breaking crockery

[juliascurr]

is it reasonable to think dinner sets from eg Tesco/Wilkinson/Argos to last longer than 3 years? Is it usual to chip/crack/smash items?
genuine question

I have proper crockery, but really like my enamel plates and bowls...

The crockery I bought from matalan, 7 years ago is now cracked and chipped, but they've lasted well.

My plan is to buy plain crockery from ikea which can be replaced as needed.

I have Denby stoneware. It's nice to have a "complete set", before that it got annoying when I had 3 dinner plates left and 6 bowls etc - seems wasteful to throw the set away but then annoying to have such a mish mash.

I don't like the look of Denby as much as lighter crockery but it is almost indestructible. And we are a clumsy family it is well needed!

FYI - Tesco sell Denby vouchers in their clubcard exchange, and Denby regularly run half price offers. Makes it a lot more affordable.

I have an IKEA set that can be easily and cheaply replaced when pieces chip. Our local IKEA is only 4 miles away so it's no bother.
If you use a dishwasher you can't be precious about your crockery imo.

I'm disabled, so all w/up is done by dp or my pa's. we have no dishwasher. Before becoming disabled, I obv did w/up. had collection of 40's/50's crockery + new stuff. genuinely, never broke anything except when bottom fell out of box (moving)
so I'm surprised to get through so much so fast
my all white plan was foiled by dp buying patterned set that he also destroyed

I bought all my crockery from ebay. Franciscan ware from America. Terribly expensive due to shipping costs but eating off it turns every meal into a treat. My mugs are from the Emma Bridgewater sale and my lovely Italian cutlery is from amazon. I have always liked buying odd bits and pieces and happily waited years to add to my collections at reasonable prices. I have never been obsessed with having everything to match. Homes evolve rather than appear fully formed.
But l agree about the clouting of the taps thing. Why cant the bloody things be made of some kind of rubber at the business end.

I have inherited China (Spode) and some earthenware (Wedgwood)... It's been in daily use, some of it for at least as long as I've been alive, regularly washed in the dishwasher for at least 25 years, and none of it has chipped. Compare that with the ikea bowls that chipped within a year of the same treatment. I reckon breakages depend on the treatment, but chips depend more on the quality of the crockery.

For day to day use I just have basic white crockery I bought from Tesco. It's smart and functional. I "top it up" as things get chipped (I seem to catch plates in the granite worktop as I load/unload the dishwasher) so I deliberately don't buy anything I'm too precious about for day to day.

I do have a lovely 12 piece Wedgwood set (white/green/gold) which comes out for special occasions that I've had 10 years now. However it all gets hand washed and carefully packed away.

Glasses are my bane though. I had a lovely crystal set and managed to smash them all. I've given up now and buy sturdy, mid priced glassware that's pretty but doesn't make me cry when I inevitably break it

Meh, cheap crockery's going to break easily. I get bored of stuff, so I like to replace often.

We have a Denby dinner service and a Wegewood one, but they never see the light of day as they are a bit old farty (wedding gifts).

hermione interesting distinction

I reckon breakages depend on the treatment, but chips depend more on the quality of the crockery.

I actually completely agree.

The only thing that doesn't chip is bone china; it is very strong. The plain white bone china crockery I bought from Target lasted years and years, with not a single chip, and I am NOT particularly gentle/careful.

The normal china I bought from IKEA was chipped to bits on the edges in no time.

The plates and cups I had from argos, at a tenner were the most hardwearing crockery I've ever had. Unfortunately I hate them. Too chunky, cups too small and the plates are so thick they take up too much room in the cupboard. Not a chip to be had between the lot. I'm going to have to have a cull on unused and unwanted crockery.

I can't really connect with people who want matching crockery.

FWIW, the most durable items we have are pyrex (glass plates). In pique of temper, DH smashed two together. Only they didn't smash at all. No chips, nada. I don't know what it takes to break one.

My flippin' Denby refuses to break.

When I moved into my own flat in 1993 I bought 8 place settings (approx £12) of white earthenware with a blue rim from Wilcos. Today, 22yrs, 4 houses, and two sons later, we still have 7 dinner plates, 3 side plates, 7 bowls and 6 cups and saucers. All are in regular use! Goes brilliantly with plain white or any other blue and white crockery. None of it's chipped either

My bloody fragile beautiful Spode dinner service however - DH broke a dinner plate after a week!

lljkk I share your pain... My MIL gave us a set of 6 oval pyrex plates (with a truly hideous pattern at each end) at least 35 years ago. We were a family who went through mugs, glasses etc like nobody's business...

Suffice it to say that I've just handed all 6 on to DD (who, weirdly, likes the pattern) All unchipped, uncracked - and undamaged from the day several years ago when I lost my rag and hurled them at the kitchen floor - they lay and laughed at me...

The buggers are indestructible..!

lol @ Bikket^3

We have a Denby teapot with broken lid; costs like £30 to replace the lid!! DH keeps glueing it back together.

Ime stoneware is not anywhere near as hard wearing as bone china.