Appreciating fine china is a dying pastime. The problem lies in only viewing fine china as an expensive plate or cup; rather than understanding and appreciating it as a complicated, intricate, and beautiful form of art.
We don't always appreciate the beauty in tradition, or the complexity in design. We are bombarded with immediate gratifications and simplified designs because they are faster to produce and cheaper to manufacture. You see this cheapening happening all around us, even in children's early morning television. No longer are daily cartoons hand drawn, often they are computer animated using smooth skins and robotic puppets. It's in our media, in our interactions, and in our communications. With the influx of new fast paced technologies we're losing sight of the amazing beauty found in the smallest of details.
Most of us wouldn't second guess spending a few hundred bucks on a new 4K television, a new iPhone, a new laptop - because we see these things as something that will get used; something that will last. But let's really take a step back and look at longevity when it comes to electronics. Phone contracts generally last two years and then you upgrade to a new phone. TVs are ready to go after 10 years - if you're lucky. A computer is considered old and obsolete after 4 years. They're used daily, but they have a short life span (relatively speaking). So why is it when we think about spending money on something like porcelain, something we can and should use every day, we think - "that's too expensive. That's too much." Fine china is something you buy for years - even generations! Sometimes I think we have our priorities backwards. Rather than sitting in front of a TV with everyone on their own tablets and iPhones reading their email and browsing Facebook while "thinking" they are interacting - how about we invest in setting a beautiful table, bring our loved ones together, turn off our phones for an hour, and have meaningful conversation over home cooked food and dessert? How about we actually interact with one another? How about we teach our children how to tell stories orally and not through their finger tips typing twitter messages. How about we find out how someone's day is without assuming we already know because we read their status update? Families need to interact and having them all at one table, at least once a day, sharing a meal and discussing their days, actually helps children develop their social skills and it bonds families.
Yes, you can do this without fancy china. And I encourage everyone, no matter what kinds of plates you may have on your table to do it. But if you are fortunate enough to be able to afford fine china, or have had it handed down to you - use it. Use it every day. Mottahedeh is dishwasher safe and many pieces are also microwave and oven safe. Don't just keep it hidden away and brought out only for special occasions. porcelain is made to be used and re-used and re-used. Today is a special day if it is spent with loved ones.
Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to post about how Mottahedeh Fine China is actually made - from concept to finished good. It is my hope that it will bring a greater appreciation to this dying art form. The more we know about how something is made the more we appreciate it. We're not just selling plates and cups. Nearly all of Mottahedeh's pieces are inspired by antiques and have a story. Almost all of the artwork is repainted, by hand, before being turned into decals. And every decal requires multiple screens. I want to introduce you to a side of Mottahedeh very few people truly understand. Working in development for over five years, and being the daughter of the current president/owner, I have some insights I would love to share with you. Come take this journey with me.