My recent story on unwanted old china generated a lot of responses — so many that I thought it was worth sharing some of the best ideas for selling, donating, upcycling and repurposing.
A number of readers mentioned selling unwanted pieces through Replacements.com, which we have written about before. Others said they turn to Pinterest or Etsy for ideas on how to repurpose plates, cups and serving pieces. If you search “upcycle china,” you’ll find ideas on using plates to edge your garden border or making teacups into jewelry holders. There are lots of DIY tips about how to turn broken pieces of Mom’s Spode into tabletops, rings or trays. Some crafters have painted skulls or Star Trek motifs on vintage plates.
Tania Anthony of New York City emailed us about her Etsy business the Vanity Dish, which upcycles vintage china saucers in gift form as soap display dishes. They have sort of a shabby-chic vibe and are sold with a brief history of the china pattern.
Bruce Shulman of Wheaton, Md., sent us photos of his kitchen walls, which are covered with his collection of 150 vintage Lenox dinner plates displayed on shelves. He says he enjoys the old patterns a lot more than the current variety. The shelves “are attached to the wall studs with long screws which are drilled through the edge of the wood and covered with wood plugs,” he wrote. “The shelves have grooves in the rear made with a router to hold the edge of each plate in place while it leans against the wall.” You might be able to put your own plates on photo ledges that you can buy off the rack at stores such as West Elm or Ikea.
