How do I wash old plates?

Wash them by hand in warm soapy water. Modern dishwashers run too hot and use aggressive detergents that strip away overglaze enamels. Use a soft cloth rather than abrasive pads. If the piece has existing crazing, avoid soaking it for long periods to stop water seeping into the clay body.

I inherited a large dinner service from my grandmother recently but some of the dinner plates have brown stains under the glaze, can this be cleaned?

Those brown marks are usually organic matter trapped under the surface. This happens when the glaze crazes and allows liquids to penetrate the porous clay body beneath. You cannot wash these out with normal soap. Some restorers use a prolonged soaking process in a weak hydrogen peroxide solution to draw the staining out safely.

Can I serve hot food on this?

Most antique dining wares handle warm food without issue. They were designed for daily meals. Sudden temperature shocks are the main risk. Avoid moving a cold plate straight into a hot oven.

When I hold my teacups up to the window they look quite thin and let the light through, does that mean they are made from something specific?

That translucency points to a porcelain body rather than standard earthenware. When held to a light source, true hard-paste or bone china allows shadows to pass through the vessel walls. Potteries achieved this by firing specific mixtures of clay at very high temperatures. It creates a vitrified body that is strong enough to be potted thinly.

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Antique China

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Antique china covers a broad range of fired clay vessels finished with a glazed surface, historically produced to serve food and display wealth on dining tables.