will use it though,I just can't bear to part with it though as a lot of the pieces where bought for special milestones during my mothers marriage.
For every day we use Denby always bought when JLewis has a sale.