Mother's Day Tableware

Giving tableware as a gift comes down to choosing between a complete set and a few pieces that complete a table already laid. This collection brings together sixteen-piece sets, sets of four cups, a tea set, dinner plates, soup plates or dessert plates, and bowls sold in fours.

A Complete Set or a Few Pieces

A sixteen-piece set lays a table for four guests: it is the simplest choice when the everyday tableware has seen better days. The sets of four plates or four cups meet a different need: replacing a broken piece or going up to six place settings without buying the whole set again.

Which Pieces to Complete First

Dinner plates come first, because they come out at every meal. Next come dessert plates, which arrive at the end of the meal and are more forgiving of belonging to another series. The bowl, used at breakfast as well as dinner, is happily bought separately in a set of four.

Storage and Care

Stack plates by size, and slip a cloth between two pieces that stay stored for a long time: it is friction, more than use, that marks the surfaces. Store cups side by side rather than nested, as the handle is the most exposed part. Finally, avoid thermal shock on a piece coming out of the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests does a sixteen-piece set serve?

Four place settings, with four pieces per person. For six or eight guests, plan for two sets, or add sets of four plates.

Can the cups be bought separately?

Yes, the cups have their own reference, a set of four cups that carries the name of the series.

How do you match a piece bought separately?

Play on shape and size rather than an exact match: a dessert plate from another series goes unnoticed, a dinner plate much less so. Complete first what shows the least.