Chinaware

/ˈtʃaɪnəˌwɛr/ noun

Definition

Dishes, plates, bowls, and other tableware made from porcelain or fine ceramic material, often used for formal dining.

Etymology

Compound of 'china' (porcelain) and 'ware' (goods/products). The term emerged in 17th-century English to distinguish fine imported porcelain from common pottery.

Kelly Says

In Victorian times, owning fine chinaware was such a status symbol that families would literally keep it locked away and only use it for important guests—your dishes showed your social class.

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