Etceteras: mikasa cera-stone dishes

Have you ever gone shopping and left without buying the item you wanted? And then the non-purchase haunts you and you begin to obsess about the item?

That happened to me the other day. I was in a thrift store and saw these dishes. There were 6 cups, 5 saucers (one with a chip) and 2 bowls.

I only wanted the cups and asked the thrift store lady how much they were.

Here’s the conversation:

Me: How much are these cups?

Mean Thrift Store Lady: It’s a set.

Me: But there are 6 cups and only 5 saucers and one has a chip.

Mean Thrift Store Lady: No, it’s a set, see…(as she places one of the bowls on the saucer).

Me: But there are only two bowls. How much for just the cups.

Mean Thrift Store Lady: $2.00.

Me: $2.00 for the whole set?

Mean Thrift Store Lady: No, $2.00 per item.

Me: $26.00? No thank you.

When I got home I started researching the brand – Mikasa Cera-Stone. The above photo has some of the great patterns from the Cera-Stone era (60’s and 70’s). I also found some information on Diary of a Dishie.
Here's what they said:

Cerastone is vintage Mikasa. Many of these patterns have a decidedly retro look of the 1970s, especially those with pattern numbers in the 3000 series. Cerastone is similar to English ironstone we’re familiar with. The weight and feel of the dishes falls somewhere between porcelain and stoneware on the ceramics spectrum. 

The pattern I wanted was Mateo 3119. I had to have them. I obsessed for 2 days and went back to the store. The bowls were gone but I asked a different lady how much the cups were and she said I could have the cups and saucers for $8.00.

Sold!

Since I only have 5 saucers and one has a chip, I tried out my new fabulous cups on different saucers. I like it on this plain white saucer – it shows off the pattern on the cup more.

Here it is on a blue saucer. It doesn’t really work with the gold trim but I like the color combination. I guess I’ll be on the hunt for 6 pool-blue saucers.

In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy my new cups and the satisfaction of getting them at the good price.

{If anyone knows anything about this particular patten, please let me know}

Thank you for visiting.

Carolyn