Dinner time in the United States used to mean one thing…sitting around a kitchen or dining room table with loved ones and enjoying a beautiful meal together. Surrounding the kitchen or dining room table, and eating off a nice dinner set, complete with a fork, knife, spoon, plate, glasses, napkins and a centerpiece was a great way to enjoy some fantastic conversation, and welcome in the evening hours.
In this article we will be exploring the world of one of these components, the humble dinner set. We will be explaining where these sets originated, and if time permits, we will be offering details on some of the finest examples available today.
The civilizations of the ancient world were characterized by the pottery that remained long after the civilization had passed. When archaeologists were digging around their various archaeological sites they would come across these items, and it’s interesting to note that people often valued these items so much that they were buried with them.
In today’s world we call dinnerware “China”. What a strange name? Have you ever wondered why this is the case? There is a logical answer. Years ago dinnerware was made out of porcelain, and was invented by, you guessed it, the Chinese, over 1000 years ago. In actuality it was probably invented by the Tang Dynasty, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty seem to get most of the credit these days. Mid-way through the Song Dynasty, around 1100 AD, the skill and art of porcelain making had made its way throughout the East. By the year–00 AD it had migrated to Europe.
Importing fine dinnerware from China was very expensive. As a result, only those who were rich could afford to own it. No worries…a solution was on the way. The Europeans started to create their own “China” factories. Modifying the process a bit (they incorporated a different mixture of clays, etc.), it resulted in a softer China, one that had a duller tone than the similar products that were being imported from China. Around the year 1700 another form of China was starting to emerge onto the scene. It was called “Bone China”, and it was made from a mixture of both bone ash and porcelain clays.
Today, most of our valuable and yes collectable dinnerware is made from pottery, not porcelain. It’s sometimes called “earthenware”, and it was extremely popular during the decades of the’50’s and’60’s.
What’s the most widely used pottery today? Stoneware is the answer. If you look around it seems to be everywhere. Check out the stores, the restaurants, the hotels and various homes. It’s all around us. Stoneware is made by firing the item at a very high temperature until it’s completely solid, and can therefore hold liquids. The process to create Stoneware was developed in the same place as the process for creating porcelain…China, about 3500 years ago. Some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware in today’s world were created in the mid’00’s in the Virginia and New England areas of the United States.
So that’s it, the history of the humble dinner set. If you would like to learn of our TOP PICKS in this category, please navigate over to our blog.
Learn more about the history of the Dinner Set. Stop by Diana Richards’s site where you can find out all about her TOP PICKS and what makes them so special.
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