Storing Fine China
Perhaps your dining area has built-in storage or a stand-alone storage piece. This storage can be useful if you are intentional about items you place there. Not only can you keep fine china separate from your everyday dishes, but you can also keep part of this storage empty so that you have a place to stow papers and other items when company is coming.
If your cabinet has glass doors, your china will be pretty well protected as you show off the beauty of your pieces. If your fine china will be stored in drawers or closed cabinets, however, you'll want to take steps to properly protect these expensive and fragile items. Using quilted vinyl cases for china, for example, will help keep dust away, and at the same time will help prevent chipping and scratching.
To prevent chips and scratches while storing china in these padded vinyl cases, a separate soft-foam protector is placed in between each item. These cases can then be safely stored in a drawer or cabinet. Dinnerware storage pouches, manufactured from quilted cotton with acrylic felt inserts and zippered tops, can be purchased from Old China Patterns Limited by calling 800-663-4533 or by visiting the company's Web site (
If a piece of your fine china, crystal, or formal flatware happens to break, chip, or get badly scratched, and your pattern or design has been discontinued, you can find companies that buy and sell discontinued china patterns and other formal dinnerware. Many of them are listed on the Set Your Table: Discontinued Tableware Dealers Directory Web site (
