(See also the “Fine Crystal” “Sterling Silver Utensil” Conundrum.)
It seems like there is something of a weather change in American generations, driven in part by economics (and associated reduction in sizes of homes), culture (what is considered “special” and how do we celebrate it), and aesthetics (“OMG, those are hideous!”). The fine china (et al.) of previous generations is coming available as those generations pass on (or even just move into smaller dwellings themselves), and their successors really don’t have much interest.
We’re seeing this ourselves, though we’re just on the other side of that cusp. We did the whole china / crystal pattern wedding register thing when we got married in the mid-90s (both of us brought inherited silver to the marriage). Having those sorts of place settings for special occasions was just part of the tradition of each of our families.
(I also have a set of china from my first marriage, which, for some reason, I don’t think we’ve ever used.)
As Margie’s folks downsized to move into a retirement community, we ended up with an additional set of china (which is good, because our wedding-purchased one really does not work with Thanksgiving colors), but as my Mom gets ready to do the same thing, she’s faced with figuring out what she is going to do with hers.
She has two sets of china. One was the wedding gift set, the other was a set of Noritake Dad picked up for cheap in Japan when he was in the Navy. She almost (?) never uses them any more, and is even less likely to do so at her new home. My brother isn’t interested. I’m not interested enough in those particular patterns to want them, either.
On the other hand, just getting rid of them seems an awful waste.
And there will be the next generation. Like I said, we have two (three) sets. Will our kid want any of them? I don’t know. Possibly, as we’ve not been the sorts that Never Ever Use the China Because If You Use It It Might Get Broken. As the article notes, family heirlooms are valued when they actually have memories associated with them. I enjoy pulling out the china and crystal and silver if we’re having a holiday dinner, or a special occasion dinner, or just plain old people over. That celebratory association might stick with the offspring.
Or it might not, and we’ll eventually need to figure out what local charity to send it off to (whether Replacements.com is offering enough money to be worth it).
Interesting thoughts.
What should young people do with Grandma’s china?
I call my Oma, who lives in Florida, to ask how her Thanksgiving was. We talk only for 15 minutes because she needs to get back to the lebkuchen she’s baking for a church Christmas fundraiser. She tells me her Thanksgiving was small but nice; she made Cornish hens for everyone instead of a huge turkey. She’s like this, traditional at times but flexible and pragmatic at others.
What should young people do Full tường nhé +Dave Hill
Hi ngoc
Well com
Totally. Oddly, both my kids were interested in (different) sets of China that my aunt had from her parents.
Unfortunately, that still leaves all the china on the my mother's side. Some of which might match, but others won't.
But the change I've seen (and that in fact we did on my second marriage) is the heck with china for special occasions. We picked a set for everyday use. And my kids are going to do the same with that china. There aren't special dinners anymore.
+Kee Hinckley Which is also an interesting shift.
Surprise!! There are two more sets of china in the basement.