I have a set that belonged to my DH's grandmother and one that belonged to his mother. I use them instead of paper plates for family get togethers! :)

We have a good sized family. I use the Lenox for birthdays and other celebrations as well as holidays and company.....So, yes, I use it a lot.

I have a set that is so delicate, I use it once a year perhaps if then. Shame really. I use my Longaberger dishes everyday use. Last year I bought Christmas dishes (50% off) which I always wanted, my DH laughed at me, so this year I must get them out and use them!
I think it makes a diffrence if your home where you have more time to enjoy these things, than if your working fulltime. Been on both sides and that is my HO.

I have Royal Albert Old Country Roses and I don't think I've ever used it. It looks really nice in the china cabinet and on the server (can't think of what that piece of furniture is called). Twelve years ago my MIL gave me a rug that matches the china perfectly. Sooo.... china and rug look beautiful in the dining room but unfortunately china does not get used. However I don't regret purchasing the china, it looks beautiful.

Quite frankly, I don't see the point of paying lots of money to keep china sitting in a cupboard like a trophy, only to be used occasionally when 'worthy company' comes around. If I can afford to buy nice china, then I use it all the time for myself so that I can enjoy it. I don't want it to be used by whomever inherits it or buys it at the auction when I pass on, if I haven't had the pleasure myself.

I have 3 sets.2 sets from family members and the other set my mom started purchasing for me when I was 17. Only used them for special occasions.

On the bottom of the peice, there is usually something printed on it. Even if it's the name of the manufacturer, you can still find the pattern name if you look them up. But I say usually as my brother will be recieving my great grandmother's set and it doesn't have a name on the back. And some pieces might only have a name written on the back of the plates or serving pieces as my mom has a set like that. I hope you can find something because it is amazing how many "extras" you can get for a set that you didn't even know existed.

Reading all the comments, I have decided to get a set (I think my heart had already said yes but my mind hadn't caught up yet) And I think I'll try to use it more often than just holidays as if the pieces should break (heaven forbid!) I'll be able to replace them easily as the set has not been retired and it's been around for quite some time.

For those of you who don't use theirs because of fear of breaking a piece, I completely understand. I don't think my grandmother's wedding china was ever used and I certainly won't be using it, one because heaven forbid I break a piece, and two, it's not exactly my taste. The other reason is the first set that I really liked, I realized would never ever ever be in my price range and I don't think I would be able to justify eating off a plate that costs around $100 a piece (Spode Stafford Flowers).

And from what I've read, I could use this china all year round, just pair it with a different color tablecloth or napkins. But once I inherit my mom's Christmas Tree Spode, I'll be using that for Christmas as I love the pattern and to increase my collection, I'll buy her pieces!

Had a set of Noritake, (sp?) Used to use it every TG and Christmas, but time went on, things changed and eventurally, I gave it to my DIL who kept it packed away until about 5 yrs. ago. She got it out, we washed it and used it for Christmas, when most of us were together that year. It was nice to see it again.

I also have a set of Noritake (sp. correct). Use it for Thanksgiving. It was my aunt's who lived in this house before us....another story. My uncle bought this brand new house for my aunt in 1921. He filled the house with everything she needed including the Noritake china. When they died, my husband and I got the house (I was named after her) and whatever I wanted including the china that served so many people. When we have Christmas dinner, it comes out, Thanksgiving and Easter, it comes out, confirmation, graduation, it comes out. So, since 1921 this is the only china that has been used to serve special occasions in our home. So we have a home who has only had two owners, the wives being named Edie (my aunt was known as Ede) and what is left of a service of 12 china. We don't have enough ramekins, we don't have a creamer, but we have the plates bowls, salad plates, dessert plates. It's too bad it is only used a few times a year, but I do want to pass it on to my daughter-in-law. Believe it or not, we are eating our meals off of our everyday ordinary dishes we bought at Petters here in St. Paul. Thems from Minnesota know who Tom Petters is and his Ponzi scheme, doomed to a room with no way to escape for the next 50-some years. Worst Ponzi in the state's history. I don't know whether to keep it in good shape and sell it for a million dollars or sell it at a garage sale or just use it up. I got it for Mother's Day quite a while back and it won't break, it should, but it doesn't, so I can't throw them out and ask Santa Claus for a new set of dishes. I just am not that way! I use it up. So much for using my china. Edie

Use your "good" as often as possible. Believe it or not it will dry out and the next thing you know there is a chip in grandmas china. I have a set I use all the time They do get broken or chipped but easy to order new pieces, and you have enjoyed it. I gave received family china to grands.

