Dealing with old family china

[Deleted]

Some of the recent threads on settling estates and distributing family stuff like china reminded me of a cool business a local lady started.  She creates jewelry based on snippets of old china utilizing both sterling silver and 14-karat gold.  I have collected a number of her pieces over the years and enjoy their unique beauty.  Last time I shopped with her, she told me that she was doing a lot of custom business where no one in the family wanted Grandma's service-for-twelve china set but everyone wanted to honor Grandma's memory.  She creates pieces (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, cuff links, tie clasps, belt buckles, etc.) using Grandma's china so that all the descendants can carry the memory without the burden of housing the actual china set.  She even did one beautiful large brooch that was the centerpiece of a bride's bouquet.  

[Opti]

Any pics? Sounds interesting.

[haapai]

Sounds pretty sane compared to some of the discussions that I've heard regarding turning grandma's (which was once great-grandma's) 12-piece set back into a 12-piece or even a six-piece set.  Nevermind whether anyone us ever going to actually use the results.  Liberating anyone (and their daughters) from the tyranny of the china set is a good thing.  Smashing the stuff might be more efficient, and totally in sync with what g'ma actually felt, but turning china into silly jewellery is not a bad interim step. 

I'd definitely consider this option if I had been cursed with either the red-white-and-blue set or the more pedestrian red & white set, and quite frankly, I'm not out of the woods yet.  Aunt M. claimed the RWB set decades ago but she only has sons.  Aunt B and Aunt W. took the red and white set but have no kids (they predated the gayby boom).  The odds that I will be blessed with more heirloom china than I can possibly break in my lifetime are good.  Can you PM me that gal's web address? 

[TheOtherMe]

I would have liked to have china to do something like this with.  Parents never had china.

I got mom's mother's ring and sister got her diamond ring.  No arguing.

[Deleted]

I have my aunt's china and crystal boxed up in the basement.  It's pretty, and there is a ton of it.  The problem is that I have a china fetish so I have my own china and crystal that I picked because I like it. Fortunately, my DIL wants the crystal.  I just need to put it in the car and deliver it.

I'd never agree to have any china smashed up even if you had to give it away to the thrift store instead.  Someone would love and use it.   I certainly wouldn't feel "honored" if my daughter or daughter-in-law smashed my Wedgwood.  I would feel like they were doing it to spite me.

I've given away a lot of stuff through Freecycle and CraigsList that my kids don't want.  That part doesn't hurt me.  Someone finds it useful.  

[msventoux]

I know people who have had some mosaic flower pots and wall hangings made from shards of old china that was meaningful to them. Jewelry would be interesting to see.

[happyhoix]

I've sold some unwanted (and unsentimental) china to Replacements. If it's a rare, no longer produced china you can get a good price.

My mom was a china hoarder. When we packed up her estate there were five different sets of china, 3 of which I had never seen. Two were her own, from when she got married (a formal china set, and a 'tea' set for her bridge parties) and three of them were sets she must have picked up over the years and hid from our dad, who got mad at her hoarder habits. For a while we lived near a china factory and you could get discounts on the sets, so I assume she got them there.

She got mad at me about ten years ago when I sold off my 'good' china to Replacements and downsized to just the one set of dishes. I never ever used the good china and it just took up space. I am not an entertainer, and when family comes over, we would never bother hauling out the good dishes 'just' for family. For my mom, who adored the whole dress-up-for-formal-dinner-on-fine-china idea, this was horrifying. For me, I enjoy the extra cabinet space.

[chiver78]

Replacements is a pretty cool site. my discontinued Mikasa pattern shows up there every once in awhile, and they do cool things like repurposing original pieces into other functionality (a clock, for instance) 

[alabamagal]

I always wonder what happens to all the old china in the world.....

My wedding china (30 years old) is an informal set (no gold or silver trim), but it is still too formal for everyday use.  We do use it for holidays.  A couple years ago my mom gave me her wedding set (55 years old) which is more traditional china.  She gave it to me when she inherited her parents set, which my grandfather brought back from far east during military travel, so it is supposedly "real china". 

I am giving my mom's set to my DS and DDIL who just got married, but they did not ask for a china set in their registry.  DDIL seems happy to take it.  

[Wisconsin Beth]

I didn't register for china. I figured when I was ready, I'd hit my favorite resale shop until I found a pattern I liked.

My sister who did register for China recd like two place settings. So I assumed I wasn't going to get much.

I'd take my mom's China though.

[sesfw]

The china set I had forever ago is Limoges Haviland from about 1875 as far as I can figure out.

My mother worked for an elderly lady when she was a teen (early 1930s) and this lady gave the set to mom.  This set was her 'middle' china set and she got it as a bride.  At that time homes had 3 sets of China ..... everyday, Sunday dinner, and formal.  The other sets had been broken through the years.

Anyway, when I got married in 1961 I inherited what was left of it ..... maybe a complete service for 1.  Bits and pieces of everything else and most of the serving pieces.  DH and I used it for a while, but by then it was so fragile it was put away as soon as possible.  DD has it now, probably still packed.  She had a cup and saucer on display in her china cabinet.  I should get one back to put in our  hutch ........ maybe I will

Totally useless ..... but a few pieces are nice for display.

