What is an armorial plate?

An armorial plate is a ceramic dish painted with a specific family coat of arms, crest, or motto. They were commissioned by prominent households for formal dining services or display. These pieces function as historical records of lineage, often matching the specific service ordered by nobility or landed gentry during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

In period households, armorial services formed part of grand dining displays used to signal status and wealth to guests. Dessert plates and soup plates appeared during formal courses. Over time, many surviving pieces transitioned into cabinet plates, displayed on walls or within furniture to preserve the delicate enamel and gilding from wear.

How do I identify the family?

Identification relies on researching the specific heraldic charges, such as animals, symbols, and mottoes painted on the surface. Reference books on British and European heraldry connect these crests to historical families. Some pieces include specific text or names within the design, linking the porcelain directly to a known historical figure or commission.

Are Chinese export armorials different?

Chinese export armorial porcelain was ordered by European trading companies and shipped from China during the eighteenth century. European families sent drawings of their coats of arms to be painted by Chinese artisans onto porcelain bodies. These pieces typically feature distinct Qianlong period forms and characteristic famille rose enamel palettes, differing from domestic English factory production.