<p>When my mother passed away (2 years ago today, God rest her soul), we had an estate sale. Silver plate, whether bowls or flatware, just didn’t sell. You couldn’t even give silver plate away. (I don’t know about sterling silver, since my mother loved her sterling, so I couldn’t bring myself to sell it.) Upholstered furniture doesn’t sell, they tell me because everyone fears bedbugs.</p>
<p>Antique china did sell but not for amazing prices. However, certain individual pieces turned out to be collectible and sold early and well. That’s one of the reasons we used an estate person - they know what people are buying and what they’ll pay. Small appliances sold. Wooden furniture in good condition all sold. What sold immediately, and had people out of the door in line 2 hours in advance (much to my surprise) was boy scout memorabilia and WWII army items.</p>
<p>The sterling, and even silver plate, might sell on Ebay- especially sold in small lots. I’ve bid on pieces in the past and found that the popular patterns do sell regularly for decent prices. Because it can’t be damaged in shipping, people are less afraid to buy that way from occasional sellers. I’d put it up in small groups- no more than four place settings at once. A lot of people are mixing and matching these days and don’t want 12 place settings of anything. The biggest problem I’ve found with buying on Ebay is from sellers who really don’t know how to pack breakables. With silver you don’t have that worry.</p>
<p>I agree with others about holding on to the china because you won’t be able to get nearly what it might be worth to your family at some point. Who knows how many grandchildren you may have or who they may marry? My mom (82 years) had a closet full of beautiful and expensive shoes (mom had a thing for Brunos) she wore when working years ago- some more than 20 years old, and because she had a AA foot, I couldn’t wear them, nor could anyone in my family. But the styles are classic and have come back, and they are in wonderful condition. She recently found a home for them with one of her grandson’s new wives- size 8 AA. The young person was thrilled to have them, as she works where she has to dress well and would otherwise not be able to spend for the quality. </p>
<p>You just never know. But then you’re talking to someone who has all of her son’s Lego sets stored in plastic boxes in the garage, waiting for future grand kids.</p>
<p>My mother’s silver plate from 1950 has become in vogue again. I would never sell it, but I haven’t used it yet. Very mid century. I have three sets of sterling and I wouldn’t sell those either. I have however purchased a few extra place settings on ebay. And when I was buying silver was much less expensive. Now…expensive.</p>
<p>Selling china is a different animal…pros look for the tiniest thing…is the gold rim perfect? Any colors faded? Minor chip or flea bite on it? </p>
<p>The only thing that saddens me? I had, as my “good” china picked a Limoges pattern in the late 1970. I have wanted more…but it is a very rare pattern. Yesterday on Ebay I found a piece and bought it immediately. The caption/descriptive opening sentence for the piece? Vintage…old…</p>
<p>Well, I looked on Ebay, and I’m sorry I did. My 1980’s Lenox is there. Quite fierce bidding for 12 place settings; 31 bids for a grand total of $103. Yes, that’s for all 12! Not even what one dinner plate cost me. Not to worry, I will get more personal satisfaction out of giving it to Goodwill. And if they don’t want it, the dumpster won’t be as particular! Now to go back to Ebay and look at the 50-or-so pieces of Lismore stemware…</p>
<p>For folks splitting sets for kids… consider groups of two settings. DH and I used to like eating a nice meal in the dining room on Saturday night, after the little kids had gone to bed. We ended up purchasing a low end set for 4 because fine china was so pricey per setting.</p>
<p>Definitely two settings–sort of fun to have china variety that doesn’t take up room!
If you keep it, make sure it’s stored properly–my friend saved her grandmother’s china for years hoping to give it to her kids–properly wrapped but maybe the heat got to it, it crackled and she ended throwing it all out.</p>
<p>I love, love, love dishes and have five sets of at least 8 place settings: Blue Danube (when I got married in 1980) Rose Chintz (my ex’s grandma’s), Old Britain Castles (my mom gave it to me), my grandmother’s china (don’t remember the pattern), and a cheap Christmas set (Holiday Hostess) that I started collecting years ago when I couldn’t afford Spode. It’s like art to me. I used the Blue Danube daily for 30 years until redecorating and getting rid of all the blue. Now I use paper plates or Corelle. My 25-year-old D has dibs on the Rose Chintz, so at least it will have a good home when I’m gone. lol I also have three sets of silver-plated flatware and several sets of crystal.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t sell the china, but I am sentimental. I remember helping my mother set the table for a holiday as a little kid, and she told me that she had a few pieces from her mother and grandmother, and that her set was similar (but newer) in the pattern. I always wanted a china set, and when I got married, H and I picked out the pattern. We got a fairly complete set from gifts (we were already in our 30s), my in laws bought us a few of the serving pieces that were a bit expensive. When my mom died, I really wanted her set of china (although my H said it was not worth a thing). I was able to identify it on replacements, and I am glad that I know what it is. They also had a couple (but not all of my grandmother’s and great grandmother’s pieces). I like history, and they are getting to be quite old now, so they fit in with that. I have a china cabinet, and various things are on display there. I use my own china for holidays.</p>
