| The time has come when Christmas is only just | | | | porcelain, glass and melamine resin. The Chinese |
| around the corner and you still have to go | | | | had discovered the process of making porcelain |
| shopping to buy presents, decorations, food, | | | | around 600AD and had begun trading porcelain |
| Christmas tree etc. You begin to panic as you | | | | objects with the European during the 1300s. |
| have realised that you have to buy a completely | | | | Owning porcelain made plates was a must-have |
| new range of dinner sets as your old sets have | | | | for the Europeans. It was not until 1708 that a |
| chipped, washed out or cracked. On the other | | | | German potter in Meissen discovered the Chinese |
| hand, maybe this is your first Christmas dinner to | | | | porcelain making process, beginning a new range |
| cook for the family and friends, and you have no | | | | of great European potteries. |
| dishware to serve your dinner. | | | | Some of the most popular and best-known |
| This year I have noticed a new trend in simple | | | | potters were also founded during this period. |
| dinner sets and fine crockery for special | | | | Famous brands such as Royal Saxon, |
| occasions. People prefer to purchase simple | | | | Wedgewood, Royal Copenhagen and Spode. The |
| earthenware designs that match well with plain | | | | practise of collecting souvenir plates was not |
| shades of place mats, napkin with a simple napkin | | | | popularised until 1800s by Patrick Palmer-Thomas, |
| ring and long tinted glasses. Putting a simple | | | | a Dutch-English nobleman who impressed Victorian |
| spread out for Christmas can be more effective | | | | audiences with his public displays of plates. The |
| than spending huge amounts of money on | | | | first collectible items 'Behind the Frozen Window', |
| expensive dishware and tablecloths that will only | | | | was credited to the Danish namely Bing and |
| be used once or twice in a year. | | | | Grondahl. |
| Dinner sets are something that have been around | | | | Christmas designed plates were then produced by |
| for more than a century, but have not always | | | | many of the European countries particularly that |
| been a fashion accessory at the dinner table. | | | | of Royal Copenhagen and the Rosenthal series in |
| Having the right set for a special occasion appears | | | | 1910. It was not long before the European designs |
| to be an essential part of the preparation process | | | | were introduced to the U.S with sales going up in |
| for a big meal such as Christmas. It is not enough | | | | souvenir shops, department stores and gift shops. |
| now to view dishware as just a tool to eat food | | | | Plates are still used as a collectible item, mainly for |
| from; the design of the plate plays an important | | | | older generations rather than the younger culture. |
| part in displaying the appeal of the food and its | | | | Some popular collectibles are usually from abroad |
| presentation. It is more common now to serve | | | | with intricate paintings of the countries national |
| food on plain white plates than it was during the | | | | customs captured onto the dish. With different |
| 1980s whereby flower patterned plates were | | | | shapes and thickness available, dishwares are an |
| more popular. | | | | important element in keeping up a good |
| History | | | | appearance of one's efforts on producing a good |
| Historically dinner sets were made from wood, | | | | spread and the most popular designs are simple |
| metals, pewter and even animal skulls. Modern | | | | with a few small accessories to jazz it up. |
| dishware is made from stoneware, earthenware, | | | | |