How do I hang a heavy charger?

Large chargers require specialised wall brackets with spring-loaded brass clips that distribute weight evenly around the rim. Avoid wire hangers that press tightly against historic tin glaze. Ensure the mounting hook fixes securely into wall masonry or wooden studs rather than plaster alone. Check the fit periodically to keep the earthenware stable.

Were these dishes used for dining?

Many smaller plates saw service at the dining table for sweetmeats or everyday meals during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Over time, surface wear accumulated from cutlery usage. Larger chargers served primarily as decorative table centerpieces or wall display items in prosperous homes. Their tin-glazed surfaces remained vulnerable to sharp scraping from metal utensils.

Why do some pieces show pinkish clay?

The exposed earthenware body underneath the tin glaze often appears buff, pink, or reddish depending on local clay sources. English and Dutch potteries used different regional soils for their base pastes. Chips or footrim wear frequently reveal this underlying ceramic body beneath the white tin glaze. This reveals the raw material used before the final glazing process.