<p>Hearing about sets thrown out made me think of an experience I had. In the antique shops in NJ and PA that we go to, they want quite a lot for old china pieces. Many are crackled, and seem really overpriced. At one place, my H wanted to bargain for some imari style pieces that would coordinate with what we have. They were not ancient asian artifacts by any means. They were older english pieces, perhaps 100-110 years old (maybe only 90years), and as I said crackled. A couple even had tea stains because of the crackling. I think they wanted $100 per cup and saucer, for six. They would not even budge. I told H to forget it, since at that price I would prefer new china (royal crown derby has “old imari” which I like). I think in the end, that more than anything may limit the market for old china. If you can buy new “good” china for the same price, you just might prefer to do that.</p>
<p>The most interesting thing I’ve noticed is how many friends have the same patterns or had the same first "apartment’ dishes. You can see the trends from generations past. Portmeirion Botanic Garden or Franciscan Apple is in so many cupboards of my friends and those are “every day” patterns. I had a set of Vernonware that was my mother’s first apartment set (and new), then my first apartment set, then my S1’s first apartment set and now S2 has it. I’m with musicmom, I love the sentimentality and tradition of dishes.</p>
<p>Still love my china pattern, but it is tempting to try to sell some pieces. The coverd vegetable dish is listed on Ebay for $300. Wonder how much it will actually sell for? My mom has the Franciscan Desert Rose pattern. I think my aunt has every piece ever made in the Apple pattern.</p>
<p>Both of my grandmothers, from different parts of the country, had the same china pattern–a beautiful, plain white Haviland pattern called Ranson. Times being what they were, pieces were broken/chipped and never replaced and each set was left incomplete. (Apparently the problem was magnified when the factory burned many years ago, perhaps during ‘the’ war.) My aunts on both sides of the family joined with my mother in agreeing that I should be the recipient of both sets. So I have a nice, large set. I enjoy these dishes and think of both grandmothers when I use them. As they aren’t dishwasher-proof, I don’t use them as often as I should. Sadly, I fear my kids won’t have any interest in them. Suppose only time will tell as I won’t get rid of them until absolutely necessary! I love old dishes!</p>
<p>I have…10 (?) sets of china. All of them service for 12 or 24. When we married I received 12 of my “everyday”…a Villeroy & Boch pattern. And a Limoges pattern. With the death of my mother I received several more sets. From my mil I have service for 24…for my daughters. They don’t love it…</p>
<p>My mother, who’s job it was to break every set of china she had (the two sets I received from her were rarely used which led to their survival) Desert Rose from Franciscan. I have two or three of her plates…all chipped. But they had good memories.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the first and last time my mother was allowed to touch my china she dropped three dinner plates. Oh well…</p>
<p>My good china stayed packed away until we had a “real” dining room, after twenty-two years of marriage. Many times I thought of selling it since I knew people needed replacement pieces, but now I am so grateful. I love the ritual of using it on special occassions and mixing it with depression ware and other pieces given by relatives long gone. To me it tells a story.</p>
<p>Oh, ellebud, I hope you didn’t let her near the crystal? My daughter nearly fell on the floor laughing this past Thanksgiving. She found me in the kitchen teaching her boyfriend how to wash crystal. Since they have been dating for 4 years, and she will end up with my Waterford, I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be broken! She is the one who breaks things, so the only hope for survival is the boyfriend!</p>
<p>My husband breaks things with regularity so I willing wash the silver and crystal. I actually find it somewhat cathartic to stand and look out the window and wash by hand after a busy holiday. Fortunately all but one set of my china can go in the dishwasher which has a "china’ gentle and air dry cycle.</p>
<p>EC…No I didn’t let her touch my crystal. (She was able to break unbreakable plastic glasses…swear). My “good” crystal was broken by the earthquake in 1994. We were so lucky. I had bolted every large piece of furniture to the wall. No one hurt…that was the gift.</p>
<p>Ha! so right about patterns being generational - I have Botanic garden. My “medium” set.
I only have 4 sets and of those two I use regularly. I have lots of partials though. I am really wanting to start collecting Exotic Birds by Andrea/Sadek. I don’t need it, at all, but I really like it and it would make a great winter table setting. I passed up a full set for, I think, 8 or 10 for only about $150.00 been kicking myself ever since.</p>
<p>How I got my Botanic garden, I fell in love with it in the late 80’s. Asked my H to start giving me a piece every gift giving occasion. The rest of the family jumped in too for a few years. It was great, I never got a “bad” or “need to return” gift. Finally last year I told him enough! This was the first Christmas I didn’t receive a piece, I must admit I missed it.</p>
<p>I think I will ask him to either give me Exotic Birds or start me on a Tiffany charm bracelet…decisions, decisions.</p>
<p>If I went the Tiffany route, then he would know what to give me each year for gift giving, he would be happy and I would be happy! Just like the Portmeirion years, he never had to worry about what to get me. It even became a tradition at the shop where he bought it. The owner knew he would be rolling in last minute on Christmas eve and he got to where he would set out a selection for H to choose from. Even though he did not get me any Portmeirion this year he do go to same shop to select other gifts.</p>
Just like the Portmeirion years, he never had to worry about what to get me. It even became a tradition at the shop where he bought it. The owner knew he would be rolling in last minute on Christmas eve and he got to where he would set out a selection for H to choose from. Even though he did not get me any Portmeirion this year he do go to same shop to select other gifts.</p>