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Comment by zucked | Hacker News Reader

I have a set of both - China and Silverware. I've never used either.

I believe the older generation wants us to have their fancy heirlooms - 12 piece dining room sets, silverware, china, their most giant gaudy antique armoire.

Converelsy, what I have tried to instill in my parents as they downsize their belongings is that I want the practical stuff they used every day. A quality set of dishes (not china!) - my mom's chemex. What's left of their old solid-wood furniture. That stuff has value to me - it was made differently - better quality, thicker, etc. Items that were part of pomp and circumstance used once or twice a year back then don't interest me.

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> Converelsy, what I have tried to instill in my parents as they downsize their belongings is that I want the practical stuff they used every day.

Amen! The most useful thing my parents handed down to me was the dishes we used for my entire childhood. They're just pretty basic stoneware dishes made in the ol' US of A but they held up for 30 years, starting from before I was born up until I got my own place after college. Then I used them for the another 10 years, and apart from some chips on some of them, or not having a complete set due to the few that broke, they look like they could be only a few years old.

It was kind of neat watching my son eat off the same plates that I ate off when I was his age.

We eventually got some new plates but have the old ones packed away. I'm curious to see how long the new ones last, I don't know if they make them like they used to.

Corningware for me. That stuff is borderline indestructible. All the other stuff I have bought over the years is broken, chipped, etc. But that older corningware. Good stuff. Even the shape makes everything stack nice and compact. My mom and dad have gone thru 3 or 4 sets of other stuff. A couple of other sets for me. But this stuff...

I too am a fan of Corningware. The shapes and weights suit me. It practically defines the concept of a bowl for me.

But I note you said "borderline indestructible". Not just "indestructible".

Which means I have found a fellow victim of ceramic shard explosion! They take a beating, but when they go, they go big!

True story: My Aunt: "These are unbreakable" My Dad: "They look nice" My Aunt: "watch this" yeeets a casserole dish on the floor... It was quite the mess.

The tea cups for me are hit or miss if they will survive. I think it has to do with the shape. Everything else is very tough.

"yeeets a casserole dish on the floor"

... you brought me to tears with laughter! :-)

Thank you, I needed that.

The stuff I have is Salem Stoneware, from Salem, Ohio I think it is.

It's remarkable. Despite being probably around 40 years old the surface finish of the plates (which took many a steak knife) still looks brand new.

> I have a set of both - China and Silverware. I've never used either … I want the practical stuff they used every day.

Many china patterns may be used every day (not all: some are not dishwasher safe), and almost all silverware is usable every day (there are a few tricks, like not leaving it in contact with water and iron). Seriously, give it a shot!

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