From table settings for ‘dainty’ ladies’ luncheons early in the century, to trendy accessories for suburban barbeques in the post-World War II years, to the tinfoil trays invented for TV dinners ... The rich colors of Frederick Rhead’s Fiesta or the translucent beauty of Waterford crystal, Russel Wright’s American Modern or Haviland’s White House service of 1879-- the right tableware adds personality to a celebration. But beyond their appeal to all who want to entertain in style, and their value as collectibles, china and glass wares mirror the profound cultural and economic shifts in 20th-century America and provide a unique vantage point from which to view our society (from presenter Charles Venable’s book, China and Glass in America 1880-1980).