Good morning everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts for the last two days, I was organizing a little garden party (pictures to come soon!) and I was running around a bit crazed. Throwing this little party got me thinking about china, and china patterns … The picture above, which most of you saw last year after my first attempt at hosting Thanksgiving dinner, features a Spode Heritage dinner plate set over a larger, more casual dinner plate from Fishs Eddy in NYC. This photo gives you an idea of how much American appetites have changed, dinner plates today are considerably larger than older plates!

This photo allows you to see the full print of the Spode Heritage dinner plate. Founded in the UK in 1776, Spode continues to manufacture China to this day. The Heritage pattern above, was in production for a short ten years, from 1962-1972. Somehow my husband ended up with twelve of these dinner plates. No other pieces, just twelve dinner plates, so I like to mix and match them with other things.

This is Herend Chinese Bouquet in rust. This is my mother’s wedding china. I absolutely adore the rust color, and was tempted to register for something in rust, but as my mother pointed out, these will be mine some day. This pattern has been extremely popular with friends of mine, but blue and green have been the popular choices. So far, my mother remains unique and chic in her choice of color/pattern combination (no surprise there mom).

This is Herend’s Fish Scale pattern in Green, which makes up a piece of my wedding china. I decided to mix and match china, because I wanted to have the ability to execute a variety of different looks with my china.  I believe that green is applicable in more seasons than any other color. Christmas dinner, spring luncheon, summer party – you name it, it works. I chose Fish Scale because I liked its exotic simplicity. The scales are so unique, but the plate is still simple, and acts as the perfect canvas for whatever plate you might stack on top …

This is Meissen Ming Dragon II in green, which makes up the second piece of my wedding china. To me, it was as if the Herend Fish Scale and the Meissen Ming Dragon II were meant for each other. The Ming Dragon II has both a vintage feel and a modern edge to it. When stacked atop the Fish Scale dinner plate, the Fish Scale border coordinates wonderfully with the scales on the dragon. The placement of the dragon on the Ming Dragon II dessert plate is key, he curves along with the plate so that when there is food on the plate, it is possible to still see the dragon.

This is Herend Golden Edge. Unfortunately, the Fish Scale pattern does not come in serving pieces, and as I said I like to mix and match I thought I would add two golden edge serving pieces to the mix. So while I have a Ming Dragon gravy boat and a couple larger platters, I decided to add a couple of golden edge serving bowls. What’s wonderful about Golden Edge, especially the serving pieces, is that they coordinate nicely with more casual white china. This way you can sneak in a little sparkle at the dinner table without changing the overall casual experience of the party.

So whatever china pattern you choose, or your mother chose, or that you inherit, have fun with it! Mix and match, do something different. And use it as much as you can. There is no occasion where breaking out your best stuff is not appropriate – it’s your party!

Images courtesy of Scully & Scully, Lacquered Life, Replacements Ltd.