How do you display large platters?

Plate hangers work for medium sizes, provided the wire springs grip firmly without biting into the glaze. Always use plastic tubing over the wire hooks to protect the edges from chipping. For massive turkey platters, standard wire hangers fail. Stand them upright on a robust shelf behind a wooden gallery rail. You can also use deep custom-made wooden display brackets fixed directly to wall studs.

I inherited a huge heavy meat dish that has deep blue patterns but there is a strange star-shaped crack on the back, does this matter?

A star crack indicates an impact blow to the reverse. These tight radiating lines usually remain stable if the piece stays out of the dishwasher and avoids sudden temperature shifts. You can still use it for dry serving. Wet or greasy foods might seep into the porous clay body through the damaged glaze and cause dark stains over time. Most dealers accept minor star cracks on the back of early transfer-printed wares. It rarely affects the display value if the front pattern remains intact.

Can I serve food on them?

You certainly can use them for dining. Put down a linen napkin first if you want to protect the central well from modern serrated carving knives. Avoid ovens and microwaves. Old ceramics lack the thermal shock resistance of modern cookware, and sudden heat will crack a thick ironstone base.

Why do some of the really big silver dishes seem to have a different family crest engraved over an area that looks slightly thinner or wavy?

Silver was a liquid asset and families often sold their dining silver when times got hard. The next owner would have their silversmith rub out the original coat of arms. Erasing an engraving meant scraping away the silver until the surface was smooth again. The silversmith would then polish it up and engrave the new crest in the same spot, leaving a slight depression in the metal.

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Antique Platters

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Large, flat vessels designed to carry roasted meats and elaborate dishes from the kitchen to the dining table. They range from simple pewter slabs used in taverns to decorated porcelain ovals meant for grand country houses.