[nittanycheme]

I have a set of china that I found in my mom's house.  It was my grandmother's, and its possible we used it for holidays.  My grandmother would've definitely used china - she was very formal about that type of thing.  I just didn't pay attention to the dishes my food was on.  My mom kept it in nice cases, but never used it.  My mom didn't really cook, let alone use that type of china.  Its a Noritake pattern that was only made from 1948 to 1952, and has gold trim.  I have a full set for 12, plus extra of a few items (I expect it may have been for 16 at one point), plus serving dishes.  They are all in really good shape - one of the tea cups has a small chip in the foot, but I don't see anything damaged.  I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.  For now, they are in their cases in bins in the garage.  I likely won't use them; I have newer china (that is supposed to be dishwasher safe) that I barely use. 

[Anne_in_VA]

I have my former MIL's china that she got as a wedding present.  It was originally a service for 12, but there are a few pieces missing now.  It's very formal and I just don't entertain like that anymore.  I also have a set of china that is my "good" china and an everyday set.  My son doesn't want MIL's set, so I don't know what to do with it.  I heard that Replacements Limited doesn't pay much for china and I've heard you have to ship it to them and they decide if they want it or not.  Doesn't seem worth it to me.

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2017 17:53:55 GMT -5 Opti said:

Any pics? Sounds interesting.

I can't figure out how to attach a photo-I'm a tech loser

[kittensaver]

Sept 27, 2017 7:00:54 GMT -5 Anne_in_VA said:

I have my former MIL's china that she got as a wedding present.  It was originally a service for 12, but there are a few pieces missing now.  It's very formal and I just don't entertain like that anymore.  I also have a set of china that is my "good" china and an everyday set.  My son doesn't want MIL's set, so I don't know what to do with it.  I heard that Replacements Limited doesn't pay much for china and I've heard you have to ship it to them and they decide if they want it or not.  Doesn't seem worth it to me.

I've sold old family china to Replacements Ltd. If you send them a good quality photo and an accurate inventory listing, they will give you a price - you don't need to physically sent it to them in order to get a quote. Depending on what you have and what their demand may (or may not) be for that particular pattern, they will offer you anything from $0 to some actually decent prices. It all hinges on the demand they have on their end for certain patterns.

But it *is* true that *you* have to pay to have it packed and shipped to them once you accept their price.

Still - - some money is better than none. It is also better than tossing stuff into landfill. JMHO YMMV

[Deleted]

Since I don't know how to post a photo of my items from this source, and my attempt to pm someone resulted in the angry bear 5 times, I'm posting a link to the website.  www.chinabaroque.com/  I hope this doesn't violate some rule but it's the only way I know to provide info.  If it's a problem, please delete.  THX!

[grits]

Both of my parents are now dead.  My useless sister is holed up in the house.  When she dies, I don't want service for 24 heading my way.  NO! 

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 26, 2017 10:25:21 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I've sold some unwanted (and unsentimental) china to Replacements. If it's a rare, no longer produced china you can get a good price.

My mom was a china hoarder. When we packed up her estate there were five different sets of china, 3 of which I had never seen. Two were her own, from when she got married (a formal china set, and a 'tea' set for her bridge parties) and three of them were sets she must have picked up over the years and hid from our dad, who got mad at her hoarder habits. For a while we lived near a china factory and you could get discounts on the sets, so I assume she got them there.

She got mad at me about ten years ago when I sold off my 'good' china to Replacements and downsized to just the one set of dishes. I never ever used the good china and it just took up space. I am not an entertainer, and when family comes over, we would never bother hauling out the good dishes 'just' for family. For my mom, who adored the whole dress-up-for-formal-dinner-on-fine-china idea, this was horrifying. For me, I enjoy the extra cabinet space.

I asked my DIL and her sister if either interested in my Lenox from when I was married. Nope was the answer so I got a quote from Replacements and shipped it to them. I had a lot of "serving pieces" also. When I got my check it was actually more than they quoted. I finally figured out that I had classified the set of bowls as "berry bowls" and it was something else so they paid the corrected price. 

The whole process was pretty straight forward from start to finish. I eventually sold my sterling and crystal to them. I was tired of hauling stuff around that was wedding gifts in 1964. 

Eta: just went to website and they are still are selling it? It was discontinued around 75, 

[zibazinski]

I wish I had a set of china that I inherited from someone. DH's ex took his mom's and when he wanted it back , she said she was giving it to bio. Of course bio didn't want it either so it was just petty. My side of the family had no money for something classy like that. I got some for my wedding but my ex took it. Probably threw it away. Sad. I've looked at consignment stores but they always want too much for it.

[Anne_in_VA]

I have a beautiful set you can have zib!  Cream color china with a gild rim and acanthus leaves around the rim.  I'll have to see if I can find a picture somewhere.  I'll even ship it to you!

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 30, 2017 20:37:03 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

I wish I had a set of china that I inherited from someone. DH's ex took his mom's and when he wanted it back , she said she was giving it to bio. Of course bio didn't want it either so it was just petty. My side of the family had no money for something classy like that. I got some for my wedding but my ex took it. Probably threw it away. Sad. I've looked at consignment stores but they always want too much for it.

Well, if I had known you back then you could have been the proud owner!!  Although not real antique since it was first manufactured in 58 and discontinued around 74 or so I think!!!