What dinnerware do you have, and how do you rate it?

Question

As a dinnerware junkie, I'm wondering what you guys have, and what's the best and worst in terms of durability and function.

I'll come back & post about my collection ...

Answer

I use daily a Pfaltzgraf pattern no longer in production, Forest. I think I have everything in that pattern, except for the salt and pepper. I bought through ebay extra coffee mugs. For 10 years we have used the set, and it has proved durable. We have only 1 or 2 chips in the set. I am somewhat disappointed that the creamy plates (w/ borders) have discolored and sometimes I see scratches in the finish.

I also pull out a Lenox Christmas set around this time of year. And I have displayed some old American Haviland, pattern Birchmere. This a curious mid-forties - mid fifties set with a more modern pattern on a very traditional scalloped plate blank. Don't like using it because it cannot be dishwashed. Displayed with it I have a seldom used partial set of Fenton red goblets. I've forgotten the pattern. These were my grandmother's. 

I will enjoy hearing about others' dinnerware.

Answer

I spent months and months scouring shops for the perfect white set and finally chose Cellini by Villeroy & Boch. I've had it in daily use every single day for about 8 or 9 years and it's perfect. I've broken one plate and replaced it right away. It's a beautiful set and it's dishwasher safe. Apparently, it's fine in a microwave but I don't have a microwave so I can't comment on that. I would recommend it in a heartbeat!

Answer

I have three sets - I'm a bit of a dinnerware junkie too!

My everyday dishes are Denby in Reflex Blue. I got them for my wedding and they are incredibly solid. I have only broken one dish in five years and none have chipped. Unfortunately, the pattern has been discontinued but it's easy to find pieces to mix and match with them. I have some Portuguese bowls and IKEA cappucino mugs that go with them perfectly.

I recently acquired a set of Maxwell Williams white basics. I don't know yet how durable they are but so far so good. They look great and really showcase food nicely.

Finally, I inherited a full set of Royal Doulton dishes from a great aunt. I believe they're from the 60's and are quite formal (white with olive green and gold trim). They get used once a year for Christmas but seem to be very durable. I even wash them in the dishwasher with no ill effects.

Answer

I cycle in and out. Right now, we're using an older Mikasa called Bluebell. I got it at the Goodwill (!!) but it's actually fairly nice stuff. Some chips on it when I got it, but nothing's chipped in the decade I've had it....

AND Polish Pottery of many varied patterns. I LOVE this stuff: it's strong, durable, fun, and you can add to it endlessly. I've bought cheap (at TJ Maxx) and fancy (from speciality shops) but aside from the artistic quality of the designs, there seems to be no difference in durability. It comes out of the dishwasher looking new. 

I've got some very cool (eight place settings) Monterey Art Pottery from California--4 in speckled pink, and 4 in speckled turquoise--and a lot of serving dishes, but I don't use this frequently as it has to be hand-washed. And I've got service for 8 in old Fiestaware, which likewise is used for mainly special occasions. 

 Add to that our Wedgwood "Chinese Flowers" bone china, some fako-Italian (made in China) stoneware from J.C. Penney's years ago (love the design but it's chipping away), and a bunch of pink and blue melmac, and some jadite Firestone, and that's what we choose from at the moment.

Answer

I use Corelle square pure white dishes and Duralex Picardie glasses. How Bohemian is that?!

Answer

I have some Arcopal "Gastronomie" that I bought at a restaurant bankruptcy sale. Each place setting include round plate, oval plate, wide rim soup bowel, coffee cup and saucer, demitasse cup and saucer and bread plate. The stuff looks nice and is darned near indestructible

I also have some Mikasa fine china, just plain off white

Answer

I have some stuff I got from an English supermarket (Sainsbury's). It's all plain white, and I think it was £10 for 4 bowls, 4 small plates, 4 dinner plates and 4 mugs.

They're not amazing (a few have chipped somehow after about a year) but I like the fact that they're plain white, and that if anything breaks a replacement is cheap and readily available.

Answer

I like straight white and have Maxwell & Williams Cashmere and Fortessa Fortaluxe SuperWhite. These are however being slowly supplemented/replaced by pieces from Porcelaines Bousquet.

