I've been looking forward to seeing all the links at
Cuisine Kathleen this week, because she challenged us to show our wedding china. I decided to show you ALL the wedding china chosen or inherited by my grandmothers, mother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law -- and, of course, MY wedding china!
My very first tablescape post four years ago featured my Grandma Rachel's wedding china, Heinrich H&C's Admiral pattern, which I have inherited. Grandma married in 1927 and was given 24 placesettings of this pretty pattern by her family and friends. I treasure her handwritten list of all the pieces she owned and keep it in a locked box along with our marriage certificate and birth certificates. Here's a closeup of the pattern from my recent
Touch of Pink post. I have found this pattern to be very versatile, using it with greens and golds, as well as pink.
My maternal grandmother did not have wedding china, to my knowledge. She and my grandfather eloped! I do remember her colorful everyday Fiestaware and wish I had inherited some of it. I have fond memories of hearty breakfasts served on those dishes at her kitchen table.
My mother, who married in 1951 (and who with my dad will celebrate their 63rd anniversary this month!) has two pretty wedding china patterns, both from Castleton. I've had fun playing with her dishes when I visit, going so far as to bring table linens with me on the plane! I think both of her patterns look very fresh and modern. Here is her
Ma Lin pattern:
And here is her
Mayfair pattern:
My mother-in-law chose Haviland's
Rosalinde as her wedding china, and now our daughter has inherited it. We have enjoyed setting modern tables with this beautiful traditional pattern.
I married in 1972, and I chose a "good" china pattern, Lenox Windsong, along with crystal (Lenox Moonspun) and silver (Lunt Belvedere). I still love this pattern and set my Easter table with it this year. Below is an
earlier table set with my wedding china, crystal, and silver.
I also chose an everyday pattern,
Royal Doulton Fireglow. I still own these dishes, but we no longer use them every day. I do enjoy pulling them out occasionally, though!
As I mentioned earlier, our daughter inherited her grandmother's Rosalinde, but she chose an everyday pattern when she married in 2000. I really love her
Villeroy and Boch Switch 3 pattern.
Our daughter-in-law, who married our son in 2010, inherited a large collection of Johnson Brothers' Friendly Village from her grandmother. When I went to help out after our granddaughter's birth, I enjoyed setting a
Christmas table with this delightful pattern.
And there you have it -- four generations of wedding china! It will be fun to see the china patterns my young granddaughters choose when they grow up!
I can't choose a favorite of these! Clearly the women in your family speak my china language. (You and I speak the same crystal language as well. I'm oddball enough to have remembered that you had Moonspun.)
ReplyDeleteTell your daughter in law that she is blessed. I would love a whole set of Friendly Village. It's one of my all time favorites.
My first husband's grandmother left us a set. When we split 30+ years ago I got the set as he had no interest. Over the years I've added a teapot, coaster & mugs. We bring it out every Thxgiving & Christmas. We will leave it to my 2nd (& final!) husband's daughters, as they love it, too.
DeleteMy first husband's grandmother left us a set. When we split 30+ years ago I got the set as he had no interest. Over the years I've added a teapot, coaster & mugs. We bring it out every Thxgiving & Christmas. We will leave it to my 2nd (& final!) husband's daughters, as they love it, too.
DeleteDear Tricia,
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful post! And what a lovely idea to show us
all the beautiful wedding chinas of your family!
Hugs, Siret
Tricia, this is a delightful post. It's fun to see the different patterns selected by the various generations, and I think it's extra special that some have been passed on to your daughter and daughter-in-law. Thanks for sharing each of these beautiful patterns. Each one is lovely and different from each other. How fun to have this grand selection in your family!
ReplyDeleteTricia, It is delightful that you know the names of your mother and mother-in-law patterns and that you have photographs of the place settings. My sister has your pattern Windsong by Lenox. There have been times I regretted not selecting this pattern. It is lovely.
ReplyDeleteFour generations of china is quite a legacy. Isn't it interesting how sentimental wedding selections can be?
This is a virtual journal of china patterns! You and your mom and daughter all picked out such colorful and unusual patterns! How fun to go visiting and bring things to tablescape! I love my wedding china but it was picked our for me and I think that's why I have had such a strong desire to collect many different table pieces now!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Tricia, I love that you have china photos from all the generations! My mother was the first in her line (or my dad's!) to have china as all the ancestors were immigrants. They may have left precious possessions behind. I don't know but I wish I did. All of your patterns are lovely. When I was married I also chose a pale blue and white pattern with platinum trim, which was very popular in 1980. You are so lucky that you DIL let's you play with her dishes! Linda
ReplyDeleteAs has already been mentioned, it's difficult to make a choice of which pattern is prettiest from the generations shown in your post, but the Fireglow and Ma Lin are hard to top, nice as the rest of the choices are. Your table settings are always magazine quality, ready for a full page spread!
