Why bother having a china collection? And if you do have a collection, how do you store it?
Have you ever thought of having your own china collection?
Does it seem out of date? Expensive and not useful? Sure. It can be those things. But it doesn’t have to be. And I think it’s special to have your own china collection.
Why?
For one, it’s a special tradition to pass down. Are your kids going to appreciate your china hand-me-downs? Maybe, maybe not. But I will say this…the china from my grandmother is the only thing I have from her as well as an embroidered tablecloth.
Here is my grandmother’s china. It’s mismatched and I still love it. Having tea parties is such fun with tea cups.
I can’t wait to have real tea parties with my daughter. When I’ve hosted showers and high tea parties before, I always bring out this special china.
If it breaks? At least it was used! I think my grandma would be pleased {about the using thing, not the breaking thing!}.
It’s no secret I love china. I have it displayed in my dining room.
Some of it is part of my collection from our wedding and some of it is from Home Sense and Pottery Barn.
I like to mix and match.
I also have white platters from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
It’s so easy to buy china pieces nowadays. You can go to antique markets and buy whole sets for an inexpensive price, Ebay, Etsy, Craigslist and garage sales to name but a few.
But really…WHY BOTHER with a china collection?
I know my husband was asking this when we put it on our wedding registry when most of our friends were adding more practical pieces.
Well, we had most of our practical kitchen items and linens for our home. And it’s something you don’t usually buy for yourself.
It’s like jewelry…but for your home!
Every time I use a mug or a platter I remember what family member gave it to us for our wedding.
You know that I love VINTAGE and French stuff so I’m drawn to items with a past or things that are a part of a tradition.
We’re in the era of purging and not hoarding stuff. I get that. I purge all the time. I’m not saying go get china if you’re not going to use it and you don’t love it.
But think about the items in your home. Most of them you really don’t NEED. I think of my china collection mostly like my decor items. Not necessary really but it adds the esthetic of my home and it’s so fun to bring out for special occasions.
So don’t go out and buy yourself a china collection if it’s not something you love.
Now some of you have left this post because you don’t want or care for a china collection. That’s fine.
But if you’re still hanging in there, then you might want to know how to store it.
Here is all my china stored in one cabinet section. Not bad considering I have an entire collection plus more odds and ends.
I keep some out for display and store the rest.
I found this china storage set at Linens N Things years ago but Canada no longer has Linens N Things. Here’s a similar one at the Container Store.
The teacup quilted case is awesome. It comes with thick cardboard dividers.
I just wrap the teacups in their original plastic bags and pop them in their individual cubby. That’s it.
I love these storage cases because they have a label area!! And I love my label maker.
They come with little quilted dividers to store many items in them but, in my opinion, they don’t come with enough.
So most of the time I use old napkins that I no longer use for more protection.
I’ve also seen these felt circles at the dollar store! I’m sure they would be easy to make yourself too.
I love these colorful Emma Bridgewater mugs that were a wedding gift too. I love displaying them on my French drying rack.
Other than those tea cups from my grandmother, I haven’t received anything from my family in the way of tradition. I’d like to have that for my daughter or maybe my grandkids.
If they don’t want it, it’s okay. Why? BECAUSE I LOVE IT.
My china collection cannot be put in the dishwasher which is a big CON for many people. I use it for special occasions but I’m planning on using it more.
So if you’re wanting to start a collection or add to your current collection, you can look online {like Replacements.com} to fill in the gaps of your current collection, you can go to antique markets to start a new collection, you can even get a china collection at places like Home Sense {or Home Goods in the US}.
You can even have fun with mix matching different patterns.
My china pattern: Royal Doulton Naples {Silver}
{paper placements are from Hester and Cook}
So what about you? Do you have a china collection or will you start one? Do you store them in storage cases or use them every day?
Hopefully these tips will help you!
You have a great collection! We have formal china from when we got married and we actually use it quite frequently. I have it all stacked in my dining room in a glass front cabinet (not really a hutch, but more of a bookcase w/ glass doors). I love being able to see it and use it as often as we would like. I also love that I picked something neutral and timeless (cream plates w/ gold trim)
Have a great day!
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
I love that hutch of yours! Your china collection sounds lovely, Angela. Glad you love it as much as me 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
You will be mortified that I put all my china in the dishwasher *gasp with horror* and I’ve never had a problem 🙂 we use it frequently when we have guests and I’m all for USING it! I collect tea cups and saucers from thrift stores and I love unique and mismatched ones. They are not the bargain they used to be though as I think thrift shopping is catching on 🙂
No way! Do you? That’s awesome! And you haven’t had a problem? Maybe I’ll try it on a gentle cycle and see if it works! I love mismatched tea cups and saucers too. And true about not so much of a bargain anymore 🙁
big hugs,
Jamie
I have some old china that I use for everyday. I’ve always put it in the dishwasher. It does fade with time. I have several plates that are almost white now. But I don’t care. I love using them daily & won’t ever hand wash them.
I do have another set of lovely china that is very special & it will always be hand washed, never never never in the dishwasher.