Thanks for the reminder. Am going to unpack china today and start using it ! I have the china that husband and I accumulated and only used for special occasions; now that we are not together I think that is a "special" occasion ! We didn't do the traditional china stuff; we bought place settings of several different patterns, which really makes for a beautiful table. I also have my late MIL's china. Need to get that out and give to my SIL.

I also use our silver tableware; actually spent yesterday afternoon cleaning it, which I enjoy !

At this point in my life (I'm 64) why not use the finer things I have ? My children will probably inherit this stuff but they don't really care, which is ok.

Thanks for the reminder. Am going to unpack china today and start using it ! I have the china that husband and I accumulated and only used for special occasions; now that we are not together I think that is a "special" occasion ! We didn't do the traditional china stuff; we bought place settings of several different patterns, which really makes for a beautiful table. I also have my late MIL's china. Need to get that out and give to my SIL.

I also use our silver tableware; actually spent yesterday afternoon cleaning it, which I enjoy !

At this point in my life (I'm 64) why not use the finer things I have ? My children will probably inherit this stuff but they don't really care, which is ok.

I think for many families the concept of special dishes, used daily or kept for special occasions, has outlasted today's lifestyles.
In my case, the kids are spread out across the country, many people cannnot travel because airline tickets/gas is prohibitive &, so, huge family get-togethers are becoming increasingly rare.
The biggest advantage to having special china would be as a visual reminder of occasions(getting to know people we have only heard of, and ,best of all, hearing the "family stories" that DO connect us all).
(Of course, that has to compete with sports & parades on T.V.) :?

I do use my china. It was a gift to me many years ago and cost 39 dollars for the whole set. lol If I had great china I would use it because I refuse to put things away for my family to go through later and wonder why it was packed away. My mom was bad about that saving something for a special occasion and we threw away box after box of beautiful napkins, pillow cases, tableclothes and even scarves that had been stored for so long that they had rotted or yellowed so much they could not be used.
I have an aunt that always sets her Noritake china out even for children.

I have my own plus my mother-in-law's Franciscan ware and a set of Christmas china that I recently "inherited." I use them all several times a year; not as often as I should. What keeps me from it is that my dishwasher is brutal--incredibly hard on dishes--and I'm frankly not inclined to wash them all by hand.

Yes! Mikasa for everyday and Noritake for special occasions. I use my good china - cuz who am I saving it for? I use my crystal glasses too.

that is a very good point.
Here I was thinking, yall areright. My grandmas blue china is so pretty why not use it.

Thats a good reason. Will it survive the dishwasher!!

Never used it, passed it on to my DDIL years ago, don't miss it.

Inheritet a set of Rosenthal from my grandmas dowry and love it dearly. We use it on the weekends and of course during the holidays. It makes a meal special, every time we use it :).

Other than that, I have a set of everyday dishes.

This china (Haviland Blue Garland) has been in the dishwasher a lot. It's all fine and hasn't even lost it's silver band.

MIL brought this to us in CA in the 1980's and I used it quite a bit until we put in the woodstove and got the jelly cupboard. Then I decided it could live there. Now it's not used as much though I do still use some pieces.

The wedding china went into a kitchen cabinet so that we would use it. Hasn't happened. We use cloth napkins everyday and most are blue. The wedding china is brown. But we did use it before getting the MIL's. Which by the way was 1960's grocery store china. You know - spend so much and buy the piece of the week for x?

I have a set of my grandmother's that my sister and I split, along with her silver set. There were over 20 place settings, so we each have plenty. Neither one of us use it, but I'm so happy to have it.

My mom has a set that will probably go to my daughter in the future, but she also has a set from her mom (my other grandma).

I forgot to add how we found the company Replacements back when and added up what the Blue Garland would cost and added up what we had. I was cracking up about $1,500 worth of dishes and we are treating them like this LOL Dishwasher and all!

That made us start using the brown (Mikasa Younger than Springtime) again for a while :-)

I have never heard of china dying out or exploding. Really?

I just started using my good china for everyday use. I figured I may as well enjoy them while I.m still here. And guess what they don't chip like my old everyday plates and cups.I got them from a guy I dated and was going to marry I was 17 than. We broke up I'm 64 now and still love them and glad to use them all the time now.

