Each Wednesday, we tackle wedding etiquette. At times, it’s a reader question or one from a colleague, friend or family member and other times we’ll cover a popular issue. This week, we’ve combed through the archives for a timeless question about replacing discontinued china and silver patterns. Our New Orleans Bride Magazine wedding etiquette columnist Dee Lane has the answer. This is from the Winter 2009 issue of the magazine.
Question: I have inherited my grandmother’s china and silver sets. Unfortunately, they’re not complete. I would like to obtain more of both her china and silver, and even ask for them as wedding gifts, but I can’t find them anywhere and I’m afraid they’ve been discontinued. Is there anywhere that specializes in this?
Cynthia Greene
Covington, Louisiana
Answer: Actually, there are many routes to take to find your grandmother’s patterns. The one for you depends on how much of a treasure hunter you fancy yourself. In New Orleans, we’re blessed with an abundance of flea markets and antique stores. Taking weekends and free time to peruse these merchants can be exciting and can net you baubles in addition to a chance at finding your grandmother’s patterns at much less than you expected (especially if the vendor doesn’t know what he’s got)! If, on the other hand, you’re more of an Internet shopper, visit Replacements, Ltd. (www.replacements.com). With the slogan of “We replace the irreplaceable,” not only do they offer over 12 million pieces from over 290,000 patterns of china, silver and collectibles, they are also able to “clean polish and restore virtually every type of silver and hollowware.”
