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