The Christmas China

I had long been in love with

Spode's Christmas Tree 

pattern

It's been around "forever"

Well, actually since 1938

which is a long long time for a china pattern.

Few, can celebrate it's 75th Anniversary

as Christmas Tree does this year

and if you want china, rather than transferware

Lenox came out with their Holiday pattern in 1974

And for a few years

Those two were the Christmas china patterns

available at the "good" shops.

I longed for a set of Christmas Tree, but I couldn't justify the cost

to use just for

one day

But then I read in a Holiday shelter magazine about a homeowner

whose holiday decorated home was featured

including a beautiful dining table set with

Spode's Christmas Tree

that she used hers from the first Sunday in Advent through Christmas.

That, I reasoned would justify the cost.

A whole month of use -- not just one day!

And so I started to scout the Christmas china.

Alas, however, Husband Jim did not like the Spode Christmas Tree

(my choice)

On a trip to Hall's in Kansas City, we noticed that more companies

were manufacturing Christmas dishes.

Including Royal Doulton,

who introduced three patterns in 1986 --

Tartan

Ribbon

Holly

It was the start of "mix and match" for all three patterns could be used together.

Husband Jim favored the Tartan

His heritage after all is Scottish.

I liked it for the fact that it didn't scream "Christmas" and actually could be used at other times!

But it was expensive and if we were going to buy it, after Christmas at half price

was the way to go!

In the fall of 1988, we took a trip to England

And while in England, we visited the potteries at Stoke-On-Trent

Wedgwood

and

Royal Doulton

And at Royal Doulton we visited the seconds shop.

There in baskets on the floor were plates, cups and saucers

in Tartan, Ribbon and Holly.

I bought 8 plates, cups and saucers of Tartan

All for $8

(And I could kick myself to this day for not buying 24 of each!   Duh!

It was certainly a "I was not thinking" moment.

But I guess I counted dining room chairs and bought a plate, cup and saucer for each!)

I have since bought enough Tartan so I can serve 12

And I paid more for each of the additional 12 additional pieces than I did for the original 8!

Several years later, I decided that dessert plates would be nice

but, alas, Tartan ones were either non-existent or very costly

So I bought 8 Lenox Holiday ones.

They looked pretty with the Tartan

And since, I have added 16 more so that I can serve 12 salad and dessert on the

Holiday plates (without washing!)

We use the china from the first Sunday in Advent

through Christmas.

I take 2 cups and saucers, 2 plates, and 2 dessert plates

and put them in the kitchen cupboard

I also get out the mug I bought for Husband Jim

(who doesn't really like cups and saucers)

and the wee Christmasy creamer and sugar

We use these every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The rest of the dishes remain in the armoire

in the dining room

ready for when we have company.

And Monday I had company for lunch

from Nevada

A holiday lunch with the holiday china

My lace tablecloth

A silver basket filled with red carnations

A menu at each place, a damask napkin in a silver ring, and a gift bag of cranberry thumbprint cookies

for their tea nosh that afternoon

Since it was the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend,

I felt that nothing related to turkey, cranberries or turkey

Tomato soup with pesto

(Since I don't have soup bowls, cups and saucers make a wonderful soup holder for lunch)

Ham, green onion and red pepper quiche, Holiday salad and a hot roll

Chocolate ganache cake made festive for the holidays with sugared cranberries and rosemary.

This is the china's 25th Anniversary

And we're so glad that all those many years ago,

we happened upon the Seconds Shop at Royal Doulton!

It's Thursday and I'm joining Susan at Between Naps On the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish.