An Interesting Dilemma

[lagilman]

During the course of a GISHWHES item procurement (don't ask, I can't tell you yet), I realized that my wedding china (ironically bought closer to our divorce than our wedding) has been sitting untouched in the cabinet for... well, between 6 and 8 years, depending on the piece.

The traditional refrain for china is "the good stuff" and "for company." After my divorce I took a look at the silverware (actual silver) and decided I saw no need to buy inexpensive stainless for 'everyday' use, because if I wasn't good enough to use the "good stuff," who the hell was? (and what kind of message was I sending myself?) But silver can be put in the dishwasher, and polished at-need. Good china really needs to be hand-washed. And I am good enough for the good stuff, but I'm also lazy enough to groan at the thought of hand-washing dishes after every meal.  Ditto the lovely but really impractical-for-how-I-drink-coffee cups and saucers.

So what do I do with the china?  Continue to keep it in the cabinet, wrapped up?  Say the hell with it and start using them (especially as my daily-wear plates will need to be replaced soon?)  Or find somewhere to donate them, and hope they find a good home?

A dilemma.

(selling them really isn't an option - the resale value on these probably won't even cover my time/energy in taking out an ad and dealing with no-show buyers.  Unless someone reading here is interested?  Set for ten, including the errata - platters, bowls, etc).

Comments

[paradoox.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've heard you should use (or at least wash) china once a year or the glaze becomes brittle. Which reminds me I should go wash my parents' china which I'm holding for my niece. My ex got our china in the divorce. I got the glassware which is m ore useful IMO. We never did get silver. I had (and have) some silver plate from a great aunt.

What's your china pattern?

In any case, a place like replacements.com might buy the whole lot off of you.

[lagilman]

It's been over a decade, I have no idea what the pattern is.... (it might be marked on the bottom, but everything's put away, now)

[lagilman]

Lenox "Republic"

http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/china/L/lenox_china_republic_salad_plate_P0000050038S0029T2.jpg

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

Nice. The gilt would evaporate rapidly with the dishwasher, and you would end up with plain white china.
I have found for one person, that it takes less time to handwash as it does to prep for the dishwasher, and I get a bit queesy thinking of the length of time the dishes sit fermenting while I accumulate a full load.
Having a tiny kitchen I tend to use the dishwasher as a drying rack!

[phantomminuet.livejournal.com]

Very pretty.

I have Noritake dishes, but my crystal is Lenox Firelight.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Oh. That I would not put in the dishwasher.

Sell it and use the $$ to buy nice china you can put in the dishwasher!

[jmward14.livejournal.com]

Stunning. But no, this stuff wouldn't survive the dishwasher. The china might be dishwasher safe (most American fine china manufactured after 1970 is), but not the delicate gold tracery.
Use it, but wash it by hand. For one person, it doesn't take that much longer to hand wash. Or do what I did when I wound up inheriting my fourth set of good china from childless relations: give it as a household/wedding present to someone you love.
Best wishes whatever you choose.