The rich colors of Fiestaware . . . the translucent beauty of Waterford crystal . . . nothing adds personality to a celebration like the right tableware. 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.

Illustrated with more than 200 photographs of enticing glass and ceramic objects, this luxurious volume-which accompanies an exhibit organized by the Dallas Museum of Art-is the first to take a comprehensive look at the modern tableware used in American homes, treating its cultural and business history as well as its design. From table settings for turn-of-the-century ladies' luncheons to trendy accessories for suburban barbecues in the post-World War II years to the tinfoil trays invented for TV dinners, this fascinating book has it all. 250 illustrations, 200 in full color