Privilege Blog

The 3rd Rule Of China Place Settings

“Wait!” you might protest, “Wait! What happened to Rules 1 and 2? Is there a Rule Number 4?”

Never fear. Other rules exist. But they require research, time, thought. And some days you just want the frivolous cream, the cotton candy, the butter of life.

Rule #3: There is room in your cupboard for a silly set of something. If it matches, well enough. Or contrasts, well enough, to whatever else you use. If it comes with memories, or sentiment, or humor, all the better.

Extra points for crowns. Or ironic symbol of your choice.

images
me

29 Responses

  1. Lisa, oh yes use what you have and love all of the time!! Alas no crowns on my china!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

  2. Are you *certain* those crowns are ironic?

    I keep saying (loudly! with great frequency!) that my Burberry earmuffs are ironic, see, but I'm finding that there is really no way to wear Burberry earmuffs ironically. I fear it may be the same with crowns. Having only had tiaras myself, I cannot say.

  3. Ours never gets into the cupboards. Instead, we use them all the time. The silver, the Royal Winton chintzware, it all has to be used and enjoyed.

  4. A bit of whimsy is good for the soul.

    Surrounding ourselves with meaningful objects is much more opulent than simply acquiring new.

  5. I read in a former post about your white dinnerware and these would add a touch of sparkle to the table…a wee bit of Swedish heritage that you are born into…when the candles are lit the gold crowns must twinkle.

    Now about #'s 1 and 2…do tell!

  6. ok, i'm confused (easily done btw)about rule 1 and 2. did i miss something? (easily done btw.)

    ~janet

  7. Dear Ms LPC, What an excellent rule! I have six Lomonosov gilt edged demitasse cups and saucers, all whimsically handpainted. They give me enormous pleasure every time I wander past them…

  8. Mismatched china inherited from Those Now Gone is very comforting I think. Love those crowns.

  9. Royal cups must add some delicious irony and regality to everyday life. Love your rules.

  10. Karena – Alas indeed!

    Amanda – The thing about irony is, one can never be certain…

    Marcela – Thank you!

    Susan – I do use them: Great cereal bowls.

    legend – Royal Winton chintzware. There's something wonderful about all those over the top flowers.

    Fuji – I agree. Whimsy is the proverbial tonic:).

  11. Jan – OK, you cook for me, I'll bring the bowls….deal?

    Hostess – I have only eaten cereal out of the bowls so far:). Maybe for Thanksgiving we will use them with candlelight. That would be fun.

    Janet – Um, I have to figure out Rules 1 and 2:). This was just clearly far too frivlous to be Rule #1….

    Vogue – Bwahahaha. You should get some regal table goods then!

    Bon Lemon – Why thank you!

    Semi – Thank you. They do.

  12. Barbara – We are very pleased. We will let our ministers of blue skies and wine country know.

    Linda – Do those look like Herends? I really like the pictures I see when I Google Lomonosov. But I've never learned the names of all this…

    Miss Janey – You have discovered the secret.

    FF – In pink, these would be made for you.

    CDS – Thank you!

    La Belette – The bowls do add exactly those qualities to day to day. Exactly. Precisely. Thank you.

  13. Lisa, are those yours? You immersed into the swedish royal wedding thingies? I am not so sure … but it must be since your posting says "images me".

  14. I just hauled out my good china about 6 weeks ago and put it into my daily use cupboard – no more "saving things for good." Odd idiom around these parts.

  15. Dear Ms LPC, Firstly thank you for mentioning the Herend porcelain. How lovely it is! I particularly like the penguins at the top right of the Herend website and now desire a Herend bonbonnière. Lomonosov is a bit different although, as you know, it was the Imperial Porcelain factory so originally catered to a similar clientele. Their Cobalt Net pattern is ubiquitous in Russia. However, you can see my cups and saucers in the 'Highly Artistic' section of the Lomonosov website. I almost choked on my coffee when I saw how much it would cost to replace one cup and saucer. I think that I will not only regard them with pleasure but also with considerably more respect from now on…

  16. I think if you wore those crown bowls as a hat, it would be ironic, but, for cereal they are perfect!

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