I always loved Pfalzgraff but never had any. We ate off of melamine when I was a kid - no patterns that I remember but unbreakable! Mom's nice china was only for holidays. My second husband had an old set of his mom's Franciscan Desert Rose which I loved. I don't remember what dishware I used after he took his with him as he walked out the door. My husband and I when dating both loved Fiesta ware and bought it for each of our homes. When we married we ended up with lots of it which we love and it's so cheery when I open the cabinet. Thanks for your post. Wonderful tradition and brought back so many memories for me!
For everyday it was always Corelware. White with the gold patterned trim. The Pfalzgraff is something I admired and yearned for as a teenager. So cool that your mom and your sisters and you all had Pfalzgraff dishes. The corn-on-the-cob plates, the Christmas pattern, and the everyday blue floral were treasures to be found at yard sales in Minnesota and Wisconsin for decades. My grandmother collected the Royal Copenhagen blue and white plates issued once a year; that was always her gift from her kids.
Part of being a woman, I think, is knowing the dish patterns of not only your own, but of your friends, sisters, cousins and others! Jami had Juniper. My friend Julie had Tea Rose… my brain is full of this type of info instead of remembering what I need at the grocery store!
In my family, it was Johnson Brothers table ware. My mother in law gifted me a set of old “friendly village” plates that my husbands family had been used for two generations and the collection took off from there. I still have the dishes, but they are in boxes in the attic. Like you I’ve moved into a simple white porcelain plates, but I can’t seem to part with other… to much family history and memories
It is definitely difficult to let go of the physical manifestations of our memories. I've been able to let go of some by taking the time to photograph the items and write about the history of the item and my memories. But it's definitely easier said than done!
I have a room in my house filled with old china, and I use them every meal, every day.
Some sets are heirloom wedding china I’ve inherited from family members, other sets have been passed down to me from friends who’d inherited them and didn’t want them but wanted them to be cherished.
I’ve had old family china sets dropped off at the front door by friends of friends, and once by the manager of a historic lodge who wanted to know if I’d be interested in 11 boxes of dishes from the 1910s he’d found in storage!
Sitting at a table dressed with old china, man. It is like sitting down to dinner with everyone I’ve ever loved and listening to their stories.
That’s amazing, Lori! If I had the room to handidly store so much, I think I’d be a willing receptacle myself! How amazing would it be to chose which dishware you’d use based on a mood, a meal, a guest, or some other whim. I’m envious!
My husband keeps hinting that I may be at capacity, but I remind him we use the dishes every day and he hasn’t touched his workshop in the garage in a decade so…🤣
All joking aside, surrounding myself with family artifacts just brings me joy. It fills my well.
Goodness, Kirsi. I would be so embarrassed to have you for a meal at my house. One thing I do take care with is coffee mugs ... Some just don't taste right!
Beautiful write. So true. Reminds me of my wife. Her table settings, not just during holidays, but whenever the moment takes hold of her, always reflects her desire to give. To share. To be one with her guests. Yet, at the same time, leave her own indelible heart-mark on the occasion and her guests. I feel very lucky to be a part of those moments.
I always loved Pfalzgraff but never had any. We ate off of melamine when I was a kid - no patterns that I remember but unbreakable! Mom's nice china was only for holidays. My second husband had an old set of his mom's Franciscan Desert Rose which I loved. I don't remember what dishware I used after he took his with him as he walked out the door. My husband and I when dating both loved Fiesta ware and bought it for each of our homes. When we married we ended up with lots of it which we love and it's so cheery when I open the cabinet. Thanks for your post. Wonderful tradition and brought back so many memories for me!
It’s so interesting how something as mundane and routine as dishware triggers so many memories! Thanks for reading and commenting!
For everyday it was always Corelware. White with the gold patterned trim. The Pfalzgraff is something I admired and yearned for as a teenager. So cool that your mom and your sisters and you all had Pfalzgraff dishes. The corn-on-the-cob plates, the Christmas pattern, and the everyday blue floral were treasures to be found at yard sales in Minnesota and Wisconsin for decades. My grandmother collected the Royal Copenhagen blue and white plates issued once a year; that was always her gift from her kids.
Thanks Jill. 🙂
I love those Christmas deigns Kirsi!
Thanks Paul! Me too!
I love this. And I'd love to see what kind of storage your mother used for all these lovely dishes!
My mom used every inch of kitchen cabinet space for her Yorktown dishware and that meant sometimes her pots and pans were inconveniently placed. 🤣
Thanks for reading and commenting, it means a lot!
My friend's mom had Yorktown too! It's a fond memory. She made the best potato soup and her homemade french dressing was to die for.
I Googled the Pfaltzgraff Aura collection :-) I had Heritage.
Great story! Great memories. Great dishes.
Part of being a woman, I think, is knowing the dish patterns of not only your own, but of your friends, sisters, cousins and others! Jami had Juniper. My friend Julie had Tea Rose… my brain is full of this type of info instead of remembering what I need at the grocery store!
...or why you walked into a room ;-)
In my family, it was Johnson Brothers table ware. My mother in law gifted me a set of old “friendly village” plates that my husbands family had been used for two generations and the collection took off from there. I still have the dishes, but they are in boxes in the attic. Like you I’ve moved into a simple white porcelain plates, but I can’t seem to part with other… to much family history and memories
It is definitely difficult to let go of the physical manifestations of our memories. I've been able to let go of some by taking the time to photograph the items and write about the history of the item and my memories. But it's definitely easier said than done!
Great story Kirsi, you are an amazing writer!💓
Man, Kirsi, you hit a nerve with this one.
I have a room in my house filled with old china, and I use them every meal, every day.
Some sets are heirloom wedding china I’ve inherited from family members, other sets have been passed down to me from friends who’d inherited them and didn’t want them but wanted them to be cherished.
I’ve had old family china sets dropped off at the front door by friends of friends, and once by the manager of a historic lodge who wanted to know if I’d be interested in 11 boxes of dishes from the 1910s he’d found in storage!
Sitting at a table dressed with old china, man. It is like sitting down to dinner with everyone I’ve ever loved and listening to their stories.
❤️
That’s amazing, Lori! If I had the room to handidly store so much, I think I’d be a willing receptacle myself! How amazing would it be to chose which dishware you’d use based on a mood, a meal, a guest, or some other whim. I’m envious!
My husband keeps hinting that I may be at capacity, but I remind him we use the dishes every day and he hasn’t touched his workshop in the garage in a decade so…🤣
All joking aside, surrounding myself with family artifacts just brings me joy. It fills my well.
…and that’s what matters. 💕
Goodness, Kirsi. I would be so embarrassed to have you for a meal at my house. One thing I do take care with is coffee mugs ... Some just don't taste right!
Coffee mugs! Love them too! And I would be honored to have a meal at your home!
Beautiful write. So true. Reminds me of my wife. Her table settings, not just during holidays, but whenever the moment takes hold of her, always reflects her desire to give. To share. To be one with her guests. Yet, at the same time, leave her own indelible heart-mark on the occasion and her guests. I feel very lucky to be a part of those moments.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for commenting! I’m so amazed by the emotions dishware is triggering.