FROM THE MAILBAG

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 345, 1 February 1946, Page 22

FROM THE MAILBAG

Do Stored China and Crystal Crack?

Dear Aunt Daisy, No. 1. I may be able to help your Timaru listener about her china. She is correct about the china cracking, but not the crystal. Crystal should be washed in warm soapy water, not hot, and storing will not affect it. New china should be put in a pan of cold water, brought slowly to the boil, and kept boiling about 10 minutes. If more than one piece is done at a time, wrap each piece in. old linen-a duster or something-so that they don’t bump each other when boiling. Leave in the water until cold. The same treatment should be given to china which,has been stored. I’m sorry I can’t give the reason, but it does toughen the china, which must be completely covered by the water, of course. I hope this is of help and interest to you.-Raumati. No. 2. Yes, Aunt Daisy, they do crack when not in use, apparently of their own volition. Especially deep, bowlshaped dishes and glass articles. There seems to be an internal tension in them. In crockery shops, at times, everything bowl-shaped is found to have tiny fractures starting to form. True, our greatgrandmothers brought out their china and glass (I have a cup and saucer of the early 1830’s which has been bymped around, and even used for jellies and (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) jams when jars ran short-not a crack in them). But they were made in the days of. craftsmen. Modern things are made to sell, break, and buy new ones! You know, too, of the vases and other things, 3,300 years old. Other times, other manners!-One of the Third Generation N. Zedders,