Foods and home making

tions, however, which are placed The conventional design of this plate is pleasing. An adaptation of one of the motives of the border for the center of the plate adds interest. The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 21 1 moisture. Dishes of uneven thickness break easier than those of uniform thickness. Soft glazes scratch easily. Usually the glaze on porcelain and china dishes is smoother than that on earthenware and semi-porcelain. When a china or porcelain dish of ordinary thickness is held in front of a light, it is translu- cent; an earthenware dish is opaque. China and porcelain differ mainly in firing. What kinds of dishes are there ? Dishes are made in many countries. They are known by different names. In this coun- try, Syracuse and Lenox china are well known. Spode, Crown Derby , Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Minton , and Worcester are bone chinas made in England. Bone china is a clear white ware containing bone ash. Haviland and Limoges china are made in France; Dresden china, in Meissen, Germany; Belleek china, in Ireland. Dishes are produced in China and Japan. Fine decorated earthenwares are made in England by Susie Cooper; in Sweden, by Rorstrand. Coarse earthenware known as pottery is made in many countries. In this country much semi-porce- lain and solid-color pottery, such as Franciscan and Fiesta , are manufactured. Some dishes are open-stock. That is, any number of each kind of dish may be bought as long as it is manufactured. What should be considered in buying glassware? Have you ever noticed a salesman of glassware tap on the edge of a glass piece with his pencil? The sound produced by tapping indicates (1) whether the piece is sound, i.e., free from cracks, and (2) whether it is lime glass or lead glass. Lime glass is inferior to lead glass. It is not so clear. It is also less durable. When the edge of a piece of lead glass is tapped, a ringing sound is produced. Glass is shaped by molding and by blowing. Blown glassware is usually more beautiful than pieced glass. It is also more expensive. Glassware is very attractive on the table. Water held in a 212 Modern Housewifery 1 nlemational Silver Co. Figure 77. Inlaid Silver Notice the rectangular spot on the back of the handle and the oval spot on the under side of the bowl of this spoon. These are blocks of sterling silver, fused into the base metal at the points of hardest wear. The ar- ticle is silver-plated over both the base metal and the inlaid parts. glass looks more pleasing than in a china cup. Glass dishes are especially suitable for serv- ing jelly and gelatin foods. Unless glass is especially made to stand heat, hot liquids should not be poured into it. What should be considered in buying silverware? There are some housekeepers who pre- fer dishes of china or glass rather than silver because sil- ver requires more care to keep it clean. Silver is pleasing in color and luster ; it looks at- tractive on the dining table. All sorts of dishes are made of china and glass. It is easily possible to set a table without a silver dish. The knives, forks, and spoons used on the dining table, however, are invariably silver. These silver articles are known as flat ware or flat silver. Silverware is of two kinds — solid or sterling silver and The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 213