What to Do When Your China Pattern is Discontinued
Though your china was built to last for a long time, its pattern won’t be around forever. Companies often discontinue or retire all but the most popular patterns in their catalog. If you just purchased a new set of china, this may not mean much to you now. Ten years down the line, though, when you’ve broken a few pieces that need replacing, or you finally decide to order that matching serving bowl, you could be in for a shock. Once patterns have been retired, you can no longer order new pieces in that collection. That means your best hope will be to purchase used china or find the pattern through a company specializing in china replacements.
If pieces from your pattern go on clearance, like this Mediterra Menorca cup from Lenox, it's a sign that the pattern may soon be discontinued.
First and foremost, you’ll need to determine whether or not your china pattern has been discontinued. If you have Lenox china, you’re in luck; they have a search function on their website that will tell you whether a pattern is still active or has been retired. All you have to do is enter the pattern name into the pattern status entry field, click search, and follow the results. If your pattern is still in the clear, consider yourself very lucky! You probably won’t have any problems replacing broken or missing pieces. If your pattern has remained active but is getting older, you may want to order a spare place setting or two right now. Consider it insurance against accidental breaks at a later date when your pattern actually has been retired.
Lenox's Country Romance pattern has been retired, but you can still find individual pieces on websites like Amazon.
What if your pattern has been discontinued, though? Don’t start worrying just yet. You’ll find helpful links on the pattern status page of the Lenox website. Select the Replacement Options link by the name of your discontinued pattern. It will either link you directly to a listing for your exact pattern on a reseller or replacement specialist’s site, or it will link you to some great places to begin your search. Lenox recommends Replacements, Ltd., Set Your Table, and Dinnerware Matchers as good resources for retired pattern replacement pieces. You can also try Amazon or eBay, and you may even have some luck using an online search engine like Google or Bing to hunt down other sellers. If all else fails, get ready to head out into the world and start combing the stores. Flea markets, antique stores, and even garage sales are all good options. When possible, call ahead and inquire as to whether or not they have anything in your pattern on hand.
It may take some time and effort, but you still have a good chance of finding the piece you’re looking for, even if your pattern has been retired. Some patience and perseverance will go a long way toward making your hunt a successful one. Though it may feel discouraging at times, just remember how rewarding it will be when you finally locate the piece of Lenox china you’ve been searching for. Besides, it will make a pretty good story when you pass these dishes down to someone new someday. Everyone will enjoy the epic tale that was your quest for that perfect piece of discontinued china.