ReplyDeleteIt was such fun to take a peek at all the generations of dishes and to get a glimpse of some of the history, Tricia. Your daughter is lucky to have her grandmother's beautiful Haviland china. Oh what I'd give to have the JB Friendly Village dishes. Thanks for sharing all the gorgeous sets.
ReplyDeleteThe character of each pattern is so different, and I can imagine that applying to each of the owners as well. As you might guess, I'm particularly drawn to those things which are passed down.
ReplyDeleteWow Trish, this is a great post! I love your idea of showing all the generations of china selected and inherited by the women in your family -- very meaningful. My mom and dad also eloped, so my mom never had wedding china. :) But when my sister and I were growing up, she started collecting Franciscan's "Desert Rose," and she has lots of pieces of that pattern. My sister isn't a fancy china kind of person, so she chose a Pfaltzgraff pattern of stoneware dishes when she married. I don't think my grandmothers had wedding china, either. My mother-in-law had a Syracuse wedding china pattern, but she no longer has it. Her formal china now is Wedgewood "Runnymede," and it is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed seeing all these pretty dishes, Tricia. Your wedding china, crystal, and silver is beautiful. Have a great day!
Hugs,
Denise
What a beautiful post ... all the brides ...all the china! I love every pattern! Thank you for visiting Slice of Pie and leaving a nice note. I've enjoyed this challenge. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTricia, what fun to see all of the different patterns that the women in your family chose. I love seeing how table fashions change, but most serious patterns can be used forever. When my daughter married, she chose Lenox Tuxedo gold. I told her she probably would not get that much, since it was so expensive. Of course, now she has 12 place settings and so many serving pieces. I guess it is better to choose what you love and add to it over the years! Wonderful post!!
ReplyDeleteOh Tricia,
ReplyDeleteAll of the patterns you have shown are awesome!! This is a great post. Your Mother's china is beautiful..both of them..so just right for today. WOW there is so much variety in your family..You are very fortunate to have access to all of it...Really enjoyed your pictures..
Love, Mona
I have not see the Castleton patterns before and I love them both! I love how you walked us through the years with your beautiful table settings. Dianne
ReplyDeleteYou and I are so blessed to be stewards of our families' china. I'm particularly fond of the Ma Lin and the Rosalinde. I've been tempted by them both several times. As we go along, perhaps we can share ideas to help our grandchildren cherish these lovely things just as we do. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing the four generations of family wedding china! What a good idea to do that! I remembered that you have a lot of china and was looking forward to seeing what you would do. The Castleton china is very pretty! I also like the Rosalinde with the delicate flowers.
ReplyDeleteKatherine
I really enjoyed seeing all these different patterns in one post! I think my favorites are your Windsong and your mother's Ma Lin. I'm just loving seeing everyone's beautiful wedding china!! Wasn't this a fun challenge! Thanks again for sharing all these different patterns!
ReplyDeleteWow! This collection of family china is wonderful. I love seeing these beautiful patterns passed down through the generations.
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun and lovely post. Loved seeing all the different china patterns in your family. My favs in order were the Lenox windsong, such a beautiful and delicate pink, love it., then I loved your pattern as well in the blue, delightful and versatile too, then your Mom's Ma lin, a bit more
colorful, playful and casual/modern looking, and then the admiral pattern, very formal looking yet versatile and beautiful as well. What fun,
When your grand daughters pick theirs you will have to do another post!! lol
Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing this lovely post with us.
Blessings, Nellie
All are beautiful china patterns, but I think I am partial to your grandmother's...it reminds me of Noritake for some reason. I do like the Rosalinde, too.
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see all of the different patterns and I am sure they fit each individuals personality. I recently picked up some china at a thrift that is very similar to that first photo. Hubby and I were wed in 72 as well. I have started picking up Friendly Village when I see it at thrift shops also. Love it! Thanks for your visit and I am happy to be following you now.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
What a great idea to complete Kathleen's challenge!! I would have a hard time choosing my favorite (of course, that's why I tablescape: I LOVE it all!), but your "Fireglow" and your daughter's Villeroy and Boch really leapt out at me. A great post: thanks for sharing! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch
ReplyDeleteThese are all so beautiful, and the tablescapes with each set are so lovely.
ReplyDeletewow…all of these patterns are so beautiful, especially the first 2 patterns, which appear to be such current designs. I was surprised to read that they are older patterns. I chose such a plain pattern, as did my Mom - how I wish I chose flowers!!
ReplyDeleteTricia, What a neat review of all of the family's wedding patterns. You and your family have chosen well. These are all such classics. They all look beautiful in the settings you've shown. I've been campaigning for my husband. He won the election this past Tues, so I'll be back to blogging soon. laurie
ReplyDeleteWow, what beautiful patterns! I would hate to chose one, they are all so lovely! I love the pattern you chose, so pretty!
ReplyDelete