The very first china pattern I ever chose was Wedgwood “Queen’s Plain.” I wanted something neutral for everyday that I could use for years and years that would go with everything. In retrospect, that was a very good decision.
At the time, people weren’t really choosing neutrals but I fell in love with this creamware pattern and enjoyed adding to my collection.
Fast forward a few years, though, and I was left with only a few cereal bowls, so needing something neutral, I bought service for 12 of Mikasa “Italian Countryside” to use as my everyday dinnerware.
It is lovely, but, I longed for my Wedgwood, and was not able to go to Replacements and replace it. After some searching, I found a really great deal on ebay and won several plates. After they arrived, the dinner plates were in horrible condition, so I got a partial refund.
I finally found another good deal on ebay and placed my order for four salad plates and four dinner plates. When they arrived, the box looked like this.
All but two plates looked like this.
I could have cried.
I had to wait for what seemed like an eternity for a refund, and in the meantime found more reasonably priced new plates at dinnerwareetc.com. I placed my order and waited a couple of weeks only to find out they were out of stock.
In the meantime, I bid on a couple more sets on ebay, but was outbid. Honestly, I should have given up at this point, but, I finally found someone selling more pieces in my price range, and made an offer, which was accepted.
I was so afraid they would be broken when they arrived, but they were pristine with no chips, cracks, discoloration or crazing.
Let me add a friendly word of caution here about crazing. Crazing is not a good thing. It seriously devalues dinnerware and is sometimes hard to spot. I know a lot of people like to collect ironstone, but pieces that have crazing, chips or cracks, should not be as expensive as I have seen them in some places. A reputable antiques or dinnerware dealer, like Replacements, will know that, and those pieces will be discounted. Even if you like the way it looks on a display piece, just don’t pay what you would for a piece without it.
As for my creamware, I definitely wanted nice pieces because I will be using them for everyday. If you are not familiar with creamware, it was actually a mistake when Staffordshire potters tried to make a substitute for Chinese porcelain around 1750. The cream color was considered a fault, but it caught on and continued to be made through the 19th century and later.
Although my Wedgwood “Queen’s Plain” changed names to “Queen’s Shape” over the years, it is still the beautiful, creamy-colored pattern created by Josiah Wedgwood in 1763, which Queen Charlotte of England liked so much, she allowed it to be called “Queen’s Ware,” and the one I fell in love with more than 20 years ago.
I love it just as much as I did when I first saw it.
It is the kind of pattern that is always in style…
…and goes with everything.
So I will keep looking for those special deals to add to my *new* collection of Wedgwood creamware.
The “moral of this story” is a good neutral pattern will go with anything and never go out of style. So invest in a good one that you love– the kind you would hunt down 20 years from now:-)
I’ll be joining:
Oh beautiful pattern. So glad you finally found some in great shape. Hugs, Marty
Thanks Marty:-)
Love your creamware. I collect Luray pastels from 1930's. Lovely simple soft pink,green,yellow, and blue. I use it everyday and it is so sad to get it broken in the mail. Your cream would be perfect with the Luray.
Oh yes I bet they would be gorgeous!! LOVE the Luray pastels so much.
Love Queens Ware! And always get shipping insurance!! Good luck in your search for more.
Me too!! Yes, thank goodness there was insurance:-)
Perfect for your lovely Dining Room!
Thank you Debra:-)
So pretty Anita. Ooohhh… getting things in the mail destroyed is such a let down. Good luck on hunting your pieces to add to your collection.
Hugs, Gee
Thanks Gee, it sure is! Good to see you:-)
Excellent choice! Your dishes are beautiful on that wonderful table.
I get so frustrated with the way some pack dishes for transport. It's heartbreaking to think of a perfect, often rare piece, destroyed during shipment because it wasn't properly packed.
Thank you Sarah! I do love the, so much. I am very concerned about the coffee pot I just ordered. I have searched everywhere and finally found one almost half price, unused. Hopefully it arrives safely!
Found you through the Inspire Me Tuesday linkup. I really like this pattern; it is so timeless. I too have gotten burned by purchasing china online, however, I've also found some great deals. It's a toss up!
Tricia
designandcanines.blogspot.com
Yes it sure is Tricia! I'm hoping the other pieces I found get here safely!!
I bought a set of white dishes many years ago Evening Pearls by Oneida. On eBay I just purchased small cereal bowls for $10 each, expensive but they match the set….. and some cups and thank goodness everything came undamaged. Keep looking, take you're time, you'll find them Elaine
Thank you Elaine! I sure hope so:-) I know I just need to be patient.
Your table looks great. Thanks for the tips on creamware. Sorry for your hassles and glad the story ended well.
Thanks Bonnie:-) I'm glad too!
