Well packed! Nothing cracked and no flaws. This is our second set, so we have settings for 8. This set (for 4) is $120 through Macy's, so a real bargain! Wish the soup bowls were a little larger in size, as we are avid soup makers. However, that is really the only thing I can think of changing. Highly recommend!

These dishes are probably some of the best value for casual dining. Stylistically, they sit very comfortably between bland monochromatic and flamboyant multi-color. The description says that the pattern is Italian. I don't know enough about Italian design to verify that, but the pattern seems more Indian or Latino, which should broaden their appeal across multiple cultures. The solid color, matte black interior/underside, and glossy finish help give these just the right amount of sophistication without being stuffy.

The only downside is the thickness, or lack there of. Other stoneware I've had was much thicker and solid. Maybe the thinness is to make them more "fancy". Regardless, as other reviews have mentioned, these should not be banged about.

Enjoy these as a great way to make your everyday meals a little nicer. Just be careful with them.

Love these. Color is wonderful. Textured design is great. Offset with black. Awesome dinnerware.

I love these dishes! The scroll embossing on the plates adds a touch of elegance and color variation that is very appealing. I have had my set of 12 place settings for a number of months now, and bought this last set of four to have on hand for replacements. They are ceramic, but not stoneware, so they do chip and break if roughly handled or banged against a hard surface. I would not say this happens easily, but I would not let young children bang them about either. So far, I have chipped the edge of a bowl by bumping a pot against it (a tiny chip that is barely noticeable, so I did not toss it), and my cat broke a plate by pushing it off the counter (major eye roll). No biggie. The other thing I love about these plates is that they match so many other dishes. Although the cups are large enough for a big (close to 16 oz) cup of coffee, I wanted slightly larger ones for my chai teas with milk, so I bought some beautiful mugs with blue birds and flowers on them and they are lovely with this set. I also purchased a set of hand-painted Italian platters and bowls as serving pieces to go with this set. They look great together. The variation in the blue glaze on these dishes makes these plates easy to match with other dishes.

Colors are exactly what I was looking for. Nice design and pattern on dishes. Bowlscare a great size fir soup or cereal.