Match Maker
Set a fancy, funky table with a potpourri of place settings.
©2007-2008 The O’Neil Sisters, All Rights Reserved
©The O’Neil Sisters 2008
Tip #1: Flip It Over
Flip each plate over and check out the backstamp. It often has the manufacturer’s name, the pattern name, and even the date. If it says “Fine China” or “Bone China,” your piece is the real thing for sure. And until you feel like an expert, seeing it in writing takes out all the guesswork.
Tip #2: Hold It Up
If you like the look of super-white bone china, simply hold it up to the light. If it’s real bone china, you should be able to see your hand through it. Even though it looks thin and delicate, it’s the strongest china you can get.
Tip #3: Check It Out
No matter which patterns you fall in love with, be sure to inspect each plate closely for hairline factures, cracks, or chips. You may find a piece of 1930s Noritake for a buck, but it’s not a bargain if it’s broken.
Want to host a formal dinner, but didn’t inherit your great aunt’s Wedgewood? Just start looking at the flea market for mismatched pieces of fine china, crystal goblets, and sterling silver flatware. It may take a while to collect twelve place settings, but the quest itself is half the fun!
Digging For China
It’s easy to put your own table settings together when you know how to mix and match. Start with one piece of china you love to use as your “swatch.” Stick to a base color of either white or cream, then look for plates that have details in common with your “swatch,” like light blue ribbons, simple modern lines, or colorful flowers. For example, a dinner plate featuring gold swirls and spring blossoms goes beautifully with a salad plate adorned with gold trim and swags of ivy. Once you have defined your “style,” all you need is a little china know-how. So the next time you spot a bin of fifty-cent dishes at the flea market, use these tips to tell the china from the earthenware.
What to Pay: China plates can cost from 50 cents to $20 per piece, but on average expect to pay about $4 each.
Bread & Butter: To get to know the pieces of a place setting, get out your measuring tape. For a formal table, each setting will need a dinner plate (9 ½ to 11 inches in diameter), a rimmed soup bowl (7 to 9 inches in diameter), and a bread and butter plate (5 to 7 inches in diameter). You may also want a salad plate (6 to 8 inches in diameter).
Crystal Clear
You can find real lead crystal for as little as $1 or $2 per wine glass at the flea market. To test for authenticity, ping each glass with your fingernail. Crystal will make a sustained ringing sound. (Try it with an ordinary glass: “Thunk!”)
Hi Ho Silver
Sterling silver flatware is beautiful but expensive––even at the flea market. You can expect to pay between $10 and $30 per piece. So you might want to start with silver-plated settings, and replace the pieces one at a time with sterling silver as your budget allows. To identify the real thing, look at the back. American silver will say “sterling” or “.925” or “925/1000.”
As seen in
Country Accents Magazine
Cake Walk
Turn a flea market china plate into a glitzy cake stand. It's easy, click here to see how.
