- Andrea Tomkins
- November 22, 2011 at 7:31 am
- 5 comments
A peek inside my collections: my china
Over the past few months I’ve been doing a bit of a show and tell around my different collections. This one is a bit different because I think it’s the type of collection that many people have at home too: wedding china.
It was 1998. My husband Mark and I decided to choose our china pattern and register for place settings at the Bay. It didn’t take long to find a pattern we liked there. (Or should I say *I* liked, because I think I was one the driving this one.) We settled on a Wedgwood pattern called India, and I love it to this day. The sunny yellow, the simple non-fussy floral design with the delicate gold rims, it still makes me happy. Here are a couple quick snaps of it in our hutch. (Ha. I just realized there’s a bird’s nest in the cup at the back there.)
For awhile my in-laws bought us pieces to fill out the set, things like serving dishes and cream and sugar bowls. They made lovely gifts because these weren’t things we’d really ever buy for ourselves. They even bought us a special edition serving tray autographed by Sarah, Duchess of York. 
We use our fine china on special occasions but I want to try and use it more often. What’s the point of having lovely tableware if you don’t use it? I certainly understand that there’s a risk that if we use it, it might break … but it’s not totally irreplaceable. Our pattern is still “active,” so there’s a lot of it out there. There is a thriving industry in old patterns as well, and there is actually Wedgwood on the UsedOttawa site right now (although nothing in our pattern) but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen. (I’m waiting for the day someone decides to sell these Wedgwood noodle bowls.)
What’s the story behind your wedding china? Do you use it? Do you still love it? Do you still collect it? I’d love to hear about it!
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- Ottawa
5 comments!
We decided to register for Denby stuff that we felt we would use every day, rather than fancier china. I kind of regret it – I love the look and feel of real china – but I have to admit I have no idea when we would use it. We rarely host dinner parties or even big family dinners since all our immediate relatives live far away.
We have since inherited a Royal Daulton set that was my grandmother’s – I love it because it was hers, but it really isn’t our style at all. I’ve had it three years now and haven’t used it once…maybe it’s time for a tea party??
It’s funny you should mention the Denby, because I really like it and at the time we tussled with the idea of registering for something that’s a bit more practical. But the china won out! For what it’s worth, we don’t host huge fancy dinners either. When I said we use it for special occasions I mean birthdays, Christmas and New Year’s. “Special” is whatever we decide is special.
We inherited my mother in law’s beautiful 1960′s Wedgewood.
We love using it. I also have Christmas chine that comes out December 1st every year that was a wedding gift from my mom’s best friend. china is beautiful and meant to be used often!!! Try just having a cup of coffee one day in a china mug. It is an awesome special treat
Ooooh. Love the idea of having my morning cup of coffee in a special mug! Or maybe I’ll reserve this special treat for a solitary afternoon tea? Hmmm.
Andrea – my mom and nieces have regular tea partys using my mom’s china tea cup collection. Each girl gets to pick a different tea cp each time! My mom uses her china and the girls learn to love an appreciation for it. I also just think that coffee and tea taste better coming out of a china cup.