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

[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.