apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Classic Tableware: Eva Zeisel's Century Collection

111808_crate.jpgFor dishes we try to stick to a neutral palette to keep the table simple. This way we can accessorize with a turquoise bowl here, a lemon yellow salt shaker there. We've got a set of white dishes but we're thinking of adding some classic pieces from the Century Collection originally Designed by Eva Zeisel in 1952. Its elegant lines and neutral color make it a perfect backdrop for a Thanksgiving dinner:

 
 

111808_gravy.jpgThe gravy boat is probably the most iconic member of this dish family, so if we were gonna go for one piece, this would be it. Otherwise, if you're looking to upgrade your everyday dishware you can invest in a 5 piece setting which is currently on sale for $69.95 and will last you longer than that $20 set from Ikea!

See the whole collection at Crate and Barrel.

Related:
The Right Way to Set the Table
No Dining Room, No Problem
Dining By Design: Tableware inspiration
10 Cheap and Easy Ways to Decorate the Table
How To: Enjoy Your Own Party

Tags

dining room, entertaining, crate and barrel, eva zeisel

Related Links

Share

Comments (20)

So beautiful. The lines are soft and sensuous as if shaped by love
.

posted by ebrown on November 18th 2008 at 4:34pm
view ebrown's profile

Don't know that it would necessarily last longer then the cheap IKEA set... all my dishes - cheap or expensive - have a similar lifespan-- it ends when I drop it on the floor or into the sink.

posted by fugitiverouge on November 18th 2008 at 4:51pm
view fugitiverouge's profile

I was just at C&B yesterday. I have Hannah Lennox rimmed in gold Wedding china (it was 1994!). I only have service for 8. I think mixing this pattern will make the table more updated.

Good to know it's on sale. I was just going to buy one setting a month until I had service for 12!

posted by jen64 on November 18th 2008 at 5:14pm
view jen64's profile

***Deep sigh***

I love this design so much.

posted by KWorld on November 18th 2008 at 5:21pm
view KWorld's profile

"... will last you longer than that $20 set from Ikea!"

It's the ridiculousness of throwaway lines like this that often negate the veracity of some posts on AT.

posted by bepsf on November 18th 2008 at 5:25pm
view bepsf's profile

I love anything by Eva Zeisel.. Collecting one lil' piece at a time...

posted by modernmecca on November 18th 2008 at 5:27pm
view modernmecca's profile

If your aim is durability, I think a corelle set would be more practical than Ikea. Their designs certainly aren't as beautiful as this set, but they are virtually indestructible. And inexpensive. I will probably buy a set if I ever have small children.

posted by idiotdogbrain on November 18th 2008 at 5:29pm
view idiotdogbrain's profile

I registered for the Zeisel for my wedding, and though I loved the design of the plates I have been really disappointed with their performance. Within 6 months I had stained cracks in five tea cups and random chips on both the b&b and dinner plates.

Additionally the plates are oblong, which makes them awkward for just about any dishwasher.

We weren't particularly hard on them- and I still love the design- so I've put them aside for special occasions and plan on just replacing the cracked pieces.

As for Corelle... we replaced the Ziesel with Corelle Ultra (which has a more substantional feel than traditional Corelle) And its performance has been fantastic.

It's not inexpensive but you will have it forever.

(TIP-If you get a Corelle dinner set, remember the mugs are ceramic, not the usual corelle material.)

posted by Peacefully on November 18th 2008 at 5:45pm
view Peacefully's profile

I noticed the Ziesel at Crate & Barrel about six months ago, and I thought if and when I could afford to buy new dinnerware, that would be what I would get! Of course, I could only afford to buy a little at a time. Were it not Christmastime, I might even buy a setting on sale now.

I'm disappointed to read that one commenter had problems with the dishware's durability. Oh well, it makes not owning it easier to bear!

