I am definitely not the right person to ask if paring down your possessions is the goal. I have many crystal bowls, none of which I use on a regular basis. But back to your question: Do you know what brand they are? Are they marked on the bottom? I’d like to see closeups of them without anything in them. As for finding uses for them:

• floral arrangements
• fill with ornaments at Christmastime
• fill with candy ALL the time 😬
• lemons/limes
• soaps and other toiletries—even disposable (or not) guest towels—always look better in a pretty container
• cranberry sauce in a crystal bowl looks so pretty on a holiday table...
• as do floating candles
• line with a pretty tea towel or napkin and it’s a perfect bread or muffin basket

If you must keep one, keep the one on the left.

Left, for sure!

I use similar bowls for salad. Why hide them away?

Keep both. They are not tschotkes, they are useful and pretty. Lars had a great idea to use them for salads.

I think if you are asking us to give you a reason to keep them, you are still considering whether you want to do so. You could give them a pardon for now, perhaps, and revisit your feelings in a year or so.

I think the one on the right is more elegant, it has a bit more of a typical crystal look.

I like the one on the left. If you have the chance to get rid of stuff, do it. Both need to go.

If you really dislike them, give them away. They are useful and some people would enjoy having them.

I use mine when I want people to see what is in them. Most years I attend several potlucks where I use them. While I have several bowls of various kinds I find that glass ones display the food better than the food clashing with some of the colors.

Have a bowl I put my keys in when I come in the house. Always know where keys are.

If you don't use them, toss them. It absolutely does not matter whether other people use such bowls or not.

I can't find the recent post by a gardenwebber where she used the bowls as planters for succulent gardens. She put them in her kitchen window. It was a clever idea and looked great.

Ice cream.

The people who gave you them as wedding gifts long ago have probably forgotten about them and you needn't worry about hurting their feelings.

While I think bpath’s idea is better, I usually keep apples or clementines in one crystal bowl and candy in a smaller one. Fruit salad is always pretty in crystal too. I like the one on the left and it’s a handy size.

Nothing sentimental about them being wedding presents? I love the left one.

I'm with Elmer. The one on the right is elegant looking. I use mine to keep apples in on my kitchen counter.

I have three and I use them for holidays.

If you have not used them for years, then I would give them away.

If I remember who gives me something I keep it. If I don't remember and don't need/want it, I get rid of it.

If lead crystal you may want to think twice before using for salad with any sort of acidic/vinegar dressing to avoid leaching lead.

I would keep them both personally.

Keep both if you find uses for them after reading the suggestions above. I’ve got a handful of crystal bowls (and vases). Put some frogs in there I can make flower arrangements. Put battery floating candles in them to set the mood for the evening. Fill them with pomegranates or oranges or grapes for still life effects. Or they just sit on display shelves in the cabinet casting rainbow when sunlight shines on them.

Lead crystal is illegal in the USA, and so if they have lead, they must be imported, usually from Europe. If they are domestic, they will not have lead in them.

@Lars, leaded glasses were on a friends wedding registry at Nordstrom in Chicago.

What Lars said....salad and fruit salad. I have several. I haven't used them in awhile, but I still have them. As my mother used to say, "they aren't eating anything".... as in, it's not like you have to feed them.

I hope you didn't get horse making that last statement, marilyn.

o j

Fruit salads/shrimp salad/hold crackers/snacks..I use mine all the time. They get much more use than the serving bowls that match my china. I have a legged one I have used as an "Easter basket"/center piece...

Send that ugly one on the left to me & keep or donate the elegant one on the right. :-)

Re leaded crystal...long story short...I used a glass bowl in the microwave...no idea it was leaded...destroyed the microwave...fortunately it didn't start a fire.

My preference would be for the one on the right as the shape is more graceful, but if you have room for both then keep them, because, as my mother used to say, you just never know....

Elegant dog water bowl. My MIL used such a bowl for her dog.

If you don't want them don't toss perfectly good items. When weddings resume give them as an "heirloom" wedding present.

Fine suggestions above, but if they don't "give you joy", donate. Let a charity sell them to someone who will love them. Win, win, win.

Lars

"Lead crystal is illegal in the USA, "

You are joking here, right?

I like the one on the left best...but probably would keep them both. I'm always needing small decorative bowls....think...Taco bar or salad bar. ☺

I am not an expert on crystal glass, but these do not look like lead crystal to me.

You could also use them as makeup, perfume bowls, or put a few hand lotions in a bowl next to a sink. How many sinks do you have, you might need to buy more crystal bowls. :-)

I think the one on the left is really pretty. I keep fruit in a glass crystal bowl in the summertime

I came by several crystal bowls, goblets and vases. Old family stuff that’s forgotten in our attic.

For what reason was lead used in crystal?

Is there an easy way to tell if crystal is leaded? Is most older crystal leaded?

How long can one leave red wine in a leaded crystal decanter or glass?

I doubt any family members will want it, but maybe the now six year olds later?

GW, ebay, CL or Etsy?

Lead is what makes it CRYSTAL as opposed to just glass.

@arcy, other minerals can be used to produce lead free crystal, which is apparently better for engraving. Clinking glasses when toasting sounds nicer with crystal.🥂🥂🥂

I can't tell the *size* of these dishes. Are they cut glass or crystal, or are they pressed glass? Crystal has a sharp 'ring' to it when struck; glass doesn't.

DH and I stopped using an inherited crystal decanter for everyday due to the lead content.

By all means, if you do not use them and don't want to use them, let them go!

Dont waste your thoughts trying to find some solution to a problem that you dont' have. What you dont have is a need for the bowls, so why invent a need just to use the bowls?

Let them go!

Many of our homes are full of this kind of stuff and much of it just gets stored away and never used.

It is all just stuff, nothing more. The only value that it has is what you attach to it. You might be surprised to find that they even have very little or no value were you to try to sell them. You might find someone to give you something for them, but not without a stroke of luck or a lot of effort.

Let them go, both of them.

I like them both. I vote for salad and candy. I have a crystal bowl filled with candy. Old fashioned? Sure But I like it.

Thanks for the info arcy and mdln.

Posted here yesterday but it’s not showing up; trying again.

Thank you for the ideas and comments. I’m going to hold onto them for the moment, at least till the dining room is put back together.

When I had some I used them often to display fruit and vegetables. Mine all went with Harvey and I have not found any good replacements. Personally I would keep them since they don't take up too much room.

"Convince me to keep at least one?"

I thought this thread would be about several kittens (or cats) showing up on one's doorstep. : )

Anyway, I'd pick the bowl on the left if I had to pick only one. But there are so many uses for crystal bowls, from holding food stuffs to using as flower containers or even office supplies, I would likely keep both.

I know that you've decided to keep them, but I have to wonder ... if you have to be convinced to keep them, why would you keep them?

I think many people have the desire to organize and declutter. Some things are easy to get rid of, some are more difficult and it may not be time to give them away. I don't know if this has happened to anyone else but there have been a few items I have gotten rid of where I later regretted doing so. On the whole, I am happy with much less clutter though.