Are you Missing China Pieces, Stemware or Silverware for Your Holiday Place Setting?

As we are approaching the holidays, we begin thinking about all the prep work needed for our upcoming gatherings and dinners!  This is where in the back of your mind, you say I’m still missing a place setting, a plate or some item that you wish you had!  It may not be noticeable to others at your table, but you know!

Sometimes it’s really not that important, but for some of us it does matter.  Where we may go out and buy new dinnerware because of it! A few years back, in transit of my late mother’s beautiful China, a plate and two tea cups were damaged.

Like many of you, I too had guests over and it was asked if I had tea – I would always say no….but I have coffee!  For I have an abundance of coffee mugs! <smile> Now, if it was just a plain old day, the coffee mug could be used but when you invite people over; its something about the proper way….its important! A few years ago, I did replace the missing pieces and I just remembered that I must share this information with my readers.  Replacements LTD; they specialized in China, crystal and silverware.

What you would do is determine the pattern of your pieces and give Replacements LTD a call.  They can see if they have the pattern and provide an inventory list with prices. If they don’t have your item, you can be also placed on their contact list, as their inventory is replenished – they can tell you when a pattern is available or that specific item.

I’m currently on their list for three Waterford Bar glasses.  I just recently received an e-mail for other items in the Waterford Giselle collection, the bar glasses were not listed! But I’m hopeful!!!  Replacements LTD is located in lovely Greensboro, NC and the staff is very helpful:  Their website is http://www.replacements.com.

I hope this information was helpful!

Related articles

• A Formal Dinner…..Enjoy Yourself(lmlifestyledesign.wordpress.com)
• One Kings Lane-Holiday Entertainment-Vintage From Vagabond (vagabondinternational.wordpress.com)

Replacements LTD was founded by Bob Page in 1981 and  has a wide range of gorgeous products and special sale items and a museum that features over 2,000 rare tableware pieces.

 Letia 🙂

Lomonosov Tea set photo; is a beautiful vintage item from the 1920’s of old Russian design.  Made of China with gold plate trimming.  Origin, Amsterdam – Netherlands.   Manufactered in St. Petersburg.  There is a 6 pc. setting available and is sold by PlanetNathalie2 via etsy.com ($$$).

A Formal Dinner….Enjoy Yourself!

When invited to a formal dinner, it can be quite overwhelming!   Please do not take it too serious, worrying about which utensil to use first.    The most important thing is to engage with the other guests, laugh and most of all enjoy the food which has been thoughtfully prepared.   I attended quite a few New Year’s Eve celebrations,  one was a formal dinner!   It was quite superb, the guests were so very happy that our hosts took the time to prepare such a wonderful meal; I had a fantastic time <my cheekbones are still hurting!>.

The guide below will give you all the information for a formal place setting, useful if you are going to plan one and/or are invited!  While the place and spacing of table settings are of vital importance, the surprising truth is that the settings DO NOT need not match. If the dinner is formal, sterling silver flatware is preferred, but it does not need to share the same pattern.  Dessert settings do not have to match dinner settings, though knives and forks should match. In fact, the table can seem more colorful and the meal more interesting if the settings have some variation.  Remember, it’s your vision….have fun with it!

Well, it’s now 2:30 pm New Year’s Day, I had awoken from my slumber to write this real quick <no hangover>, only to head out to later continue to celebrate with more family and friends!    Happy New Year!!!!!!

Letia 😉

* Diagram courtesy of Protocol School of Texas, American Classical  Mahogany Round Dining Table – Boston 1835 (Neoclassical style of the Late Federal Boston Period).