Choosing a China Pattern

If you are contemplating the purchase of the set of dinnerware, how do you decide between the multitudes of possibilities?

First you should consider when the china will be used. It is for special occasions or everyday? China for special occasions, dinner parties, Christmas feasts, visits by the queen, etc. should probably be made from finer materials and have a more elegant look (after all, it is the queen). However, considering how much use this dinnerware will actually get, do you want to spend a lot of money on it? Maybe your children will treasure it and the money will actually be an investment for two generations, or maybe even three. But suppose the kids don’t like your choice, or don’t live the dinner party lifestyle? Then the china will be sold for peanuts at a garage sale or resale shop. So, do you bet on familiarity and sentiment, or differences in taste and unsentimentality?

China for special occasions need not have traditional rim-only decoration.

Let’s talk money for a second. Who will be paying for the dinnerware? If you are buying your own, than the decision is simplified: is the china you are looking at worth what you will have to pay to buy it? Does it fit your lifestyle and personal style? Do you care whether anyone else likes it or not?

Modern styles are bold and make a statement.

Also, you should consider how much someone else may be interested in spending on you. If the china is bought by the place setting, how many do you think you will get? How many do you want? How are you going to make up the difference, if you do not receive as many as you wanted? How do you make up for breakage? Will the pattern still be available years from now? Is the china really worth what is being asked for it? You must consider these questions as you look at the possibilities. (My problem with this approach is that all the place settings are the same. If I could get different patterns for each place, it would be better, or more fun. Probably still not ever get used at my house.)

This china will be very pretty on display in a china cabinet.

Suppose the dinnerware comes as a set. This is good, as only one person needs to be convinced to pay for the china: you, your significant other, your parent, your grandparent. Your only consideration is the style of the china, and where you are going to store it between uses. I recently saw a green and gold set that would be perfect for Christmas, and it was not expensive at all. But where am I going to store it the rest of the year? Or can I justify a one-time use and sell the china after Christmas? The dinnerware remained at the store. Oh, well.

China of a single color can be useful for many holidays and occasions.

For everyday china, there are different considerations. Is it a pleasant color or design? Because you are going to see a lot of it. Is it durable? If not, you may well be replacing it soon. Maybe that is a good thing, because you like change. OK, daily use will bring it. If durable, maybe a plain white will be better for the many years it will be in use.

Everyday china can be decorated with more whimsy than formal china.

As an eater, I would like to add one more consideration. How will it look with food on it? Ever eat spaghetti off of turquoise plates with a red, yellow, green, black, white and dark blue tree and bird pattern? I have, and it was not as pleasant as it might have been, even on a plain white paper plate. One of the paradoxes of china is that what looks good on display is sometimes hard to eat off of, and what looks good with food is fairly boring as decor. So keep this in mind for your everyday china at least.

This plate is beautiful as a collectible, but can you eat off of it?

So, when picking china, consider: Will it be on display when not in use? When will it be used? How many places do you need/want? How durable is it? How will you replace pieces that get broken? Is the price reasonable?