I love to use my special vintage-theme party dishes when company comes over. Tier servers are not new to the piece type library. I’ve got new ones and old ones in my collection, and I always take a look when I see them.
Can I even pick a favorite? The colorful one with the kitchen and dish images on them – Desco by Villeroy & Boch – is a special favorite that dates from the 1990’s, with cheerful colors and an appropriate motif!
Tier serving pieces come in many materials and colors: all kinds of ceramics, glass and metal. There is a set for you, no matter what style of entertaining you want to complement.
Suit Your Style
When I choose a tier server, I usually start with the theme of the meal. Is it a birthday party, or seasonal celebration? Or, special visitors? The answer will have already guided a menu, and then the dishes to use for those foods.
I include the one-tier pieces with a metal handle in the collection because they are so handy to serve appetizers like pickles and cheese, or small treats like candy, mints or nuts.
Go Bold and Funky
I enjoy using California pottery, the chunky earthenware pieces that are often shaped in unusual forms and glazed in rich colors. These work well with eclectic or retro style table settings.
If you’re shopping for this kind of ware, I suggest careful inspection for chips, cracks and crazing. These pieces are prone to these defects. If you don’t use them to serve food (sort of defeats some of the purpose) they are usable.
And I think it goes without saying: Never put them in the dishwasher! Those conditions dull the glaze. Sharp temperature change is a cause of crazing. To keep them beautiful, handwash only.
What To Look For
Many new dinnerware patterns feature serving pieces in multiple levels, one, two and three being most common. When you’re out looking for them in secondary marketplaces, here are some things to look for.
Chips, cracks and crazing in ceramic pieces and similarly glass. I expect to find something, even a small flea bite, until my eyes and fingers tell me otherwise. I might decide to buy anyway, but I want to know.
A complete piece with all the parts is also important. Are all the plates there, the metal pieces that support the levels, and usually washers to separate the metal from the ceramic or glass. Again, I might get it regardless, but I want to know. Replacement parts are not readily available, and even if you find some, they many not match what you have.
The fit of the pieces is also something to consider. I want to take it apart and see how easy it is to put back together again. It should be reasonable. This also helps me get a look for parts and to check whether any of the pieces are mismatched replacements.
Style is another element to consider. Will the new piece satisfy your design choices and work well with your existing dinnerware set? Will you have room to store it when not in use, assembled or disassembled?
Tier servers are very handy to have in your dish collection. Vintage-theme party dishes will help you make your table something special, like a tea party every time.
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