After buying lots of china & antique tiles on eBay, I finally learned to insure packages through U-Pic.com. "Insurance" paid to USPS is practically useless, because they rarely pay for damages. Too many sellers don't have a clue about how packages get handled & assume that a package will get white glove treatment if it has FRAGILE written on the outside. I just opened 3 packages today, all containing antique tiles. Even though I had throughly yet politely explained how to prepare such items for shipment, none were packed adequately. I was amazed they arrived intact, even though a couple did suffer minor chips (they were in the box, so the damage occurred in transit). U-Pic's insurance is not only cheaper than other carriers' insurance ($1 per $100 value), the claim process isn't nearly as lengthy or difficult to file. I can't understand how some people can operate a business that involves shipping when they possess such limited knowledge of basic physics. 😉
I have not heard of that but I'm glad to know! Thanks for the tip. You are right, so many don't know how to pack. I finally found the hard to find coffee pot and cream and sugar bowl for this Wedgwood seriously discounted, so I am praying it is packed carefully.
At a yardsale about 5 years ago I found a bushel basket full of ironstone for $15.00 some have crazing some don't, I never get rid of it!
Wow, that's a good deal! I don't really mind crazing if it's on a display piece, but I won't pay much for it. I bought a huge pitcher a few weeks ago for $5! It had lots of crazing and chips, but is great for displaying.
Such a pretty collection. I also love your buffet vignette. Hello from Knick of time Tuesday!
leelee @ paperbagstyling.blogspot.com
Thank you LeeLee:-) I am always changing the buffet up then when I found the radio from 1965, I knew it had to go there.
Your dining space always takes my breath away. Love the dishes … and I just adore those napkins!!
Thank you Jennifer!! I love those napkins too and actually found them on ebay several years ago.
I could just come by and stare at your dining room all night Anita – love your dishes!
Visiting because I had to tell you – I just came across the post I did with your clip of O Holy Night – and listened to it at least
5 times –
Hugs, Suzan
xox
Suzan, thank you!! That is one of my all time favorite songs to sing:-)
What a journey you've had with your dishes! I have several Wedgwood patterns and love them all. Your tablescape is fabulous with all of the neutrals.
Karee
Thank you Karee!!
So glad to see that someone else has and loves Queen's Plain! I register this as my informal china 24 years ago and like you still think it was a great choice. After using for 10+ years it was beginning to craze so bad that I stopped using it for fear of further damage. I still look in the buffet where it is stored and wish it was still in use! Glad you finally got replacements!
Oh no Tamyra! I'm sorry to hear that happened. I know once crazing starts, it will not stop. It sure looks pretty in a cabinet though too:-)
Beautiful dining room! Wood, white and chandeliers!
I HAD to pin it!
Hi Abby, thank you! I didn't realize the pin it button was not working, but it's back now:-)
I've gotta tip my hat to you a thousand times over for hanging in there like you did. I would have been so frustrated and flustered that I would have wanted to give up…or punch something!!! 🙂 But anything worth having is worth waiting for, so they say, and I know finding a good deal on this treasured pattern was near and dear to you. Totally worth the wait. Next time, though, I hope there's no crazing or crazy involved in the process! 🙂
Lol, that's right Alycia!! We shall see…I found the coffee pot/sugar bowl/creamer for about half price, so I'm hoping they arrive intact. Fingers crossed!
Love your pattern. I picked out an all white pattern years ago, but unfortunately it had a swirly calla lily on it that dates it as a rockin' 1980's pattern. It's now boxed up in a warehouse and I couldn't even sell it on ebay. I figure if I keep it long enough, it will come back in style.
Your advice is still correct: Chose a GOOD white pattern!
Wow that's terrible that those plates came in broken like that. I would've cried or screamed! I won dishes on ebay once and it turned out to be a man who was disposing of some of his ex wife's things. It was a bloody miracle they arrived unbroken the way he packed them. Anyway, I like the neutrals too and also have the Mikasa Italian Countryside- but I'm disappointed at how they are getting chips so easily. Your Queen's Plain dishes are a perfect neutral and easy to go with design. Your room looks really great- love the double chandeliers!
Beautiful…love the plates. I've had the broken dishes happen to me twice…folks were nice with the refund, but it didn't replace the dishes! I know how you felt.
How strange to have a seller not pack the china very well. My word! I would have been so sad when they arrived. I have only had one bad experience with e-Bay. I hope you find more of your china. Your pattern is gorgeous.
I have an entire set of Queen's Plain – service for 12. I have every serving dish except for the coffee pot. I got it when i got married in 2000 and I still love it. I'm drinking my morning coffee in my breakfast mug as I surf for inspiring Wedgwood photos. I regret not purchasing the Queen's Traditional Plain that Martha Stewart made famous. Reading that someone else's is crazing after 24 years makes me sad. I sure hope that doesn't happen to mine. Since Waterford bought Wedgwood they have gotten rid of many of the traditional patterns. They're getting harder to find.