How do I display antique blue plates safely?

Heavy chargers and cabinet plates require secure wall brackets or sturdy plate stands with protective lips. Avoid hanging pieces by wire attachments fixed directly to old glazes. Keep ceramics away from direct sunlight and areas prone to sudden temperature shifts. Dust them gently with a dry, soft cloth without using commercial cleaning liquids.

How do I distinguish 18th-century delft from later copies?

Eighteenth-century delftware typically displays a slightly softer, porous earthenware body beneath a tin-glaze that shows minor fritting along the rim. The blue pigment often sinks slightly into the glaze during firing. Later reproductions generally feature heavier, denser ceramic bodies and lack the characteristic surface undulations found on genuine period pieces.

What does Japanese imari mean on a British plate?

Japanese imari refers to export porcelain decorated in blue, iron red and gold, originally shipped from the port of Imari. British factories subsequently adopted and adapted these vibrant palettes on their own porcelain and earthenware bodies. These hybrid pieces combine traditional Japanese motifs with European shapes, reflecting the immense popularity of Eastern aesthetics in the 18th and 19th centuries.