How do I identify the family on a coat of arms plate?

Heraldic bearings use specific tinctures, charges and divisions to denote particular families. Matching the blazon to armorial dictionaries reveals the original owner. Many pieces also include a family motto or crest that aids genealogical research.

Are these plates meant for daily dining?

Most surviving armorial pieces served display functions or belonged to important service sets rather than everyday use. Their delicate enamel or historic metal surfaces mean modern owners typically exhibit them on walls or cabinets.

How can I tell Chinese export porcelain from European ceramics?

Chinese export porcelain from the eighteenth century often exhibits specific paste characteristics and distinct famille rose enamel palettes. European factories like Coalport, Minton and Worcester developed different paste bodies and glazing techniques during the nineteenth century.

What is Old Sheffield plate?

Old Sheffield plate is an early form of plating created by thermally fusing silver and copper together before rolling them into sheets. Items made this way sometimes show thin lines of copper where the underlying metal peeks through edges over time.