Vera Wang, Jasper Cronan, and Robert Dawson are some of the modern designers who collaborate with Wedgewood to design products that retain a classical appeal, but still appeal to the younger consumer.  In addition to dinnerware pieces, the Wedgewood team also coordinates their items with the corresponding items offered by sister companies Waterford Crystal and Royal Doulton.

Consumers desiring an elegant, classical look will be interested in the white China options.  Some pieces are available in a solid white with no ornamentation beyond the shape of the plate, whereas other pieces incorporate platinum and gold trims or accents while maintaining an overall minimalistic feel.  The one exception in these patters is the saucer, which may be highly ornamented with laurel branch design or have floral adornments near the lip of the plate.

Some other classical style Wedgewood dinnerware offerings are Florentine Turquoise, Renaissance laurel branch, fleur-de-lis, and Columbia patterns available in vibrant Wedgewood colors.  The most traditional of these patters is the fluer-de-lis on Wedgewood French country blue that served as inspiration for founder Josiah Wedgewood in the 19^th Century.  Other colors available for traditionally styled patters include black, turquoise, gold, sage, ruby, forest green, and vibrant blue.  Most services incorporate a platinum or gold acid etched border.

Modern offerings may appear more casual, but provide more versatile usage.  Some examples of these patterns include polka dots on a pink background, colored geometrical shapes, colored bands, and casual fern designs.  Predominantly available in Wedgewood blue,  other options include green, gold, and pastel colors.  There is also a set of seasonally themed dinnerware to complete the Christmas season, or casual shapes available in solid white.

While not considered “inexpensive”, Wedgewood is a much more affordable brand than other fine china providers.  Depending on the pattern, designer, and metal used in the production, prices range from $65 to $150 per person for a 5 piece service.  Wedgewood may be purchased from high end department stores, such as Macy’s, or at popular online merchants such as Amazon.  Special care will need to be taken to ship these items and extra charges for shipping and handling may apply.

As with all fine china, Wedgewood dinnerware should be treated with extra care when washing to preserve the luster of the design and china.  China should always be washed with the mildest detergent possible,  and a dishwasher should be avoided whenever possible.  Also, China is more delicate than earthenware dishes and should not be exposed to sudden extreme heat or cold.  As such, the water should not be overheated to avoid cracking.  When stacking dinnerware, place a thin cloth between items to avoid scratching of the design.  If hard water causes mineral deposits, it can be removed with a vinegar solution.  Finally, as most Wedgewood china incorporates gold or platinum in the design, these pieces should not be used in a microwave oven to avoid sparking from the metal.  With a commitment to simple upkeep for your China, it can be enjoyed for years to come!

This pattern is hand painted, and available in raspberry, lilac, yellow, black, blue, green, rust, and multicolored themes with a white background.  Traditional in appearance, the Chinese bouquet also incorporates gold leaf into the rims of plates, cups, and saucers.  The patterns central adornment is a delicate flower in the center of the plate or cup.  Some designs have the rim or the dinnerware lines completely lined with flowers of the same color, whereas others have the ancillary bouquet pieces spaces evenly around the lip.

Due to the high profile of both the maker and  royal design, the Herend Chinese Bouquet dinner service is considered highly collectable and is frequently an heirloom piece.  The complete dinner service includes an array of over 70 unique products.  Basic options, such as a dinner plate, cup, saucer, mug, and soup cup are foundations of a good beginning to owning a complete set.  However, other options such as teapots, oatmeal bowls, and turkey platters may not possible to obtain at the time of the original purchase.  Due to the high collector’s value of Herend pieces, this would not be considered an entry level purchase.  The least expensive item, a coaster, starts at $40 apiece, and a four quart Tureen will be a minimum of $1,670.00.  For this reason, many couples registering this set as a wedding gift item will select only the most basic elements and check estate sales and online auctions for more expensive items.

It should also be noted that as the design changes slightly over the years, replacement items may not always be readily available.  Certain online retailers and high end department stores can order these pieces for the consumer a la carte.  However, replacement pieces, although used, may not be any less in cost than replacing the item.

