Greetings and happy Wednesday! I can’t believe it is 54 degrees and sunny today, but they are calling for snow tonight. Silly groundhog. So, I’m taking advantage of this beautiful day by stocking up on some grocery essentials and cutting fire wood. (If I prepare enough in advance, it won’t snow.) I’m also going online to Replacements.com and order some missing china pieces. Do you know about this company?
Being from North Carolina originally, I’ve known about this company for a long time. It’s called Replacements, Ltd., located in Greensboro, NC. They are the world’s leading retailer of old and new china, crystal and silverware. They specialize in discontinued patterns but carry patterns still in circulation. Their inventory has over 12 million pieces! (according to their website)
Recently my Mother in Law gave us a beautiful set of vintage china that belonged to her Mother. It is a set I’ve long admired since I came into the family. She would always set the holiday dinner table with it so it is very sentimental to us. I remember we always washed it by hand since it was so delicate and had a gold rim around the edges. Definitely not meant for the dishwasher! She told us there were a few missing pieces so I knew just where to turn!
Once you go online to replacements.com you can search for the manufacturer and pattern name of your china, crystal or silverware. These are typically located on the back or bottom of your piece. If the markings are ineligible or missing, Replacements Ltd offers a “find your pattern” service. You can upload an image of your china or silverware. There is even a smart phone app you can use to send the images to them. They will help you identify the pattern name and maker. If you like you can sign up for their mailing list via email or mail and they will send you updates on your pattern.
The name of my pattern is Golden Pheasant by Altrohlau and was made in Czechoslovakia. It was clearly marked on the bottom so it was easy to identify. It’s really hit or miss if they have your pattern in stock. Naturally the pieces that are in mint condition are more expensive. Then they have varying degrees of wear and tear for less. For instance, if a plate has a slight imperfection it may be 25% less. But if the plate has a chip or a noticeable imperfection it may be 50% less. If you think about it, these can be the way to go. You almost expect vintage china to have a few imperfections and you can really save money this way. And they are still completely functional.
The website will list other items that were originally made in your pattern such as larger serving pieces or casserole dishes. Sometimes they are in stock but if not, you can request an update when certain pieces become available. (I have my eye on a beautiful covered vegetable casserole dish that is currently out of stock.) After unpacking the china and taking inventory it seems as though we are only missing 4 bowls and 2 teacups. So, I am ordering those today. Luckily they are in stock. This will give us 8 complete place settings. I’m tempted to order a few more dinner plates while they have them. I will sign up for some of the other pieces as they become available. After all, this is something I will pass down to my children one day too.
In the past I’ve used Replacements, Ltd. to order extra place settings for our stainless steel flatware we keep at the lake. It was our original everyday stainless and we’ve lost a few spoons and forks over the years. I ordered a few extras so we would have enough to serve 10 people, which we often do at the lake. I ended up finding some extra serving pieces that I didn’t know existed! There were even some cute olive forks and baby spoons to match. As our family grows, it’s nice to know we can add on to our silver and china.
Replacements, Ltd. offers restoration and repairs too. And if you decide to sell your china or silverware, they will buy it. They also have a gift registry. It is such a great service! I try to keep an out out for my china and silver when I’m out antiquing but I have never run across it. I love having this option! So, if you are looking to replace that piece of broken or missing china, look them up! Or give them a call at 1-800-REPLACE.
Thank you for stopping by today! I really appreciate it! xoxo Dell