With help from Replacements, Ltd. (a retailer that sells current and vintage tableware), we identified some of the most popular pattern styles, including transferware, florals, and ornate rims, and compiled a set of accessories for each. Use these easy place setting ideas to update vintage china with a fresh look.
1. Botanical Scenes
Botanical china patterns (like Spode’s Buttercup) tend to have a formal feel. To lighten the look, pair your set with botanical-print linens and touches of natural wood. Here, hints of gold and a mustard-yellow nod to the painted buttercups, while blue elements temper this summery pattern for fall. For an easy styling trick that ties it all together, use your set’s platter as the base for a centerpiece.
2. Transferware
The transferware technique involves printing china patterns rather than individually hand-painting them, which was time-consuming and expensive. Initially engraved into copper plates, these elaborate designs were transferred onto paper using ink, then applied to the dish’s surface. Often featuring a single color against a white background, transferware can be highly ornate, showcasing romantic scenes of animals, architecture, florals, and more. To make a classic transferware pattern (like this Asiatic Pheasant Brown dinner plate by Royal Stafford) feel more down-to-earth, opt for on-trend speckled ceramics and metallic bark-patterned napkins. Contemporary glassware and repeating gold accents keep the look elevated.
3. Allover Florals
Many floral china patterns combine a variety of vibrant colors and intricately painted details against a white background. Balance busy designs like this one (Haddon Hall from Minton) by playing up a single color in the pattern and repeating it in varying shades on the table. Orange features heavily in this design, for example, so we chose it for our accent color. An overtly modern piece (say, an abstract salad plate) in the mix transforms the entire setting and keeps it from feeling too old-fashioned.
4. Bold Rims
To update plates with a bold, ornate rim (like Style 3244 from Rosenthal-Continental), pair them with a tablecloth that also has big personality, but in a contrasting style. Here, a loose overall floral fabric echoes the china’s color but tones down its formality. Keep the rest of the elements simple so they don’t fight for the spotlight.
5. Delicate Designs
Dainty patterns with intricate scrolling or line work can easily get lost on a large table. Call attention to delicate designs like this one (Royal Copenhagen’s Blue Fluted Plain) by sticking to pieces in the same colors. Avoid placing salad plates or napkins on top of the dinner plates where they’ll hide the pattern.