Thanks for letting me know that! I had no idea you could put it in the dishwasher but I understand it could fade with time. I’ll hand wash it still for now and might eventually put it in the dishwasher. Good to know 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
I’ve just started collecting white dinner wear to display on shelves my fiancé made (not the same as china, but I love the look!) and would love to have china in a cabinet one day.. I ALWAYS see beautiful china at antique stores, so I will probably start there and just have mismatched items to mix in to regular dinner wear to add pattern and colour. 🙂
That sounds lovely, Brandi! Thanks for your sweet comment 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
I am a bit of a china collector too. I have heirlooms from our family and other families as well as a little white ironstone and white ware. I don’t have a good way of storing them away though so I will be looking into the container store options that you showed us!
Oooh white ironstone, love it but don’t have any yet! I’m sure you could find something similar at The Bay too, Keya 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
I have four sets of china. Two are complete sets, and the other two are patterns I love and pick up when I find them.
Oh! Here’s an FYI you might not have known. When it was popular to have tea parties, they never used matching tea cups. Each person was served tea in a cup that didn’t match anyone else’s cup. That way they knew who’s tea was who’s.
Loribeth! Thank you so much for telling me that. I don’t think I knew that before. I love that everyone has a different tea cup. Thanks for always commenting 😉 It means a lot to me.
big hugs,
Jamie
I am 100% in love with this post! First time i’ve ever visited your blog, and you hooked me 🙂 I have my grandmothers China set, I had registered for formal china and only got 1 place setting which was really upsetting so I was hunting for a set at antique stores and just hadn’t found the one. My grandmother passed away shortly after our wedding and left all of her china and crystal to me! It makes me so honored to have it and I use the crystal more but hopefully one day when I have space the china can be displayed and used a bit more often than now!
Gracie! Thank you so much!! So glad there are some china lovers out there like me 😉 I thought this post might have heard crickets, ha! I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. You’re very lucky to get her china. What a lovely memory. I’m going to check out your blog 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
My husband and I received a beautiful collection of china from his business associates in Germany when we married 12 years ago. I love it so much I am decorating our dining room in our new home around the colors in the china. I enjoy setting a beautiful table and collect table linens and candlesticks too. My family seems to appreciate my efforts and they always compliment me on my tables. Hopefully this tradition will pass down through my children, grandchildren and beyond.
Thanks for sharing your collection…it’s nice to see someone else shares my passion!
Thank you so much for sharing too Barbara! I love to hear how others love their china collection as much as I do. Your tablescapes sound beautiful. I’m sure your family enjoys all the effort you put into it.
Big hugs,
Jamie
I wasn’t going to put china on our wedding registry, but then I found the Wedgwood Oberon pattern and fell in love with it. Fortunately, we were given a large number of pieces for our wedding and I was able to complete the set the first year we were married. I’ve also inherited a set from my grandmother and I love looking for pieces to complete the set. I’d love to add more to my collection. I love the Lenox Chirp pattern… maybe even more than I love my Oberon. Thanks for your tips about storage. I’ve seen those cases before and wondered how they work.
So I just googled your china collection 😉 The Wedgwood pattern is beautiful, definitely a classic. The Lenox Chirp is gorgeous! Definitely more colorful so maybe not as classic but gorgeous nonetheless! Thanks for sharing your china collection with me 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
I’m a dishwasher girl, too. I figure that if my china is too hard to care for, I’ll never use it and neither will anyone else. I don’t want to teach my kids that using beautiful things for the table is hard work. Maybe they won’t give my china away or throw it in the dumpster when the time comes like so many other young people do these days. Lovely post with good ideas!
My mom still has the china we used when I was a kid, and it couldn’t be put in the dishwasher. We didn’t learn that using beautiful things on the table was hard work. We learned that beautiful things are worth the extra care. To this day, I when we use Mom’s china. And part of the reason why is because no one just walks away from the table and let’s someone else load the dishwasher. We all help out washing the china. Sometimes I wash, my brother dries, and mom puts it away. Other times, my niece and nephew wash and dry, and me or my brother put it away. But no matter who’s doing what, we spend the time talking, so the conversation from the table continues right through the clean up. I think it would be a lot difference experience if we were able to use the dishwasher.
Your china is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x
Thanks Danielle!
Hugs,
Jamie
So glad someone your age loves her good china. The last few times I’ve gone to purchase something of a bride to be’s registry there is no good china registered. I love my good china and there is nothing like a beautifully set table…I guess handwashing doesn’t bother me very much. Your pattern is lovely. I have my Mothers and Grandmother’s china which I love. My pattern is Amhearst by Wedgewood.
I know, so many more brides aren’t putting china on their registry anymore. I love mine! I looked your pattern..it’s lovely! Thanks for your lovely comment.
Hugs,
Jamie
My great aunties gave me a few pieces of china “for my hope chest” when I was a little girl. I remember my stepmom thinking it was terribly outdated (not the lovely china but the idea of a little girl having a hope chest) but it made me feel very grown up. I only have a few pieces but I treasure them.
That sounds wonderful, Jessica. I received those teacups for my hope chest when I was a teenager and it made me feel very grown up too 😉 Thanks for your sweet comment.
Hugs,
Jamie
i love my china collections of several different patterns from family and husband. I love silver too! So do my adult and teen kids. They have already laid claims on their favorites.
That’s wonderful! And wonderful your kids love it too 😉
Hugs, Jamie