One of the easiest ways in which to make an ordinary dining room table look extraordinary is to embellish it with impressive tableware. If you then add some quality serving dishes and utensils into the equation you can hold a dinner party fit for the queen! Unfortunately, brand new serving dishes and dinner services can be quite expensive, especially if you want more than an eight person setting. China dinner services look stunning when set out in full however they can set you back hundreds of pounds when bought in a department store. With this in mind it might be worth looking for second hand serving and tableware sets that cost a fraction of their original price.

Serving dishes and utensils
Serving dishes and other associated crockery come in many different shapes, sizes and colours. Today, you can buy everything from classical porcelain and soapstone pieces to contemporary pieces that are hand made from coloured glass. In fact, it is safe to say that there is something available to suit everybody's tastes.

The category 'serving ware' contains a wide range of items that you may not have thought about buying including casserole dishes, pie dishes, gravy boats, lasagne dishes, chip & dip plates, and the good old fashioned tea set with cups, saucers, tea pot, sugar bowl and milk jug. You can also include more distinctive items in the category such as fondue sets and chocolate fountains if you wish. Serving utensils such as forks, knives, spoons, tongs and ladles are also handy and can help to create the perfect finish to your table.

Many people today are turning to a recent advancement in serving ware which is aptly named 'oven to table' ware. These items can be used in both conventional ovens and in microwave ovens before being placed straight on the table. In short this means you no longer need separate cook ware and serving ware.

Buying second hand serving ware
If you don't mind looking around then you can often find quality serving ware at very inexpensive prices. Many people decide to refit their kitchens and buy new dishes and crockery to go with it. Sometimes they simply change their serving ware tastes. As with anything made of delicate materials, it is important to check that what you are buying is in good condition without any cracks, chips or repairs. You might also want to check that cook ware which doubles as serving ware can be used in different types of ovens and that they are dishwasher safe if it is applicable.

Serving utensils should be free from stains and scratches. If they are silver then they should have the silver stamp somewhere on them however if they aren't, then look for any tarnished areas that could deteriorate with further use.

Tableware
Today, brand new dinner sets that contain the basic dinner plates, side plates and cups can be bought for very reasonable prices from most supermarkets and other high street stores. However, if you are looking for something special, such as a bone china dinner service complete with all the trimmings, then you will need a few hundred pounds in your pocket. Plus if you want more than the normal 4-6 place settings then you will probably be looking at an even greater expense.

Buying dinner services second hand can save you a small fortune and it might mean that you can buy complementary serving ware with the money you save. You might also be able to afford the little extras such as salt and pepper pots, a gravy boat and a nice cut glass decanter for those after dinner drinks.

Buying second hand tableware
If you are thinking of buying an entire dinner service then it is important that you check every piece thoroughly for any signs of damage. Tiny chips on coloured sections can ruin the overall look of the piece and make your dinner service appear imperfect. If the service is quite large, for example a twelve place setting, then you should also check that all the pieces are there.

You might also want to do a bit of research into any other items that might be available to buy from the same range. For example, it might be that the factory that produced the service also produced matching serving dishes or a matching tea set. This means you can then start to look for those pieces as well so you have a complete dinner party set.

Conclusion
It would seem that many people are starting to rekindle the art of holding dinner parties and, as such, a quality dinner service and other tableware, whether classical or contemporary is a must. Impressive oven-to-table serving ware is also an option that will finish any dinner party of nicely, as will a range of silver utensils. You don't, however, need to spend your life savings on such items as they can often be bought second hand for very reasonable prices all you need to do is look around and wait for the service that suits your tastes.
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21 June 2008
18-piece comprising six each of knives, forks and dessert spoons, set of three each in six different colours - red, black, pink, blue, green, lemon (can post) .
£15
MK1
A classic style but in a very unusual dipped pewter finish, 6inches/15cm high, perfect as new condition, could make an ideal gift (can post) .
£6
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