China Fit for Royalty: Boo!

Do young women of today still practice the collecting of items for homemaking, storing them away in their hope chests, or what my brother referred to teasingly as "my hopeless chest?" I didn't have a "chest" per se. Still, I had a nice cardboard box where I stored some of my collection, including embroidered pillow cases and dresser scarves from both of my grandmothers. One of the larger items was a place setting for eight of china, accompanied by a few additional items, including a platter, serving bowl, cream and sugar set, and salt and pepper shakers. 

To this day, I will remain satisfied as I chose a timeless set of china that remains relevant today as it did the year I was married, 50 years ago. It's a white china with a border of tiny white flowers and a silver rim. It's a look that doesn't date itself (This pattern often gets used in some of my food photos).

In later years, I inherited several Franciscan Desert Rose place settings, along with many of the major serving pieces, which were purchased during the 1950s to 1960s. They are whimsical and still on the Victorian side - perfect for tea parties. Through the years, I also added to my collection of dinnerware, colorful pieces of Depression glass that make for wonderful accent pieces. 

While I was either thrifting or antiquing, I couldn't help but notice the Blue Willow pattern dinnerware. I usually stopped to admire it and take a peek at the back to see if it was by Churchill, Johnson Brothers, Shenango, Royal Staffordshire Pottery, or one of the other 100 pottery companies that produced Blue Willow. What kept me from buying it was that I didn't need another dining set (like that ever stopped me in the past), but I just couldn't visualize it on my table. However, it didn't stop me from buying the same or similar patterns in the rare colors of pinkish red or brown, especially for the fall and winter holidays. 

A couple of years ago, while poking through the flea markets of Paris, I ended up having the same problem of admiring lots of similar French and UK-produced ironstone dinnerware, but I would keep talking myself out of it. "How will I get it home? I don't need more dining pieces. Where would I put it? What if... "  Now that I am home, I am kicking myself that I didn't pick up pieces of blue Faience de Lyon, Paris Royal, Sarreguemines, Luneville, and Royal Stafford (Not to be confused with Royal Staffordshire Pottery, but produced in the same county).

And speaking of Royal Stafford, I finally bit. I brought home a few pieces. The company, known as Royal Stafford since the 1700s, closed in early 2025. Parts of the factory restarted under new ownership, but they are selling off some of their inventory. The Halloween brand/design rights didn’t go with the new owner's future vision, so the Royal Stafford's Halloween patterns are now discontinued items. They are being sold on the secondary market.

Plates are from the Bone Appetit series.

I loved the Victorian aesthetic, with its floral patterns and gold embellishments, reflecting Royal Stafford's royal heritage as an English pottery maker. The setting is perfect for spooky, yet elegant table settings during Halloween.  

The first showing of the Skull with Crown plates will be near Halloween. I will be hosting three friends, known as "The Paris Girls." One of my besties, who is like a kid sister that I "adopted" 25 years ago, and two other women who started out as acquaintances when we toured Paris together, and who are now great friends with a lot in common.

Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon would be a great meal served with mashed potatoes covering the Skull with Crown - and when you reach the last bite... BOO!