All in the family

The holiday season is upon us and there is no reason to be nervous in planning that lively soiree of yours. What's that you say? You're missing two dinner plates from your fine china and the punch bowl is missing its ladle?

Like I said. No reason to be nervous.

Finding replacements for your china, silver or crystal is as easy as calling 1-800-737-5223 or cruising through www.replacements.com. Lisa Conklin at Replacements, Ltd. said the company is all about replacements.

"We get requests for 100-year-old patterns all the time," she said. "Our current inventory has 14 million pieces of china, crystal, silver and collectibles from more than 345,000 patterns that we get from jewelry stores, department stores and estate sales and auctions. In addition, we deal directly with major manufacturers to obtain additional product no matter age or price. About 70 percent of our inventory is discontinued patterns and 30 percent is active so we can probably find a dinner plate that was actually made in 1911 depending on the length of production for that pattern."

Conklin speaks passionately about her fourth-generation china that started with her great-grandmother.

"There is an emotional connection when I bring it out for family occasions," she explained. "I think about family members who used these same plates and are no longer with us and it gives me a strong connection to my family history. It brings back warm memories and reminds me of sitting around the table celebrating certain holidays. At the same time, it's an incentive for younger family members to begin thinking of starting their own china pattern."

So what should you do about those two missing dinner plates and punch bowl ladle?

Begin by looking on the bottom of the dinner plate which usually carries the pattern and manufacturer name. This information may not always be there but don't be discouraged. Conklin said the replacements website has extensive pictures to match china and there is a 26-member pattern identification team researching patterns daily.

"A person can call and speak to someone about what he or she is trying to match," she said. "Our people are adding patterns to the data base but for every one pattern that we identify there could be 100 more. Patterns come from around the world and it's an ongoing process."

At Bloomingdale's Home Store at the Fashion Show mall, Geoffrey Clark is in the tabletop department and wants to see your crystal.

"I'm a Waterford Crystal specialist but familiar with all crystal," he said. "If you bring in a glass, I can go to our product catalog and begin the search. I suggest doing it now as the missing piece you're looking for could take up to six weeks if we have to go direct to the manufacturer in Europe."

Clark has a true sense of appreciation for a fine piece of crystal.

"People need to understand the story behind each and every glass," he explained. "For instance, each cut in a Waterford crystal goblet is individually made on a grinder. The person doing the work started as an apprentice and then became a journeyman and later a craftsman or master craftsman. In fact, some of the master craftsmen at Waterford have had pieces named after them because of their artistic craft."

A typical dinner setting has five pieces: dinner plate, salad plate, bread and butter plate, cup and saucer. Some settings include a bowl. According to Conklin, Flora Danica is one of more expensive patterns where one dinner plate can cost as much as $1,299.95.

Conklin encourages people to use their china more than just once or twice a year.

"The more you use it, the more the glaze on the china is strengthened," she said. "But it is just as important to know how to care for it. It's best to hand wash china in warm soapy water as the dishwasher can get too hot and loosen the gold or platinum trim. Also, don't use any type of citrus-based soap as it contains acid and can affect the china. And since some of the trim on china is metallic, never put a piece in the microwave."

Conklin suggests that when it's time to put the china away, place coffee filters or small pieces of flannel between pieces to reduce scratching and don't stack cups -- that can weaken the rim or damage the handle.