The last leg of our journey...

[wiseheart]

... back to civilized living. In other words, the carpet cleaner was here today to finish the job. That meant we had to empty the small cupboards, so that they could be moved and store all Mum's china in one big heap on the kitchen table. Which looked like this:



Afterwards Mum washed up the stuff, and I made a few photos, arranging the various services neatly on a lace table shawl, adding some decoration for better effort.

This one is for motodraconis, who likes good china, if I remember correctly. This is a Queen Victoria pattern Herendi coffee service, which Mum acquired for a reasonable price some 30 years ago. The same service has a six-digit-price now; just the pot, the creamer, the sugar bowl and the cups and saucers, mind you. As always, click to enlarge.

Front view:



The same seen from above:



Another Herendi service, with a slightly different pattern, to serve cake. I only have 4 of the decorative napkin rings, that's why the other two settings are in the background:



Some Herendi knick-knacks Mum's collected during her time as a revisor. She travelled a lot within the country in those years and tended to buy a small Herendi item everywhere she was. One could actually afford these things back then. The square vase was the very first item, the one that started the whole passion for her.



And finally, our very modest Rosenthal china collection:



Those are my favourite coffee cups, actually: while a classic shape, the design is modern and simple, not so overdone like the ones above. It's a shame that only 3 cups have survived the several movings. But again, they are thin like tissue paper, so it's not really surprising.

I'll post pictures of Great-grandmother's tea service tomorrow. *g*

Comments

[meathiel]

Amazing how much porcelain can be worth.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

A bit unreasonable, IMO. I don't even like this overdecorated stuff very much.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I know nothing about Herendi (my knowledge is overwhelmingly UK china based.) But isn't there a massive Herendi shop in Budapest? I'm sure I have been in it and recall poking around and the style seems familiar, (if I am not getting confused with a different city and china.)

That first set is a beaut! I particularly like the butterflies and rose lid handle motifs.* And there is quite a range of accessories I am not used to seeing in English sets (a toothpick holder! And I confess I have never seen a matching tray, but that might be because they tend to smash.)

I should say now I don't collect china myself. My dad was a fanatic for a particular period of British pottery and particular names so I picked up knowledge from him, it was hard to avoid. I have stacks of pottery and china now, but all relics from dad.

Your mothers attitude to collecting Herendi reminds me of my mother! She did the same thing, picking up plates in different parts of the country, hunting for bargains, but she collected (French) Limoges - stuff like this (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d1/c1/e2/d1c1e26c67ea6076dbd70bcfafb3bd44.jpg) to hang on the wall. However, the glut of china left over from my dad has rather put her off collecting now.

* Birds and butterflies (and fish) tend to command higher prices, in Limoges for sure, they tend to be rarer motifs than flowers. Good choice!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I for my part don't particularly like china... save for the simple everyday kind, of which we eat, and only because it's lighter than ceramic and doesn't suffer damage so easily. But even I have to admit that some of it is really beautiful - as long as it belongs to someone else. *g*

Forgot to add: yes, there are several massive Herendi shops in Budapest, especially in the city, where they are even more overpriced than usual, because of the tourists. Our tourist industry really knows no shame.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

I was dragged into the shop by the chum I was holidaying with, I think she was going to try and buy a piece for her mother, and spoke highly of the make. The shop was huge. I didn't buy anything, since I don't collect, it's not my taste anyway and it was very expensive. But now I remember, I think she came out empty handed too, as it was just too pricey!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It definitely isn't my taste, either, and it's truly unreasonably expensive.

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

Looking at china always makes me feel awkward, I fear I might break it just by looking at it :D

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Despite appearances, china is actually sturdier than people would think. Of course, dropping it would be a bad idea, but it doesn't splitter as easily as, for example, ceramic or Steingut.

[artemis10002000]

The china is absolutely gorgeous but oh my, I shudder to think of the work you had with it!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It took us three days to deal with it indeed. *sigh*
First to empty the cupboards, then Mum insists on washing them up once a year, which is reasonable, I guess, as they tend to collect dust with passion, and then to put them back in their place. The photographing session just added to the time and effort, but I wanted to have some pictures.

[artemis10002000]

Three days, oh my! And yeah, I can imagine the photos would have taken even longer. But. You already had three days so you might as well. At least you got something nice out of all that.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Exactly! *g*

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Such beautiful china.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, as I said above, not necessarily my taste, but they are considered very valuable. Especially, as they are hand-made, every single piece of them, with a brand mark and a number.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

The china sets are lovely! So glad your renovation nightmare is coming to an end. Wishing you peace and quiet for the future.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it would be really welcome, but as soon as we are done the repetitive pilgrimage to the dentist's will begin, and that won't be a fun process, either.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

So beautiful! My uncle used to collect Wedgewood china when he was alive. He also had and elaborate set of sterling flatware and crystal stemware. We used it for our family holiday dinners. He taught me how to properly set the table correctly and care for all of the stuff so it all stays undamaged. He always said to me that one day it would all be mine. He died before writing me into his will so it never happened. Idk what happened to all of it. He had also secretly made some investments in my name. I used the money from those to pay my way through school after my father cut me off. I'd like to have that china but I'd like even more to have my uncle alive.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling. I use Grandma's old bedroom as a study, but I'd gladly be crowded into my room if we only had her with us still. Of course, she'd be 120 then, so that would be highly unlikely. We should feel grateful that she lived a ripe 96 years and only the last 4 months of it was she bound to bed.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she had a pretty good go at it. My great aunt lied to be 103. She outlived both of her younger sisters (including my Grandma) by decades. As much as I miss my Grandma I wouldn't selfishly wish her back to life. The last 20 years of it were hard for her. She suffered a lot. Her death was sudden, tho and merciful.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

People tend to get all hysterical about sudden deaths, but if you think about it, that's the best thing that could happen to anyone. Yes, it's hard on those who grieve, but for the person themselves it's a blessing. Much better than suffering for years or lying in the dead throes for who knows how long.

My Grandma was bedridden for some 4 months, and those were very hard on her. Even at the age of almost 96, she was a fairly active and independent person - being at our mercy wasn't easy. When she realized she wouldn't be able to walk again (she broke her thigh during a fall) she simply gave up and was gone in a couple of weeks. She literally died in my arms while Mum was washing her - in one moment she was there, in the next one she wasn't. I was holding her and didn't even realize she was dead. Not right away, at least.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

Holy crap. That must have been so hard for you. But for her it's beautiful. In the arms of a loved one.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, it wasn't hard at all. It was a relief that her ordeal was over, and a comforting thought that we had done everything we could to ease her pain. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to get out of that bed again would have broken her spirit in the long run.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

<3

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

What beautiful treasures!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

They are pretty, even if they aren't my taste.