Fine China Dinnerware
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 | Standards
Philosophers will tell you that eating is one of the lower functions of men. It is something we have in common with animals, and, in a way, with plants. Men, however, thinking creatures that we are, have found ways to elevate this vegetative function to higher levels and provide dignity and decency to the consumption of nourishment.
Among the things that distinguish us from animals when eating is table manners and etiquette. Many authors have written volumes of books on dinner etiquette, dishing out rules on what and what not to do at dinner tables. Another is the use of fine china dinnerware.
Fine china originated in, well, China. About a thousand years ago the Chinese were already making porcelain dinnerware, vases, and figurines. After Marco Polo introduced China to Europeans, these fine pieces of porcelain began trickling into the West. These were greatly appreciated and, in due time, Europe started producing their own. Even those produced in the West, however, continued to be called China.
Today, formal dinners require a set of fine china that includes dinner, dessert, and salad plates, as well as cups and saucers. These come in many varieties with different designs, patterns, and colors. They can be quite expensive, but then again, beauty and quality often seem to go hand in hand with price.