For decades, dinner time in the USA meant one thing. Sitting around a kitchen table with your family (and perhaps a few friends), and enjoying a tasty meal together. Eating off a nice table, dinner set complete with a plate, fork, knife, spoon, glass(s), napkins, and a centerpiece, was a nightly ritual. Although it is a far rarer event these days, it’s still a great way to enjoy some great conversation, and a nice way to welcome in the evening hours.
In this article we will go back in time and examine the history behind the humble dinner set. Where did it originate? What are the various types? What are some of the best examples available today? These are some of the things we will be discussing in this article.
Civilizations in the ancient world were often characterized by the pottery that remained years after they had ceased to exist. Archaeologists would find these remains as they combed through the various archeological sites. It’s interesting to note that many people valued their dinnerware and pottery so much that they were even buried with it.
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.
Because the cost of importing fine dinnerware from China was so expensive, only the very rich could afford it. To remedy this situation, the Europeans started to create their own “China” factories. They did modify the process a bit, incorporating a different mixture of clays and other materials. The result was a “softer China”, one that had a duller or “softer tone” than those products that were being imported from China. Around 1700, in England, another form of “China” was starting to be developed. It was called “Bone China”, and it was made from a mixture of both porcelain clays and bone ash.
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.
Stoneware is the answer, but what is the question? How about “What’s the most widely used pottery today”? It seems to be everywhere if you just take a minute to look. From restaurants to stores, from hotels to homes, it’s everywhere. It’s created by heating the item at a very high temperature until it’s completely solid, and can thereby hold liquids. The process for creating Stoneware, like that of porcelain, was invented in China about 3500 years ago. In the mid’00’s, in the Virginia and New England areas of the US, some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware were developed.
The dinner set has a very colorful history, don’t you think? We do have TOP PICKS, but no time or space in this article. Please visit our blog to learn more.
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