Yes, I have plenty of china, 7 sets in all. 4 regular sets, l fall set and 2 Christmas sets. one of my Christmas sets is service for 24 of "Christmas Time" by Nikko. You might call me a chinaholic, I already have my eye on another set!!! By the way, most of the time it is just my husband and me at the dinnertable (except Sundays and holidays) since my 2 daughters married and have their own families and china, and we eat from PAPER PLATES!!!! :oops: :oops:

Since I live in an apt and my DW is not top notch; actually, I call if my "dish wetter" I think I'll be able to wash my china in there without fear of it being damaged !

My MIL's china has a silver looking band around it...probably should put in dw......

Really, we have this stuff and believe me as I get older I don't see why we shouldn't enjoy it or at least pamper ourselves ! My sweet sweet MIL used to drink her morning o.j. in her crystal glasses !

Last year at Tksgiving I was living in MO with my older daughter and we were making dinner plans......and I asked about her china, said she gave it away and we actually ate Tksgvg dinner on paper plates.....apparently I hadn't raised her as good as I thought I had !

I have a service for 12. Its not the best china but I like it and usse it on holidays when the family gets together. they think its the best.

My mother-in-law had the old roses pattern. When she died we never found out what happened to anything of hers; her husband wouldn't allow us in the house.
The last time I used mine (inheriied from my mom), my sister-in-law stormed in and announced, "Oh don't use those! We'll eat off paper plates." And everyone followed HER lead.

When we became engaged we received a letter from Brad's aunt who said our wedding gift was in the barn at her parents' home (in the White Mtns in NH). She had shipped this box home from Japan when she was in the army at the end of WWll and it was not to be opened until after we were married. The next year we make the trip and in the barn was a massive wood crate filled with excelsior. Out came this china....and let me tell you it was the most hideous pattern - nothing a young girl would have chosen. Being in an apartment there was no room for a service for 12 plus all the serving pieces so we took one cup and saucer home and put it on a knick knack shelf. When we bought a house and had a place to put it the crate came home with us. Over the years I've come to treasure this as my taste matured and we use it often. The only information on the back is "Rose China made in Occupied Japan". I did find it at Replacements, Ltd and it's assigned a pattern #. Not a single piece has been damaged and I will pass it on to my daughter.
Old Country Roses is such a lovely pattern. I have 3 tea sets in this....a regular size, a child's set and a doll sized set. Also 8 cups & saucers for the adults.

That will never happen to me. One, it will be my house, and two, they are my dishes. I'm sorry if that upsets you (not to you Sunnye, but to whomever tells me not to use them), but I bought them to use them. I already plan on hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner one day so they will be definately be used on those days.

But don't forget to clean them in warm water at least once a year to help preserve them. I plan on doing that today for the one set that I will inherit one day. They haven't been washed in a while and maybe mom will get them out for Thanksgiving this year if they're clean!

Sorry for your bad experience though!

No I have never used my wedding china. I have been thinking about trying to sell it. It is antique now.

YES! Love to use it for special occasions. I could never live in a house without a formal dining room.

I just have everyday dishes but now that I am working at Bennington Potters, (they make their own pottery) I am inclined to start buying pieces. :thumbup:

I have my mother's Spode "Buttercup" and use it for special occasions. I gave my Royal Doulton to my daughter and my Lenox to my son. I also have Syracuse "windswept" that I use every day and Hadley pottery I use a lot. Christmas I use English Staffordshire plates and I use "Green Leaf" by Wedgwood for St.Patrick's Day. Guess you can tell I love to set the table!

I use it everyday and my silver. For lunch and breakfast I have other dishes. - J

Sold sets I had (family did not want) and now use only Fiestaware - love the various colors together - makes us happy to see it in our plate rack each day, and to use it each day. Would share picture but don't know how.

I have Lenox china that I received as a wedding gift 40 years ago and I use it whenever there are more than 3 people for a meal. Why save it. Everyday I use Fiesta Ware . which I really love but the minute anyone comes I pull out the china.

Me too...I use my good stuff for Sunday dinner and when friends come over.

I gave my MIL good stuff to my kiddies and I'm NOT saving mine for "the next wife". I'm going to use it and enjoy it. Just like I'm going to spend all the money before I go. LQS here I come!!!

Happy Quilting, Kathy

I only use china for C'mas dinner and am thinking of selling it. However, mine isn't very old and doesn't have any sentimental value. I'm sure my sons and their wives won't want it when I'm gone. Most estate sales I go to have beautiful sets of china, but not many buyers.

I have a repro Blue Willow set that I use every day. I also have my Grandmother's set that I have always loved. I use that occassionally.

I also have my Grandmother's avocado-green melmac set. I haven't pulled that one out yet, but I will use that more towards this next summer. (or sooner if I feel like it)