I want to start collecting a china set (Royal Albert Old Country Roses) but am wondering that with inheriting so many china sets (Mom's christmas Spode, grandma's wedding china, grandma's set the she got just because) if it's worth collecting my own set. Of course, I already have a set of everyday dishes but from what I'm reading, it's becoming more normal to use your fancy dishes all the time, not just formal occasions.

Do you guys use your china, let alone have any?

Don't have any and never really wanted any, but I know lots of people that do use it all the time. Good luck on your decision.

We use our "real" china for holidays and birthdays. We have many sets, too....and use whichever one suits our mood. We also have winter/Christmas china that we pack away in the spring and summer months. I am on the look-out for some autumn china, but haven't found any just yet.

I have what I call good china service for 16. Then I have DH's grands Copeland Spode Rosebud Chintz and then three sets of casual dishes. I use the good china at Christmas and Thanksgiving for a big crowd and the Chintz when I'm just having 4 or 5 people over for dinner. Don't use it as much as I should but we aren't big party people. China should be used to prevent crazing.

i have a set of Lambethware by Royal Doulton called Morning Dew which is now discontinued...and i rarely use it....scared to brake a piece

I have my mother's that Dad gave her for their 20th wedding anniversary. I use it Christmas morning...we have friends in for a country breakfast.

I have one set of fancy china -- started getting pieces when I got married -- gave DD a set of china from my mom and DS another set from my mom. We use them on special occasions. I have a set of everyday dishes, a set of good casual dishes and some random other pieces. I don't use my good stuff every day because the gold trim is not dishwasher safe. Oh, I also have some Christmas dishes that come out after Thanksgiving.

I have a set of everyday dishes, a service for 16 of "good china", and I have my great grandmother's china. Normally it's the everyday dishes, but once in awhile OTHER than holidays I will serve on the good china. Nonnie's china never gets used...it would break my heart if it got broken!

I have a 12 place settings of good china, crystal & silver that were wedding presents 49 years ago. Only time I use them is for Christmas Eve dinner. That meal is the only one I enjoy cooking every year.

My MIL did lots of entertaining and had, I think, at least 24 place settings of china & silver. My DDs each have 1/2. Theirs' are brought out for birthday & holiday dinners.

What china? Always wanted a set of beautiful china for holidays etc. When I was young there wasn't any money to start a set and now it's too late in life to bother...oh well.
Good luck with your decision.

Kat

Have it. Sold mine in a garage sale. I have his mother's. Never use it only store it. We don't do a lot of entertaining. Someone who does more would probably use it.

We have a set of China that DH bought when he was in the Navy. I don't like it as it is not to my taste- we weren't together then. I want to sell it. It is pale green, I think, and that Japanese brand- very good stuff bought in the 60's; I have not even looked at it for years.

Use the "good" ones all the time. When I was first married, way back in 1967 and DH's dear Portuguese Mom heard me say something about putting the good china away for "Good Use" she asked me who I was saving it for.....my husband's NEXT wife?

After a good long thought, I brought it out and taught the kids how to eat correctly. Not to say we never used paper plates sometimes, but they do know how to eat correctly. And they didn't break many pieces of the set, not as many as I did myself!

Yes I have china.
An extremely OLD set that makes me think if I look at it wrong it is going to shatter. Inherited
My grandmothers set, passed down through my mother
My Grannies set, this one is plain white with silver edges.

So that is 3 sets, all boxed somewhere to keep safe.
Do I use it? Dare NO!! I can imagine the haunting I would receive should any piece get nicked let alone broke!

When the kids move out and the dogs and cats no longer climb the walls, I may display them on the hutch.

Have a set of Rosenthal I bought in Germany in the sixties. Have silver stem ware and Wallace Grand Baroque sterling. Use it about 2 x a year. Sets a beautiful table but lots of work as wash every thing by hand and the polish to put away...

I love pretty dishes and use my Lennox china daily. Have Spode sets for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Two dif sets of Royale Doulton in china cabinet that get used whenever I need a change. I've just always loved a pretty table even when kiddos were home and had friends over for pizza. I also collect Waterford and kiddos will have complete service for 12 at some point in addition to their own.

I have my everyday white square set, my blue willow, and my pink depression set...use them all, depends on my mood..

I am loving how yall know the names of what you have!!
I don't have the first clue on how to find out.

Set from Grandma was just "the blue set" Old old set was just the "rose" set, and granny evey just called it "the China"

I have my everyday white square set, my blue willow, and my pink depression set...use them all, depends on my mood.. Mostly we use two plastic trays with paper plates...LOL

I have my maternal grandmothers dishes, which are beautiful, and require hand washing. I only use them for special meals with my mom and sister/brother. Otherwise, I use solid white dishwasher safe dishes when I have a big crowd over. I still do it up, cloth napkins, stem ware, the works! But clean up is much easier. I would consider purchasing and using fancy dishes for just my husband and my self...wouldn't be a big deal to hand wash just a couple of dishes and I would definitely use every day!

