China Patterns

Oh, for crying out loud. Where have I BEEN? I suspect you've all been sitting at your computers for weeks, just WAITING for me to write again! Oh, the PRESSURE! Oh, you didn't notice?
Well...thanks for checking back in! I've not yet given up on this blog.

Now, why, in heaven's name, I'm writing about dishes today, I cannot say. I never understood what the big deal was about china patterns. Mom had a few sets, which never made sense to me as a kid, as we only got to eat off the melamine ones, unless we had company. As it was my job to set the table, I'll never forget the wheat pattern on those plates. I always made sure the wheat was growing in the right direction. Unless I was mad at one of my siblings, in which case, I'd turn theirs sideways - and they would get the odd fork that didn't match. Early passive-aggressive behavior.

If we had company, we'd use the Metlox Rose-A-Day pottery dishes. These were "special" - they were gifts for my parents wedding. They're STILL special, as I now use them daily! Love that mid-century modern design.

For SUPER special occasions, or holidays, Mom brought out the REAL china....along with special silverware. In later years, Mom added the blue and white ironstone to her collection, and some very special china called "Arcadia". I LOVE that.

At some point in my early thirties, it became apparent that if one doesn't marry, but one has company deserving of fancy holiday dinners, one should probably buy one's own china. Then began my "random china with purple flowers" collection. I'd post pictures of it, but that would require an hour of unwrapping, as I've not unpacked them since my most recent move!

My dearly departed aunt, Marlys, and her husband, Mitch, chose Harkerware's Russel Wright "White Clover" (in charcoal) as "their pattern", when they were married in the 1950's. Again, a really cool retro pattern, in my opinion.

I did eventually marry, at the ripe old age of 38...so I'm glad I had that purple flower collection, but "Our" pattern, seen below, is Mikasa's "Royal Glimmer". It reminds me of one of my favorite artist's work - "The Kiss", by Gustav Klimt. Presumably, it reminds my husband of dinner.

Something about that "china pattern hunt", though....got me intrigued....I love art and design, and all things pretty. Hence, my next collection: Wedgwood Patrician Argyle. Apparantly, Wedgwood Patrician is the design of the plate itself...Argyle is the design painted upon it. I've since discovered "Morning Glory", and about twenty others, but "Argyle" is still my fave.




Isn't it pretty? I rarely find pieces of it, when I'm hunting through antique stores, which makes it all the more valuable to me. However, I did find a whole set of this lovely old Noritake in an antique store somewhere:
I'm by no means a china snob...frankly, I'm finding paper plates with some darn nice designs. I just PREFER something a bit heftier. Like pottery! I love pasta bowls! (Uh-oh...another collection?) Well....I'm combining my love of pottery and pasta bowls, with my desire to have some "Christmas" dishes, and here's how it's played out, thus far:



My Portmeirion Mistletoe with a bit of added Italian decor. Oooohhh! Italy! France! Gien (France) has a WONDERFUL pattern called "Toscana" (Italy).....

...and so it goes!