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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-03-20, Page 46Don't be hasty *from page 9 a. set of fine crystal in addition to your ordinary glassware. Crystal dif- fers from. glass because -of the substantial amount of lead mixed with the , anicasand, lime and other materials used in glass making. As for the amount of crystal needed, you shoulegart out by get- ..tt"ng a minimum basic place setting of a water goblet, wine glass and cha inpagae-sherbet glass. Try to get at least • six of each. if this is not possible at. first, you - might go with a dozen all purpose glasses such as champagne flutes in- stead. They serve _everything -beautifully— from wine to desserts. —You'll find that crystal salad plates and bowls will come in handy and look great with any setting. The flatware you choose can be sterling, silver plate Or stainless steel. Sterling is the standard for nearly solid silver so sterling flatware must be 921,4 percent silver and 71/2 percent hardening alloy which is mostly • copper. Sterling comes in a polished eln1111111101101. mirror-like l'bight finish," or in a softer "Butler finish." If the piece is actual'ry iterling, theW,Ord it, stamped on theback )X bottom. Because it doesn't require polishing, stainless steel is con- sidered easier to care for than sterling silver. However, when stainless finally does stain (and it eventually does, despite the name), the stains are very difficult to remove. Stainless steel is a harder metal than sterling silver so it is less likely to bend out of shape. Unfor- tunately, as stainless steel gets older, it tends to show the wear over the years. As sterling ages c it - --develops eharacter-an4-a patina of small scratches that only adA to its warmth and appearance. Sterling never seems to wear out. A nice thing about sterling silver is the more you use it, the less you have to polish it. Sterling that is not used or polished regularly can develop unsightly pits. Some special precautions are gen-erally required to maintain sterling in good condition. Never let it soak over any length of time in water and dry completely after washing. If . sterling contains " residue from • eggs, vinegar, salt, fruit . ' or vegetables, rinse immediately as the acids andsulOhurin these foods can tarnish or discolor the sterling silver.. The price of 'sterling silver has soared in recent years so a typical 5 -piece place setting can cost, over $250 today; the price in 1970 was about 475 so its value is ever increasing. In com. 'parison, a 5 -piece place setting of stainless steel flatware costs roughly $30 in today's market. Although sterling silver is fairly expensive, it is both durable and beautiful. The new wife ---„can-use-and treasure-a:set for years then pass •it down to a bride of the next generation. Remember to give yourself plenty of time to look around when searehtng for your perfect tableware. The • chosen, dinnerware, crystal and flatware will spend many years in each other's company so consider all factors of quality, durability and beauty and you'll enjoy harmonious table set- tings for years to come. • Get toget e. With Blackstone Furniture to choose the right furniture for your home. Get it all together at Blackstone Furniture. Quality brand name furnishings for every room...plus accent pieces and lamps to add that finishing touch that's Ott tight for you. a price that fits your budget. CHAI1GEX VISA •t • 404 'L*15.4 Two sensible guidelines for young married to follow when they make their flrst furniture purchase come from an interior decorating consultant. Remember that furniture makers change their patterns about every two years, so don't make the mistake of thinking you'll be able to buy it piece by piece like you can your silver or china. Buy a whole bedroom suite and — if you choose a fashionable pale yellow or white colour finish as the one pictured here, remember that dark -colors such as this navy floral wallpaper and matching spread make the best backgrounds to show off these delicate new finishes. A-di-alibi:it our- •,- layaway plan. • i..44iSi.<4 T� BLACKSTONE F RNITURE Located On West Street Just Off The Square 9 - Kroenier • • Kaufman • Troister • Vilas Braemore • Sklirs- • Simmons • Sealy