Post # 1
Member
468 posts
Helper bee
Hi bees!!
I was extremely lucky to receive fine china from my grandmother as a wedding present. It is a 96-piece set my grandfather got while he was in the Navy in the 40s. It came all the way from Japan and is white with real silver trim. It is absolutely to die for!!! Now… I have no idea how to display this beautiful set!! I would like to get a hutch to put it in but [prepare yourself for stupid questions] how do people get it to stand up inside the hutch? Do you use little easels? It is food safe so I intend on actually utilizing for dinner parties and what not (because I believe everyday is a special occasion and an amazing gift like this needs to be put to its use!) so I would like for it to be accessible!! Any ideas???
Post # 2
Member
4040 posts
Honey bee
Get a glass-fronted cabinet. I have 2 corner cabinets, most people have a 1 rectangular one (breakfront?). They’re expensive, though. You don’t want to have to dust it constantly. The glass shelves usually have groves along the back, so you can stand the plates up. (The silver trim may not be dishwasher safe).
Post # 3
Member
265 posts
Helper bee
Our china closet (in which we have no real china) has little groves on the shelves to stand plates up in. I display my pretty plates and platters there.
Post # 4
Member
983 posts
Busy bee
dreamer1288: My parents’ china has silver trim – Its beautiful but NOT dishwasher safe. Comes out only on very special occasions because no one wants to stand there later and handwash all the pieces!
Post # 5
Bee
84 posts
Worker bee
- Wedding: June 2014 - Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL & Cheney Mansion, Oak Park, IL
If it doesn’t have grooves, you can buy plate racks online or from places like the Container Store to hold pieces up. The grooves are pretty common in a dish-display type of cabinet though.
Post # 6
Member
5660 posts
Bee Keeper
As PP’s said, typically you’d display fine china in the top portion of the hutch, just a few pieces, and there are typically plate grooves along the back for you to lean them in. You’d put the rest down in the cabinets.
Post # 7
Member
1612 posts
Bumble bee
Mom’s hutch has grooves to hold up the plates.
Post # 8
Member
2808 posts
Sugar bee
i inherited my great grandparents’ china when my nana died. it’s currently packed in padded china holders, because we’re currently living with my parents, who have their own china. once we move out on our own again, i’ll be purchasing a china cabinet so i’ll have somewhere to hold the dishes.
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