The buyer should also be careful of imitation Herend’s items.  Each item should have a unique number and letter sequence on the underside of the dish to serve as an identification system for the pattern and price.  It should be noted, this is not a serial number, edition number, or registration number and any vendor identifying the alphanumeric sequence as such should be investigated before proceeding with purchase.  The Chinese Bouquet pattern will always begin with an A- to pay homage to Count Apponyi who initially commissioned the design in 1930; the second set of letters will denote the color used in the design.  Also, as each piece is hand painted, it may be months after ordering before the set can be received.  Each piece will be unique, and even within the same pattern, wide variations between dinnerware items is expected.

Martin’s Herend Imports is the sole authorized importer for any new Herend Chinese Bouquet orders in the United States.  Martin’s maintains secondary contracts with high end retailers, and a consumer may verify the authenticity of a stores ability to sell Herend’s by contacting Martin’s for verification.  Please note some items are not available for initial purchase in the US and must be purchased abroad.

For the collector looking to replace an individual piece, many online vendors like replacements.com and dishesareus.com offer the consumer the ability to search by the year and design of their treasured item.   Major manufacturers still selling in the United States, such as Lenox or Pfaltzgraph, will offer a retired or vintage section in their catalogs.  For the devoted vintage dinnerware seeker, online auction sites such as eBay offer many different styles of china, stoneware, formal, and causal dining sets.   It should be noted, it may be difficult to obtain a complete set via any of these methods, and will be determined by the rarity of the pattern and piece in question.

The buyer should not assume that replacement items will be any less in cost than the original, and quite the reverse may be true.  As most fine china increases in value over time, and decreases in availability, the price may be exponentially higher than the original piece.  Most vintage pieces are equal or higher in price to new items within the same manufacturer.  However, vintage Correlle may not be higher than a new piece, and if located at a discount merchandiser, used casual dining pieces may be substantially less.

To insure the authenticity of vintage dinnerware it is important to have a good understanding of the standards and nomenclature within a particular design.  Most makers utilize a highly specific naming system on the bottom of plates to indicate the designs’ year, color, material, manufacturer, or original owner.  The condition of the piece will also greatly determine associated value.  Thoroughly inspect all items for chips, cracks, or damage to any artistic elements.  When shopping online sites, the buyer should look for highly magnified pictures and thorough descriptions.  The seller should be able to confidently answer any questions regarding the care or condition of the item.

For the true treasure seeker, many estate sales, garage sales, and thrift stores carry dinnerware of all ages.  By purchasing a reference guide to help determine the age and authenticity of items, a savvy shopper may be able to find a hidden gem among the dross of less desirable pieces.  In order to be successful at this endeavor, the buyer will need to ensure they are familiar with the most commonly reproduced styles and brands.

When buying any vintage piece, it is important to understand the exchange and refund policy.  Beware of sellers who have no feedback, recommendations, or return policy.  If the seller is less than reputable, it is better safe than sorry; most major vendors will provide assurances to the items quality and condition upon arrival.  For casual dinnerware, some vendors may not offer guarantees as the value of the item is relatively low compared to shipping a return.

Lenox is currently the only manufacturer of bone China in the United States and offers classical representations of traditional dinnerware design.  However, although the only producer of bone china dinnerware, it should not be presumed that styles and patterns are limited as Lenox offers over 1200 unique items in 99 original patterns.

Some patterns, such as the Continental Dining Platinum collection, are traditional in appearance utilizing solid colors with gold or platinum bands around the lip and rim of cups and plates.  Other traditional designs include the Federal line, (available with different solid colors on the lip of the plate) or Bonnabel Place (which incorporates a subtle floral design on the rim of the plate with platinum banding).  Classical china patterns are usual solid in color or with subtle embellishments that are symmetrical and incorporate understated structure.  Some examples of traditional china patterns include laurels, hollies, paisley, and color blocking around the lip.

