Antique Plates

Whether you have only one piece or a full set of antique plates, you can display these antiques in a china cabinet or a curio cabinet. The plates are valuable because of their age, but they could also be valuable because of the type of material from which they are made, such as in the case of vintage china, the rarity of the plate and its condition. To be considered antique, plates should be at least 50 years old.

Many people throw out one plate if that is all they have of the set not realizing the value and importance of the object. When you are an antique hunter, this is why you often see single plates at auctions and sales. Having one plate can lead to the start of collecting antique plates of various designs. Then you can display them in a hutch or hang them on the wall of a kitchen, which looks really great if you have a country theme.

Old patterns that are no longer available can also make the plates antique. You can use them as serving platters or dessert dishes to the delight of your guests. Whether you use them as dishes or display them they will become conversation pieces. When you have antique plates and dishes you do have to take care when washing them. These dishes cannot be places in the dishwasher, but have to be washed by hand.

Estate sales and flea markets are one of the best places to buy antique plates at very low prices. Some antique stores also sell these objects, but they are more expensive at these locations because the shopkeepers know their true value.

Antique fashion plates from the late 18th and early 19th century are considered to be collectibles today. These plates were painted by hand and used to show the current fashions of the day and were most often found in fashion magazines. Through these collectibles you can actually have a history of fashion displayed in the antique plates on your wall or in a cabinet.