Thursday, April 18, 2019

A to Z April Challenge: P is for Princess House


This is a continuation of LAST APRIL’s challenge about HEIRLOOMS. When my sister and I cleaned out our parents’ home, we had to make many decisions about what to do with all the stuff. Which things are truly “valuable” and which have only sentiment in their favor? Should we sell it, keep it, or throw it away? To help ensure a future for our family’s heirlooms, I plan to leave a booklet for my daughters telling the stories of what they will inherit one day. (Not TOO soon, I hope!)

is for Princess House. In the late 1980s, everyone in my crowd was hosting parties to earn free “stuff.” Longaberger baskets. Mary Kay cosmetics. Tupperware. Princess House. You know the format: the hostess invites her friends to the party, she serves beautifully displayed snacks and drinks, the representative demonstrates her wares, you buy, and the hostess gets free or discounted products based on sales. At the time, Princess House was all about lead crystal. And BUY, I did. I probably even hosted a few parties.

I like my Princess House crystal as much today as when I bought it. The Heritage etched tumblers are my “good glasses” that I bring out for company.



This set of wine glasses was the only style sold by Princess House at the time. Frankly, they do not get as much use anymore. Instead souvenir glasses from wine festivals and winery tours are what I like to use. Of course, they are not quality crystal like Princess House.


The large pitcher is perfect for serving water or tea. Everyone at the Princess House party was skeptical about the handle because it looks awkward, almost like it might break off. But as you see, it is still going strong. The smaller pitcher was promoted as being perfect for gravy. I was sold! It probably can be used in other ways, but my daughters will probably always think of it as a gravy pitcher.




The crystal dessert plates in the Fantasia pattern were not purchased through a party. I bought them a few years ago at a thrift store. A stack of 8 for $4. They always come in handy, especially at our family Christmas Eve party.



The serving bowl is the last of my Princess House serving pieces. At one time I had at least 2 other pieces - a long bowl and a divided dish. Since I did not use them often, I gave them to my daughters when they moved out on their own.



These spoon and fork holders are always in use when I set up a buffet at family gatherings.

Toothpick holders! Enough said.

 





This crystal basket was really a splurge. Usually it sits empty in my dining room, but occasionally I fill it with flowers.

 


There was a time when fine china and crystal were a must for entertaining. People made a point of protecting it so that it would sparkle when company came for dinner. If you didn’t own it, you borrowed it if you were hosting a bridal or baby shower. Nowadays no one wants to be bothered. It’s a disposable world of coordinating paper plates and cups.




Wendy
© 2019, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.

20 comments:

  1. Princess House is something that I dont' have a lot of, only a platter that came from a friend's grandmother's estate. Your pieces are really pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a big fan of platters. They are so versatile.

      Delete
  2. I don't think I've heard of "Princess House" before. Must be more of an eastern company. You don't see much lead crystal in farm houses. It's all very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not heard of Princess House in years. When I checked online, it seems they saw the world changing too and shifted away from crystal toward pots and pans and bakeware.

      Delete
  3. I have not heard of Princess House either. Thrift shops are a place for finding crystal and other peoples past treasures. I have donated some myself. Things that used to be treasures however not using them and moving to a house that could not fit them all I decided to be brave. Saying this though, I have plates, glasses and more in a china cabinet in a spare bedroom so I still have lots more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bought some really nice bar glasses one day when I dropped off stuff I was getting rid of. I guess I broke even that day! HA

      Delete
  4. You did buy a lot of Princess House things! I'm not sure I ever made it to one of those parties. Probably good I didn't.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it would have meant one more thing to get rid of before your big move to Phoenix!

      Delete
  5. Interesting, I've never heard of Princess House but will now be watching the thrift stores and yard sales.

    DB McNicol, author
    A to Z Microfiction: Parachute

    ReplyDelete
  6. I never bought any Princess House - I don't remember ever going to any parties. I do, however, have very similar dessert plates that I inherited from my grandmother.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do! Although I'm always worried that someone will drop them.

      Delete
  7. I never heard of princess house either. I thought you were going to talk about a dollhouse.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love those crystal pieces, but never heard about Princess House either ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Now who said A-Z wasn't educational? LOL

      Delete
  9. I knew about these sales parties but had never heard about Princess House.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe PH wasn't available in your part of the world. ??

      Delete
  10. I have several pieces of PH crystal and even more of vintage inherited crystal. I would like to sell all but have no way of finding out these vintage pieces and their prices. Can anyone be of help. No one to pass them down too, I'm in my 70's.

    ReplyDelete