Modern design goes outside the norm of limiting embellishment to the rim of the plate and adorns the serving portion of plates as well.  Some examples are the Gardner Street collection (which has platinum or green branches flowing from the plates lip to center), or the Voila line (with asymmetrical graphics on one side of the plate only).  Other modern elements are vibrantly colored polka dots, large artistic depictions of nature, and any other large, bright, off-centered design element.  Designers such as Kate Spade have worked with Lenox to provide traditional, transitional, and modern designs for all consumers.

Due to the transparency intrinsic to the production of the china itself, many dinnerware designers have designed special patters to allow for light to pass through and eliminate elements of the dinnerware.  For example, the Glimmer collection relies on a slight translucence to the dinnerware to provide the optimum shine.  Other pieces incorporate artwork that appears to be water colored on when combined with the unique attributes of Bone China.  Lenox and other makers are also working to renovate the usefulness of fine china by designing lines that allow for microwave use, but still incorporate gold or other metallic adornment.

Bone china dinnerware is considered a collectors item, and makes a great gift for weddings.  In fact, in the United States a tradition exists for a newly engaged couple to register to the design pattern they will utilize throughout their lives together.  Most makers’ price dinnerware sets around $75-$150 per place setting, and extra charges will apply for serving dishes, gravy boats, and other ancillary items.  It is best to display china in a low traffic area of the home, and to ensure the dinnerware is secured safely to the holder so that it does not scratch from movement.  Homeowners can utilize the strategy of museums and purchase a gum like material that will ensure the plate will not move easily from the table or shelf it is displayed on.

Although modern dinnerware is commonly made through a factory stamping process, older versions of fine china were typically hand painted.  However, new dinnerware can still be found made with hand painted artistry.  Some examples include Herend American Wildflowers, Jackson’s Italian Renaissance Maiolica, and William’s Sonoma Provence.  Although very different in style, each piece is sure to have careful craftsmanship, and each piece will be slightly different from others in the same line.  Some dinnerware may exhibit many vibrant colors (such as the Provence line), whereas others will be more classically sedate (such as Maiolica).  Italian porcelain and pottery seems to be the exception to the decline of hand crafted dinnerware, and many Italian makers still offer many different individually painted patterns each year.

With the advent of mass production, some of the artistry of hand painted dinnerware has faded.  However, to understand the craftsmanship of these pieces, it helps to consider the process involved.  For example, in order for the art to look appropriate on the plate, the firing and glazing process must be perfect.  Most china will change color through the firing and glazing process, and once an artist has begun to apply paint, it is not possible to remove paint to correct errors; this will show in the final product and any “irregular” items are often sold at a discounted rate.  Also, it is taboo to use any form of sketching on the china before applying paint as this will also reduce the appeal of the finished design.  To compensate for this with intricate patterns, the craftsman must use an ancient technique called “spolvero”.  Tiny pinpricks are placed on a piece of paper in the shape of the design, and the artist will sprinkle powdered charcoal through the openings to visualize the final artwork.  Once the paint has been applied and the piece is placed in the kiln, the charcoal will burn off leaving no trace.

When shopping for hand painted dinnerware, it can be difficult to ascertain the authenticity of the pieces.  The easiest sign the china is authentically hand painted is to look for brush strokes.  Also, if several pieces of the same pattern are available, there should be minute differences between them.  If an item appears to be too symmetrical there is a chance it is not truly hand painted.

Hand painted designs are fragile compared to stamped designs, and must be treated with extra care.  The dinnerware should not be left soaking during the cleaning process as this may damage the design.  Also, strong detergents should be avoided, as should dishwasher or microwave usage.  When buying antique dinnerware, special care should be devoted to ensuring the design has not begun to flake or chip.  Once the decay has begun on the design, it can be an expensive and involved process to restore your piece to its original condition.

Regardless of individual taste, hand painted china can be an excellent gift for oneself or others.  By devoting some time to determining the correct style, maker, and vintage the owner will ensure she has a unique, artistically crafted centerpiece to the dining area for decades to come.