How wonderful that you got that china and cabinet! I would use it too - DH and I do not have heirs either, but we have his grandmother’s 45 piece vintage china and my grandmother’s cut glass pieces and since our stuff is an eclectic mix anyway, we do not necessarily care if the pieces all match or not. I use vintage kitchen utensils and mixing bowls too. I can’t see just breaking them out for special occasions or guests - since we don’t get very many guests anyway. I use them whenever I cook a nice meal and we have plenty of time to “dine” and not just ”eat”. Seems the meal tastes so much better when the table is set and we are not in a hurry like we are during the work week. I have a vintage oak china cabinet that my Mom kept her doll collection in - it now holds all of our precious things - collectibles, antiques, and our wedding things. Ours has the plate grooves in the rear of the shelves, but I have antique 78 records upright in those. The china is in my kitchen cabinets - go figure!!! One of these days I will have to put the china in the china cabinet like it was intended! Enjoy those memories and post pics of your dolls and china - I would like to see them!