Re: Inherited china and crystal question

Maestra1 · ‎03-28-2019

Sellers are in a flooded market for these items and prices are rock bottom. I have DM's Lenox circa 1950, w/gold rims, so I cant really use for everyday myself.

Othereeeen · ‎03-13-2010

I haven't read all the posts but here's an idea....:

USE THEM!!!!

I don't know why people don't use thier "fine china" every day....some of that china is 50-60 years old or better and is STILL intact...it's not as fragile as people think....

ANd, if it's pretty or unusual, take it out and USE IT!!!!

Think how happy the fine china will be....to be taken out of the china cabinet and used.....even if it breaks in use, so what? Better to die in use than on the shelf!!!

I have TWO china cabinets full of china. I am 63 years old. I won't live long enough to utilize EVERY piece of what's in those cabinets, but I have decided to USE THEM for every day.

To date I have not broken ONE PIECE. I'm careful with things. And, for that matter, how well does modern Temptations hold up??!??

It's pretty, has memories, is not clunky like today's ******, and makes eating more pleasureable.

Do you have" drop-itis"? If you don't and are adult enough to hold onto things as you move about the kitchen, you won't break it either. TRY the dishwasher too, before you say it "can't go in the dishwasher." jUst don't out it next to a piece of cast iron!!!

Try one piece. China didn't last 100 years of use before all the heavy crockery ****** became popular by breaking with use. Yes.. I know most wasn't used daily, but still.

Since there are few buyers, USE IT yourself. Set a pretty table for tonight's meal and see how different it feels to eat off nice china. Use the utensils. Use the bowls and gravy boats and tureens. Spread a tablecloth if you have dozens in a chest somewhere. Take out a decorative bowl and fill it with seasonal leaves, ornaments or flowers.

Put the money you save on today's ****** in your retirement account!

faeriemoon · ‎03-14-2010

I just think times have changed and unless you're into decorating and entertaining, people don't want to have to deal with stuff that has to be stored most of the year.

Using it daily is of course and option, if you like it well enough to do so.

My kids are not into it and have stated that. My recommendation to them was that if they ever changed their minds they should seek out an all white collection that can work for any occasion.

~What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.~ William Shakespeare

vermint · ‎04-05-2010

I have my late mother's complete service for 12 (including serving pieces) Noritake set. I don't use it, and don't want it anymore. I offered it to my 21 year-old newlywed niece--her only granddaughter--last Christmas and was shocked when she said she wanted it! She even got teary-eyed! She adored my mom, and was only 10 when she died.

She and her DH are in grad school at the moment, living in a tiny apartment, so I told her I'd store it for her til she had a place for it. It's still in my china cabinet, but I will eventually box it up and put it away.

There are a few young people who still value these things, but I don't blame the ones that don't. This china is not dishwasher safe, and I just don't have any use for it. My Corelle dishes do just fine for my lifestyle!

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

OP---I went thru years ago---the in-laws went to a retirement community,-- both are gone now,--- but while cleaning out their house, I got some glass things, many of which were actually from the Civil War era, a Lodz vase, carnival glass, depression glass, antique quilts, doilies, embroidered things, tatted laces and old buttons----on and on----have had them for years myself so took them all to a family function thinking the fam would LOVE to take them----WRONG !!!!! What a shock!!! But I finally brow beat them into taking some of it--I still brought alot home but what to do with it all?? the interesting thing is that the really old pieces had info written about them and left so I know where, when and the why, of them. I'm not much for displaying things nor do I have the room and HATE to dust------a real dilemma

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

@wagirl

Interesting phrase about unwanted items being passed down:

"Generational Guilt"

Life is way too short to be burdened with things/thoughts which

do not enrich you. There's someone out there who would love

to have them...but they're just hidden in your home.
Make their life happy! Just let them go.💛

SahmIam · ‎04-16-2010

Popping back in to tell you all what happened this morning:

Went to the county dump with a buddy of mine to dispose of some left over home repair stuff, broken down stuff, etc. While we were moving things from her trunk to the ledge to then push into the dumpster below, we saw a woman (our age so 50's) softly crying as she flung a box over the ledge. You heard this loud CRASH and then another one and then another....

