dinnerware n : the tableware (plates and platters and serving bowls etc.) used in serving a meal

English

Noun

1. The dishes used for serving dinner.

Dishware is the general term for the dishes used in serving, and eating food, including plates and bowls. Dinnerware is a synonym, especially meaning a set of dishes, including serving pieces.

The broader term Tableware includes dishes, cutlery, and drinking vessels. Flatware refers to plates and cutlery. Hollowware refers to containers like bowls and pitchers, especially if made of metal.

Modern dishes may be made of earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, glass, and durable plastics, such as melamine resin. Disposable dishes made of paper or lightweight plastics may be used for casual eating. Historically, dishes have also been made of wood, metals such as pewter, and even animal skulls.

In British English the term crockery is used.

In Hiberno-English the term delph is used.

During the last 1940's a number of companies in the U.S. started to make standardized dinnerware with "atomic" or "futuristic" designs, leading into the Mid-Century Modern period. Two of the most popular and prolific designs were the Starburst (dinnerware) design by and Temporama, the latter of which could be "purchased" by turning in stamps, the history of which is not specific - some say the stamps were given away by gas stations, other say it was grocery stores, and likely it was both. The designs used in these dinnerware sets continue to survive today, a major iconographic design from the 1950's that is still used today.

Types of dishes

• Plates, such as dinner plates, salad plates, or bread plates
• Bowls, including soup bowls, cereal bowls, or dessert bowls
• Teacups, saucers and mugs
• Sugar bowl (dishware) and creamer
• Serving dishes, including platters, salvers, and trays

Fine China Dinnerware Manufacturers

• Aynsley
• Baccarat
• Bernardaud
• Buccellati
• Christofle
• Churchill China
• Couzon
• Dansk
• Gibson
• Gien (dishware)
• Hutschenreuther
• International
• Kosta Boda
• Lenox
• Lladro
• Meissen porcelain
• Noritake
• Queen's
• Rosenthal
• Royal Copenhagen
• Royal Crown Derby
• Royal Doulton
• Royal Worcester
• Spode
• Villeroy & Boch
• Waterford Crystal
• Wedgwood

See also

• Cutlery
• Drinkware
• List of eating utensils
• Table setting
• Tableware
• Silver (household)

appliances, brassware, chinaware, clayware, copperware, durable goods, durables, earthenware, enamelware, fixtures, flatware, glassware, graniteware, hard goods, hardware, hollow ware, housefurnishings, housewares, ironmongery, ironware, kitchenware, metalware, ovenware, silverware, sporting goods, stoneware, tableware, tinware, tools and machinery, white goods, woodenware