The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-05-16
PLATES.


In the world of crockery and glass
ware this is essentially an age of plates
The time WIS when housewives stocked
their closets and sideboards with ss1ice-
dishes, which were considered the
proper service whether cranberries,
stewed peaches, mashed turnips, lob
ster salad, lima beans, or ice-cream
constituted the course. Now one never
sees a sauce-dish where there Is the
least pretense to style. To be sure,
they are for sale in the stores, but the
purchasers are far behind the times.
Now the fashion calls for plates, and
the city trade in that line is enormous.
With nice variety of plates plenty OF
pretty cups, and a few dozen small
forks, house-keeper has about oil
the service necessary for elegant enter
tainment. Such things rs jellies, pre-
serves, mArmalades, all sorts of pud
dings and pastries, every variety of
vegetable, salads of all kinds, and
even sauces, creams and ices are dished
out on plates which are trifle smaller
than meat-plates, but much larger
than fruit-plates. At small entertain
ments and all large gatherings where
the catering is simple everything is
passed on a plate, even to the cup Of
coffee. Saucers are not even men
toned, and a spoon is not to be
thought of save in a mug of Roman
punch or cup of tea, its place having
been usurped by medium-sized fork.
Ice-cream plates are fiat with q curv-
ing edge not half an inch high. The
shapes vary, some representing leaf.
The finest specimens in cut-glass are to
be found in the American goods, which
this year lead the world. There are few
or no new patterns in the cutting, but
the quality of the glass and the general
workmanship are not surpassed by the
firms which heretofore have controlled
the trade. As in the old china sets, the
crystal ice-creams include twelve plates
and large platter, the knife sometimes
being set in cut-glass handle. Such 3
service can not be bought for less than
800, and from that figure prices run
to $3.50. The china ice-cream plates
sell as low as 48 cents, and any better
goods are proportionally high, the
quality and quantity of the decoration
rather than the ware regulating the
price. Plates sell ut 81 each, and from
that up to $50. There are no less than
a thousand designs from which to
choose. As there is no standard re-
garding the size, many women buy
three or four dozen of medium diam
ter, but are careful that there shall be
no duplicate.
The finest ware made is deliberately
decorated, and as the common stone
porcelain is similarly treated, one must
be well-versed in pottery to tell the
crown Derby from the iron crown por-
celain. In cups, for instance, distinc-
ton is not puzzling; but in plates, plat
tiers, tureens, and such other dishes as
must necessarily be strong, only judge
is able to see through the glazing aud
mastery burning. But to run through
stock aud break sets for plate or
two, one must be good customer be-
fore that privilege is granted.
While for courses dishes are similar
in color and pattern, it is no longer in
good form to have them all alike. The
fancy is given full sweep in the fruit
ano ueesol. PiaoeS piopei' ~ 'na' ~
comes from buying complete table
set, whether for tea, dinner or break
fast.
The blue Dresden china plates so fash
ionable in the East are little admired
here, which is saying much for Western
seriousness. The demand is rather
for the Copelin, an English ware Of dull
pacheIuunu g"lseouSly ueIui a.ou Nun Nun
rica COLO. anu Danas u goiu a aao ia ave
work S TS plases sen .. sz Eo! PEI
uoAen. ne oneaPe 20 olu"n D
.leaS-piaty :u - wol'n ~, anu aa'no.s !.
tnele Is sun oeInanu inc llaae - m no.
as ialge rs lor tne VIENNA ware: nav as'
oranu s esPecia.,y ho.aoe i9r 'no
variety as wen as .he eAqulsi'e uesiE Sn !
wh'ch are sen. ouc every season. ing
snapes' 'oo' are pretty anu sne lln1s a.
Always suggested py tne oesign used
Ina' Is W say, MOWERS are 'nrown
agalhse 'i1 laln'es. 1inIs oi colol, eane
anu oirus iive III atmosphere, wnho NJ
ures VI oligina' ues'gns are inJ III n.p :.
on iicn cosor: LOIS. Vienna pla'es' whether 81
III noao' i,ui., msn VI Saino' arc no' W
oe sau unuer 700 per oozem.
risn-PiaIes are generaiiy maae up
WIN pretty oesigns "nrch aiiow .neli
use Aol any COURSE. Inc 'as"' INV
S ese =. some buyers calls Ior . rGgulsi
nsn piate. Ohe specimen Oh noysi
worcester ware SHOWS Pia'e ~ iarge
as "ouio pe usea lor roast lneaes' aone
IN cream TINT OF Daskes cioen surIace
WIN nsn-iorms IN reHet some loea o.
1ne oeslgn may DC inferred rom 1he
Po rn lor WE'VE nsn,piates. TOT
ySo one can see 2 aozen pia'es, eacn "A
Inc form OH Pono-hiy leai' ana cacn
CONTAINING marine view. Inc Deauty
OF oeslgn as wen as tne exceiient quail
~ OF work Is wen worm the price,
mere are nice plates containing sea-