Isn't it beautiful?

posted by AustinSarah2 on November 18th 2008 at 6:08pm
view AustinSarah2's profile

I initially read about Eva on Domino and have fallen in love ever since, though I still use my 75 cent plates from Ikea and have lasted me for what I feel like EVER!
so take that AT!!!!!!

posted by Yolanda P on November 18th 2008 at 7:39pm
view Yolanda P's profile

We have vintage Franciscan ware here and have had it for 8 years without losing a piece. It's heavy duty stuff and my husband is a total butterfinger who seems to break glasses for entertainment.

posted by Gigi818 on November 18th 2008 at 7:51pm
view Gigi818's profile

I love this set but i wish it was white instead of ivory so it would go with my Vintage McCobb serving pieces..

posted by Bridget212323 on November 18th 2008 at 10:07pm
view Bridget212323's profile

I was lucky enough to see the Eva Zeisel collection a few winters ago at Balboa Park in San Diego. Her designs are ones that I'll be saving up for for years!

posted by scaram0uche on November 18th 2008 at 11:14pm
view scaram0uche's profile

Classic Century is made out of earthenware, which is probably the least durable type of ceramic. It is prone to chipping and crazing (those tiny hairline cracks). I own this dinnerware but it stays on display until I have a dinner party. I wouldn't recommend that anyone purchase it for their everyday dinnerware. Earthenware is sensitive to extreme changes in heat and isn't going to hold up as well in the dishwasher. So beautiful, yes. Durable, not so much. Will you like it longer than your Ikea set? yes. Will it last longer? yes, if you like hand-washing your dishes.

posted by Marlene Rose on November 19th 2008 at 2:22am
view Marlene Rose's profile

Corelle is awesome. still looking new after a decade... I would abuse corelle for everyday use and save those pretty dishes for special occasions

posted by Fuzzyummy on November 19th 2008 at 6:05am
view Fuzzyummy's profile

True story, I broke a corelle plate at my grandma's when I was a kid. It breaks in a zillion pieces. A whole actual zillion.

I love these dishes, though. I don't care for references to IKEA every two seconds, we're not all sheep! Although sometimes it does seem like people have no other ideas, and everything there is so Swedish and cool that it's difficult for some people not to Katamari Damacy the whole store on a day trip for another LACK shelf and meatballs, we're not actually mainlining IKEA. For instance, this set of dishes is lovely and in no way related to IKEA.

posted by K T G on November 19th 2008 at 10:49am
view K T G's profile

KTG, your Katamari-Ikea refrence made me smile!

I have to say, i agree with couple other posters. We're not all shopping at ikea exclusively... and sometimes we shop at ikea because its what our pocketbook allows.

Expensive not automaticlly better, sheesh.

That said these are gorgeous and i've wanted some for a long time. But you bet i'm looking into this new classy corelle too.

posted by DahliaCactus on November 19th 2008 at 11:16am
view DahliaCactus's profile

I had no idea the line about Ikea would get people worked up. My boyfriend bought a (less than) $20 set from Ikea that has lasted a long time but shows grey scraping and cutting lines from lots of use. He bought them originally because he needed simple plates fast and really didn't want to spend much. It's worked this long but has gotten scraped up enough it's not great for entertaining. That's what I was thinking of with the Ikea comment!

posted by laure on November 19th 2008 at 12:17pm
view laure's profile

We, and most of our friends who got married at the same time, registered for white everyday china at either Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, or Crate and Barrel.

Five years later we are the only couple left with more than half of the pieces left. Love, love the apilco for everyday use.

I save my fragile vintage bauer and russel wright for special occasions.

posted by JudiAU on November 19th 2008 at 3:50pm
view JudiAU's profile

Does anyone know or have an opinion on the difference (if there is one) between the Royal Stafford Zeisel and the one at Crate and Barrel? I have only ever seen the C and B one in person, but I am living abroad and think maybe going with Royal Stafford is better, and might avoid some of the earthenware pitfalls if it is made of a different material.

Also any pasta bowls that would match?

sorry to not be commenting on IKEA.

posted by ssolywoda on July 7th 2009 at 4:36am
view ssolywoda's profile

Feeds

RSS icon Los Angeles

+ City Feeds