Also a variety of Japanese pieces to supplement when making specific things.

Forgot to rate: both the M&W and Fortessa hold up very well, though the Fortessa pieces are thicker. They're only being replaced because I like the Bousquet's look better for certain pieces and shapes.

Answer

Basic food service off white for everyday. I am sick of finding the new "it" pattern only when I go in to replace a broken piece that they no longer carry that line/style/pattern/whatever. That is the reason I will never buy anything like that from W-S or (same folks) PB. For everyday give me stuff that is sturdy and easy to match at any restaurant supply store. 

Two choices for fancy: Aynsley Pembroke and a lot of very old blue and white Canton I inherited. Both are beautiful. The Aynsley has had some glaze issues. The blue and white is still pristine except for a few chips after over a hundred years of frequent use. It probably has some hideously poisonous glaze. 

I will admit to having been tempted by some Deruta and by Quimper but boast to having never succumbed!

Answer

First of all, on the "everyday" side of the spectrum I have a few sets of no-name stoneware. One has a Mediterranean type pattern and I use that for barbecues and outside functions. Our everyday dishes are called Lutece and feature a red-and-cream floral pattern. Very cheerful on a cold winter's night. The only problem is that all these sets are prone to chipping. 

I have tons of blue-and-white, various sets and type, from Johnson Brothers and Meakin ironstone, etc., to a Tiffany pattern, some Dutch delft and a couple of Spode patterns such as Geranium and Blue Willow. Some I bought, but all my friends caught on and through the years have added to my collection for my birthdays, Christmases, etc. So I'm fortunate enough to have plenty of serving pieces, too. I love all my blue-and-white, from the most humble pieces to the most storied pattern. Sometimes I mix-and-match to set the dining table and sometimes I just use one pattern, depending on the formality of the occasion. The ironstone pieces will chip and craze with time, but of course the china pieces are durable and easy to care for.

My own china pattern is Wedgwood's Oberon. I love the stuff. The accent pieces are patterned with a versatile palette in warm colors, but the dinner plates have more of an art deco, restrained border and white centers. Oberon is dishwasher safe and so far nicely chip-and-breakage resistant. The only demerit I see to the pattern is that it doesn't offer a wide range of serving pieces, beyond the basics, but I see that's sort of become the norm with today's china.

Lastly, I have several dessert sets of plates and coffee cups or mugs, including a Lynn Chase pattern, a beautiful set from Bavarian china my parents got as a wedding gift, and a set my grandmother left for me.

Answer

I know this is an older thread, just wondering if anyone here can tell me what material Haviland uses (porcelain or bone china or ????) and what shade white the plain unadorned white is close to, is it a white-white with blue undertones or a creamy white with yellow undertones, is the shade similar to Wedgwood White or Pillivuyt?

Thanks for any help, I just have never seen any in person and am curious, thanks.

Answer

Oh fun thread - not too old to add to it I guess? 

I have been using all white porcelain by Rosenthal Germany for over a decade for everyday use. It is the 'Moon' series designed by Jasper Morrison. https://www.rosenthal.de/en/shop/brands/rosenthal/dining-collections-studio-line/moon-1-en/ 

I already knew the designer from other items (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasper_Morrison) but didn't know at the time he was responsible for the design, but something about the clean and minimalist lines spoke to me. And it still does. 

It's extremely durable, for example I'm using the teapot every day and it goes in the dishwasher 3-4 times a week, and it still looks like new. No chips whatsoever, and it has been bumped around a lot. It's also very functional - the teapot's porcelain is quite thick (while still elegant) which means tea stays hot, while the cups are made very thinly so you don't have to wait long for the tea to cool down and drink. Some pieces like dinner plates did break, but that was just clumsiness from my part. 

While I love this minimalist design, I can see myself add to this set with more elaborate designs, like this one: https://www.rosenthal.de/en/shop/brands/rosenthal/dining-collections-rosenthal/sanssouci-en/

For cooking, baking and serving purposes I adore Pillivuyt, which has the same colour of white as Rosenthal.

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