For years and years, dinner time in the United States meant sitting around the kitchen table with your family, and enjoying a meal together. It seemed that eating off of a nice dinner set with a plate, knife, fork, spoon, glass, napkins and a centerpiece, was a ritual that was performed every night. Alas, it's a far rarer event these days, but it's still a great way to enjoy some great conversation, and welcome in the evening hours.
In this article we will be exploring the world of a major aspect of these family dinners, the dinner set. We will be providing a bit of history, and time permitting, go into some of the finer sets available, and where you might be able to obtain them.
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.
Sometimes people will refer to dinnerware as "China". Ever wonder why? It's because years ago dinnerware was made from porcelain, and porcelain making was invented by the Chinese over 1000 years ago. Logical answer, eh? Probably invented by the Tang Dynasty, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty seem to be taking most of the credit for it. Half way through the Song Dynasty, around 1100 AD, the process of porcelain making was being circulated throughout the East. By the time the 1400's AD had rolled around, this knowledge had made its way to Europe.
Importing fine dinnerware from China was very expensive. As a result, only those who were rich could afford to own it. No worries...a solution was on the way. The Europeans started to create their own "China" factories. Modifying the process a bit (they incorporated a different mixture of clays, etc.), it resulted in a softer China, one that had a duller tone than the similar products that were being imported from China. Around the year 1700 another form of China was starting to emerge onto the scene. It was called "Bone China", and it was made from a mixture of both bone ash and porcelain clays.
In today's world, most of our collectable and valuable dinnerware is made out of pottery, not the original porcelain. Sometimes referred to as "earthenware", it was extremely popular during the time of Elvis and the Beatles (the 50's and 60's).
What's the most widely used pottery today? Stoneware is the answer. If you look around it seems to be everywhere. Check out the stores, the restaurants, the hotels and various homes. It's all around us. Stoneware is made by firing the item at a very high temperature until it's completely solid, and can therefore hold liquids. The process to create Stoneware was developed in the same place as the process for creating porcelain...China, about 3500 years ago. Some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware in today's world were created in the mid 1800's in the Virginia and New England areas of the United States.
So that's it, the history of the humble dinner set. If you would like to learn of our TOP PICKS in this category, please navigate over to our blog. - 32406
In this article we will be exploring the world of a major aspect of these family dinners, the dinner set. We will be providing a bit of history, and time permitting, go into some of the finer sets available, and where you might be able to obtain them.
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.
Sometimes people will refer to dinnerware as "China". Ever wonder why? It's because years ago dinnerware was made from porcelain, and porcelain making was invented by the Chinese over 1000 years ago. Logical answer, eh? Probably invented by the Tang Dynasty, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty seem to be taking most of the credit for it. Half way through the Song Dynasty, around 1100 AD, the process of porcelain making was being circulated throughout the East. By the time the 1400's AD had rolled around, this knowledge had made its way to Europe.
Importing fine dinnerware from China was very expensive. As a result, only those who were rich could afford to own it. No worries...a solution was on the way. The Europeans started to create their own "China" factories. Modifying the process a bit (they incorporated a different mixture of clays, etc.), it resulted in a softer China, one that had a duller tone than the similar products that were being imported from China. Around the year 1700 another form of China was starting to emerge onto the scene. It was called "Bone China", and it was made from a mixture of both bone ash and porcelain clays.
In today's world, most of our collectable and valuable dinnerware is made out of pottery, not the original porcelain. Sometimes referred to as "earthenware", it was extremely popular during the time of Elvis and the Beatles (the 50's and 60's).
What's the most widely used pottery today? Stoneware is the answer. If you look around it seems to be everywhere. Check out the stores, the restaurants, the hotels and various homes. It's all around us. Stoneware is made by firing the item at a very high temperature until it's completely solid, and can therefore hold liquids. The process to create Stoneware was developed in the same place as the process for creating porcelain...China, about 3500 years ago. Some of the most collectable pieces of Stoneware in today's world were created in the mid 1800's in the Virginia and New England areas of the United States.
So that's it, the history of the humble dinner set. If you would like to learn of our TOP PICKS in this category, please navigate over to our blog. - 32406
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