Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-31
Dainty Tableware.
tPhila. Times.

| The Royal Worcester, Minton, Copeland and
Wedgewood wares lead the trade in fine china
for daily table use. In these there Is OF course
| wide range, from prettily- decorated dinner aud
tea sets combined as low as fifty dollars, up 10
| the wonderful service designed and executed at
the MintOn potterieS for the King of SIAM
| which cost a comfortable fortune. The rarest
talent is devoted TO the production OF porcelain
! for use and ornament and large china store is
cheapest pottery is In artistic shapes and colors
| so that the plainest table may be artistically
| spread, while people with plenty OF money may
reyel in beauty at WILL
The designs are infinite and the colorng sunl-
GENTLY varied to suit all tastes; thus one beas-
tiiul DIT SSert set is In royal blue and gold While
another style has simply narrow band of soft
| gray framed between golden threads Havi-
| !aLdS dessert sets take high rank. A favorite
| d, s en- In these has each piece decorated with
iruil or nut, bird and a bouquet OF flowers
and grasses, each piece being different Among
inexpensive dinner sets is also one OF his de-
| signs, the ever-popular wild roses in various
colors, the we'll known pink predominating.
1 lit re Is decided fancy for delicate decora-
tlon, ornaments which must be closely exam
lied TO be appreciated, and It is quite en- reyie
az fashionable dinner party to study.your
plate as though II were the picture which 1t,
often, really is. An exquisite dinner and tea
set combined has narrow band of Russian
green framing every piece, with delicate vines
aid leaves in crimson and gold traced upon this
band so lightly as TO be scarcely visible at u
short distance. The same idea is repeated In
less costly ware, and pretty yet inexpensive tea
SITS come with narrow bands in every color
with Gaisies running through the pattern.
The fashionable craze for rare aud costly china
shows no sign OF diminution, and choice lots are
eagerly bought up 10y wealthy people. Thus, %
Il small Importation OF old Chinese med llltoa
" ale recently opened at the Grand Depot, the
" hole, over thousand dollars worth, was sold
within less than twenty-four hours, while a
| chocolate set of old SevreS, decorated with
scenes from domestic life, was scarcely I'M
packed before 1t found purchaser
FANCY PIECES OF CHINA.
aa f1,af obi Na
should match and many beautiful coffee sets
have every cup and saucer different, both in
color and design, unity being preserved only in
the shape. An old dish or quaint cup is trea-
sure, much greater ii be an heirloom while all
odd pieces are available. In view of this people
OF refined tastes and moderate means find IL the
most satisfactory plan to purchase plain, fwhite
porcelain and then give color to the table by
adding various fancy pieces OF majolica or other
coloIed wares. The cost of the white porcelain
is inconsiderable, a II II set-dinner tea and des-
seIt-being procurable for thirty dollars and
any piece when broken may readily be replaced.
not unlmportant consideration, as TIE possess
their cost.
English majolica is the popular ware for odd
pieces, and in this the variety Is infinite Pitch
ers of all sorts, shapes and sizes, beginning as
low as twenty-five cents each; fruit plates, fndl
yidual butter plates, In leaf shape, lilies pan
sizes and all other quaint designs; sardne trays,
with little fishes for handles to the cover; cheese
dishes and dishes for everything else. A dish
for lobster salad has great red lObS 'er sprawl
ing on the side, while the handle to nut tray is
squirrel, with tail curled upward and paws
raised, cracking nuts: Dainty dishes for fruit
or dessert are OF twin banana leaves, while
smaller trays for cucumbers are In the shape of
single narrow planJain leaf.
Trays OF painted porcelain, with cups and tiny
spoons also OF porcelain, are shown for o'clock
tea SETS A novelty in decoration for costly cups
and vases has the ground overlaid with platina,
on which the design Is painted, giving very
rich effect.
The old willowware is reproduced in inexpen-
Sive China, SO perfectly that one must be con-
nOisSeur to tell the new from the Old and many
japanese designs are copied faithfully, both by
English and American potterieS.
The Awata ware is much liked for table use as
wen as for purely ornamental china, and It's soft
yellow shade and quaint ornamentation lends
agreeable variety to a table. Salt stands, menu
holders, ice pals, etc., are among the pieces
shown in this.
Every year porcelain is more and more adopted
for ornamental purposes, and many articles Of
table ware which were formerly of plate are now
made OF this. Epergnes Of Dresden china are
considered as handsome and are often fully as
costly as those OF silver, while the most elegant
lamps OF the day are in porcelain, with engraved
crystal globes. Fashion demands these lamps, as
she calls for decorated candles and candeSttcks,
and indeed they form no inconsiderable orna-
ment to supper table, apart from the almost
perfect light which they diffuse.
The English custom OF separate service for
each person grows in favor among us, although
1t can scarcely be carried out thoroughly except
by wealthy people, to whom the first cost OF the
no consequence whatever Not only individual
butter dishes and salt stands are shown, but
cream jugs, sugar bowls and peppers as well,
grouped around it, and a novice in such matters
Is at loss what to do with them all.
NOVELTIES IN GLASSWARE.
The latest novelty In glassware is hand
painted garland OF flowers encircling each
piece. This is less expensive than handsome
cut glass, and set OF sixty-two pieces may be
bought for thirty dollars. Another novelty is
the threaded glass, with the lower half pink and
the upper crystal-a design which is particu-
larry effective for an ice cream set. The amber
crackle Bohemian glass; with decoration of ma
| rine plants and animals introduced during the
past year, has taken strong hold on public
favor. 1t is made for use as well as ornament
and pitchers, finger bowls, cheese dishes, pre-
Like the word jet-as applied to beaded TRIM
mtngs-the term amber is retained although
the glass is now manufactured In others as well
as in this, its original color. There is a revival
facetted surface so dear to our ancestors; and
this is among the most costly of styles.
Punch and liquor sets OF glass are in all man
Dresden china Wdter-carrier with crystal water
barrels Slung across his shoulders, the glasses
hanging on semt-circular rack around him as
he stands. Another Is donkey with a water
cart, and yet another an iceberg with punch
glasses also in frosted crystal Carafes are of
glass, plain or engraved or OF iridescent glass
like cryStallZed soap-bubbleS. Dainty milk sets
are OF the same brilliant tridescent glass, with
pitchers in old-faShioned shapes, gold trimmed
and with straight up and down glasses Ocean
tiers have the name OF the wine they are meant
to hold engraved on the glasses, or else are fur
ntshed with tiny silver labels to hang around
the neck.
Toilet sets come in the same wares as those
for table use and the prices are in almost as
wide range. A handsome set In English
china, Minton or Wedgewood ware. costs fifty
dollars, while neat American toilet Set deco
rated, may be had for SIS. Indeed, American
porcelain every year grows finer, and it is diff
cult to distinguish the plain white French china
manufactured at Trenton from the imported
ware except by the trade marks.
An American Sketch.
His heart is all of English oak,
His trousers all of English kersey,
He always the English stroke
And yet he came from North New Jersey.
He docks his horses flowing tails,
He drives an English cart, with Buttons;