:D

I have corel wear that MIL gave back to us after her 2nd husband died shortly after they married... That's my "china"

I have had my "good" china for 45 years along with the silverware. After about 30 years I thought what is the point of having this beautiful stuff when we hardly look at it. My kids will never use it, because most young couples don't use that kind of stuff. So I use it whenever we have company for dinner or people over. Get lots of complements on it. In all the years I have had it, only 1 cup has gotten a tiny little chip on it. Why hide it???? Use it and enjoy!!!!

I will soon be getting mine out for the holidays. It really is a shame that it sits in a cabinet most of the year but we've gotten really casual!
My set is Noritake "Randolph" and I've never gotten tired of it. Really pretty.
When our kids were little we always used it for their birthdays too :)

I recieved a 'good set' of china as a wedding gift. It was very pretty but We only used it for holidays. When we moved to SC, I decided not to take it. My youngest daughter claimed it. I have no idea what she's done with it...

That is something DH has brought up a couple of times and we never do anything about it. He wants to get a set someday but I don't want to be bothered. We just have plates. Tons of them, which we use as we reach them without thinking twice. His mother has a huge set (Corelle), beautiful and she is too afraid to break a piece. I don't understand that. She didn't inherit it or anything, she just expects one day to use it but never do. I am just happy to have people over for dinner and sit and enjoy the company without worrying about a broken plate.

I have my mom's china, my grandmother's china, my wedding china, and just bought a huge set of antique china for $60. I will be giving my china to my daughter as this is the one she likes best. I will probably use the other 3 sets but I am afraid to let anyone cut with a knife on the antique china. I like to use china for holidays with the whole family but also just for dinner with a friend.

I have 2 sets of china. They are the same except for one has pink roses with gold trim and the other one is yellow roses with gold trim. Where are they? In my China Cabinet...buried under Salt and Pepper Shaker sets. Do we use them? Maybe once a year we dig them out for Christmas dinner. My husband bought them for me for our 5th wedding anniversary. :)

Nothing sadder than seeing beautiful things boxed away and never used and admired. I have some of my Grandmother's pieces and a couple of my own....we use them, love them and if they get a chip (like the Indian Tree coffee jug), put beautiful flowers in and enjoy it as a vase.

I have a set of Wedgewood English Bone China in the Belle Fleur pattern....my deceased DH didn't want me to use them because they would break so they've been sitting in the china cabinet, exploding. If you hear what sounds like a gun shot at close range, you've just lost another plate or veggie dish.
I can honestly say, I've never broken or chipped even one piece. It has a life of it's own.

I have another set made in Poland that doesn't explode tho it appears to be bone china. Very pretty with very dainty pink roses and gold trim.

I use my Oneida stoneware every day and have my Corelle on the top shelf that I've had for eons and just tired of it.

We *had* a set for 20 of nice china. But the family doesn't get together anymore - too scattered - and we don't entertain. It was taking up space in our limited cabinets so we ended up giving it away to a friend. Hubby was not sure that I knew what I was doing, but I don't miss it. I can't miss what I didn't use or have out to enjoy.

I've been collecting a set of vintage Royal China in the Currier and Ives pattern (blue) for many many years. I used to have them all stored in my buffet and only used them a couple of holidays. When we moved to the house in town I decided I was going to use them everyday and I do so. Several pieces have gotten chips in them but it gives me something to search for in antiques shops just as it has for years. It's a huge set with many many different pieces to it, teapots, casseroles, several sizes of serving bowls and platters. I had to buy a cabinet for my food because all of my kitchen cupboards are now filled with "my blue dishes". Love it!!

China is supposed to be used for special people not special times. So use it whenever. I was given my grandmother's china since I was the oldest grandchild. It currently resides at my mother's house. Being in the military and moving around I don't want to take a chance having the movers breaking them. But I do remember my grandma pulling it out and using it often! What is the point of having pretty dishes if you never use them! They are meant to be used. And if one breaks. One breaks. But at least you used them. Would you rather say I have these beautiful china plates that sit in my cupboard that I never see because I never use them, or I have beautiful dishes that I use often and have found memories of doing so but I broke a dish! They aren't doing anyone any good in the cupboard!

My china has the work "ette" after it..*L* we use it daily..crafty_linda_b

I have a set of china that my very DMIL bought for us. I tried to tell her that we would NEVER use it in Hawaii but she insisted that every one needs a set of china and if I didn't pick out a pattern that she would. So I selected a white on white pattern with silver trim....used it maybe twice??? But....it's a memory now that no one can take away from me and they will be halved between DS and DD that their grandmother purchased them. How I miss her!!!

I don't have china, but I do collect Polish pottery and use it every day, for both cooking/baking and eating/drinking. Life is too short to keep on a shelf and use for only special occasions.

I use my China every day...it does no good stuck in a box where I can not enjoy them. My mother almost had a heart attack when I took them out for lunch...I said why not...that is what dishes are made for to eat on... ; )

I totally agree!!! I do the same. And if one gets broken...so far it has not happen...but if it does I love the hunt of finding new ones....I still am looking for a few bowls. I also collect odd and ends china. I just love my dishes...I also give my boys china bowls for their homes.

I have china from our wedding 47 years ago. My motherin -law "encouraged" me to pick out china. I still love it and use it often. I love to set a pretty table. My sons grew up with china and crystal too! They were so careful with their pretty milk glasses! :-) You can quilt table toppers to go with your china! Enjoy!

my best dishes are used every day