How were these platters used?

These platters served food at formal dining tables during the Georgian period, holding roasted meats, vegetables, and sweet courses. Large chargers were also displayed on sideboards or plate stands to demonstrate household wealth. Over time, many of these decorative dishes transitioned from dining rooms to display cabinets, preserved for their hand-painted floral and landscape designs.

What is Chinese Imari?

Chinese Imari is export porcelain manufactured in China during the eighteenth century that imitates the distinctive Japanese Imari colour palette. It combines underglaze cobalt blue with iron red and gold leaf highlights over the glaze. These striking colour combinations made the plates popular for mixed display schemes in European homes.

How do I care for antique porcelain platters?

Antique porcelain platters require gentle hand washing in lukewarm water with mild soap when cleaning is necessary. Dishwashers and harsh abrasives will damage the eighteenth-century glazes and fragile enamel or gold leaf decoration. Display these pieces securely on padded plate stands or flat surfaces away from direct sunlight to preserve their hand-painted colours.