Happy Friday cuties (or at least, it’s Friday for me writing this)! With the weekend around the corner, and then the summer entertaining season (not to mention wedding and bridal shower season) coming up quickly in the weeks ahead, I have been thinking a lot about tabletop essentials and the different kinds of dishware in our assortment.
From tried and true ceramics to fine porcelain and heirloom-quality pewter (my personal fave), I’m proud to say we have a material, pattern, and style to fit every dining table. I personally love to use different dishware depending on the season and the occasion, so I wanted to share a handy guide to tabletop materials!
If you’re currently looking to refresh your tabletop for summer–or if you’re looking into buying a full set of fine dishware for the first time or building out your wedding registry–the KKH Guide to Tabletop Materials is the perfect starting point!
PS: Shopping for glassware? Don’t miss our Wine & Champagne Glassware Guide and our Cocktail Glassware Guide!
Ceramic
Ceramic dinnerware is classic and time-tested–and it’s one of the most popular and widely used materials out there for quality tabletop pieces. A ceramic piece is made from clay and hardened and set with heat in a kiln. Ceramic dishes typically are quite durable (though they will break or chip if dropped) and are perfectly fine to put in the dishwasher or microwave in most cases.
“Ceramic” is an umbrella term encompassing the following materials rendered based on the heat used when crafting them:
- Earthenware: Fired at a lower temperature and thus less strong and more porous; often earthenware dishes will be thicker (in order to strengthen them) and will be less expensive since they’re not as durable.
- Stoneware: Fired at a very high heat, and the strongest of the ceramic types; can be made from clay of any color and you often see it in bakeware or serveware.
- Porcelain: We’ll expand on this type of ceramic more below, but the biggest difference between porcelain and stoneware is the fact that porcelain is only made from white clay and when fired, it takes on an almost glass-like look; there are several types of porcelain as well, so be sure to read on!
Long story short: You can basically think of most ceramic dishware as your ever-green go-to. Perfect for casual get togethers and family dinner night in and night out. You can also find ceramic dishes in just about every color and pattern under the sun, so mixing and matching is a breeze.
Photo from our Vietri collection
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Crystal
So you may associate crystal exclusively with drinking glasses–and certainly, you can’t go wrong with crystal stemware or cocktail glasses–but it’s also a lovely material for the rest of your tabletop.
So just what is crystal? I’ll put on my Kathy Kuo the Science Girl hat for this: It’s actually a variety of glass consisting of a different chemical compound makeup than regular glass; in crystal, the calcium from glass is replaced with components such as barium oxide, zinc oxide, and magnesium oxide (lead oxide is also an option, but most quality crystal glassware is lead-free and therefore much stronger).
I tend to advise our customers and clients that crystal is great for the accent pieces on a tabletop, rather than for full place settings. I love the look and feel of crystal charger plates, crystal salt and pepper shakers, napkin rings , and serving bowls to add a dose of sparkle any tablescape.
Crystal pieces also just have that specialness about them that makes them perfect as gifts and heirlooms to pass down.
Photo from our MATCH 1995 collection
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Melamine
Okay, so even though melamine is technically plastic…trust me it’s better (and more stylish) than straight-up plastic! Melamine is a type of plastic that feels more rigid and sturdy than standard plastic, and it’s also rendered to have more polished overall appearance and be more durable overall.
The upside of melamine is that your cat can knock it off the counter 100 times and it will not chip or break. The downside is that it is not microwave or oven safe (the way that ceramic dishes are).
I’m a mom of two young kids and one active doggo–so I speak from experience when I say that quality melamine dishes are a parent’s best friend! They’re also perfect for bringing along on picnics because they’re lighter weight.
In our tabletop assortment, I really can’t get enough of all of the gorgeous patterns on Juliska’s melamine pieces–you seriously can’t even tell by looking that they’re not fine china.
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Complete the Look
Pewter
I’m just going to be honest: Pewter is my favorite of all the tabletop materials! All of my friends, family members, and colleagues…and strangers on the street too, probably…know that I am OBSESSED with pewter dishware and barware and have many treasured pieces in my own home.
Putting my lab coat back on as Kathy Kuo the Science Girl: Pewter is a super-malleable (aka: it’s bendy!) metal alloy that has been used in the decorative arts since the Bronze Age! As an alloy, it’s a mix of several elements including:
- Tin
- Antimony
- Copper
- Bismuth
- Silver
The amount of pewter you use on your tabletop or home bar really depends on your own personal taste because it’s a material that lends itself to everything from dishware to pitchers to coasters to flatware. If you ask me, you can never go wrong with some well-chosen picks from MATCH Pewter or Vietri.
Because pewter is so soft and malleable, it means that pewter pieces are able to feature really intricate patterns, engravings, adornments…you name it! I love the fact that I discover new details in my pewter collection every time I use them.
It is important to note that the downside of pewter’s pliability is that it can be dented more easily than some metals, so be mindful when cleaning it. Also, some antique pewter contains lead and isn’t safe to eat off of, so be cautious if you happen to have a pewter relic from the Middle Ages rattling around in your attic.
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Porcelain
As I mentioned above, porcelain is a type of ceramic made with white clay, which gives it a super-luxe glassy and almost translucent look. It’s also fired at a very, very high temperature giving it a superior hardness and strength.
Ok, now stay with me…just as there are several ceramic varieties, there are several porcelain varieties:
- Bone China: Made from clay mixed with actual bone ash (among other elements), bone china is the strongest and finest type of porcelain; it’s known for having the purest white color and for having an almost opalescent quality. When you think of phrases like “the good china” or “wedding china,” bone china is the material referred to.
- Hard-Paste Porcelain: Also known as “true” porcelain; this type is fired in a kiln at a high temperature and is similar in make-up to bone china, though doesn’t contain bone ash.
- Soft-Paste Porcelain: Also known as “artificial” porcelain; it’s crafted using lower kiln temperatures and a slightly different materials mix from “true” porcelain; this type will be less strong, and more sensitive to heat.
The fact that porcelain is a stronger ceramic means that you can use it for thinner and more delicate looking dishware pieces and not risk breakage from regular use.
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