My buddy stepped over to her and asked if she was alright. "Not really" she said and then told us she was tossing her parents, her in-laws and her sisters FINE china and crystal. Sets for 12, sets for 24 plus all the serving pieces. We peered into the back of her SUV and she had BOXES of stuff. Julie asked if she could look and OMG....Waterford. Waterford goblets, bowls,.....Wedgewood china tea and coffee set, platters, soup tureens....you name it. She tried to sell it, she contacted stores in our antique district, she tried GoodWill, Salvation Army, Purple Heart, AMVets, her church (for a rummage sale) and NO ONE would take it.

She offered it to us. Now, I'm thinking WATERFORD CRYSTAL because there are a few pieces I'd LOVE to have but do dig through someones stuff like that? I couldn't do it. She reached in, pulled out some bigger boxes and showed us these GORGEOUS Waterford Lamps. "Would you like them?" she asked me. "Yes, thank you" and I did...As well as a huge vase, 10 candlesticks, serving bowls/jam jars and a Xmas trifle bowl. My buddy came home with Waterford pitcher and Wedgewood tea set : the classic blue set I remember seeing as a child at someones home. Julie has always wanted a tea set and now, she has a beautiful one.

We asked her if she wanted help with the other boxes but she said no, she would be ok. We hugged and left.

It was a somber drive home, let me tell ya.

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

@Othereeeen That's exactly what I did...for awhile. My good china had a gold border and neither plates, casseroles or serving pieces could go in microwave or dishwasher. My silver flatware had to be counted before running the disposal.

A few years ago, in the hopes of downsizing, a lot of things were sold and donated and we were really making headway.

My mom passed away at the end of March leaving me all her good "stuff" as well as my grandmother's that she inherited. No one in my family wants the huge silver serving pieces, trays, etc. I kept some smaller Tiffany vases, bowls and a few other signed glass pieces. The rest was sold or is on consignment, some silver melted down.

It's a darn shame to see the history of families gone forever, but what choice do we have? No one wants their home crowded w/ things not used.

jazzed · ‎04-11-2013

@SahmIam wrote:
Popping back in to tell you all what happened this morning:

Went to the county dump with a buddy of mine to dispose of some left over home repair stuff, broken down stuff, etc. While we were moving things from her trunk to the ledge to then push into the dumpster below, we saw a woman (our age so 50's) softly crying as she flung a box over the ledge. You heard this loud CRASH and then another one and then another....

My buddy stepped over to her and asked if she was alright. "Not really" she said and then told us she was tossing her parents, her in-laws and her sisters FINE china and crystal. Sets for 12, sets for 24 plus all the serving pieces. We peered into the back of her SUV and she had BOXES of stuff. Julie asked if she could look and OMG....Waterford. Waterford goblets, bowls,.....Wedgewood china tea and coffee set, platters, soup tureens....you name it. She tried to sell it, she contacted stores in our antique district, she tried GoodWill, Salvation Army, Purple Heart, AMVets, her church (for a rummage sale) and NO ONE would take it.

She offered it to us. Now, I'm thinking WATERFORD CRYSTAL because there are a few pieces I'd LOVE to have but do dig through someones stuff like that? I couldn't do it. She reached in, pulled out some bigger boxes and showed us these GORGEOUS Waterford Lamps. "Would you like them?" she asked me. "Yes, thank you" and I did...As well as a huge vase, 10 candlesticks, serving bowls/jam jars and a Xmas trifle bowl. My buddy came home with Waterford pitcher and Wedgewood tea set : the classic blue set I remember seeing as a child at someones home. Julie has always wanted a tea set and now, she has a beautiful one.

We asked her if she wanted help with the other boxes but she said no, she would be ok. We hugged and left.

It was a somber drive home, let me tell ya.

Oh gosh, @SahmIam, my heart feels so sad for her, not about the items or the value they once had. As we grow older, we go through these small poignant ceremonies of letting go of those that have gone before us. Thank you for writing this.

Boehm Collector · ‎03-09-2010

I agree with you @Othereeeen . I have several sets of beautiful bone china dishes. Some I purchased myself before I got married. The others I inherited from my mother. I use a bone china set very day and have changed them out a few times.