How were these plates displayed originally?

Eighteenth-century households typically arranged these earthenware plates and chargers on wooden plate racks mounted to walls or integrated into dresser furniture. This kept fragile ceramics visible while protecting them from everyday wear. Today, collectors continue to use antique oak or pine racks or wall-mounting wire hangers to exhibit these colourful chargers in living spaces.

What is the difference between a plate and a charger?

Chargers are significantly larger than standard dining plates, usually measuring twelve inches or more in diameter. Their substantial size made them ideal centrepieces for visual display on dresser shelves. Standard plates were produced in smaller formats for occasional service or grouped display alongside the larger chargers.

How do I identify polychrome decoration?

Polychrome pieces incorporate several different coloured pigments, such as reds, yellows, and greens, alongside or instead of traditional blue and white cobalt. Artisans painted these mineral colours directly onto the unfired tin glaze. This multi-coloured technique allows collectors to date certain plates to specific mid-eighteenth-century workshops, including production centres like Lambeth.

Are these plates suitable for daily use?

Tin-glazed earthenware is relatively soft and prone to chipping, and historic glazes can be sensitive to moisture and modern detergents. These pieces are meant for visual appreciation and careful display rather than active dining. Proper care involves keeping them secure in plate racks or hanging them safely away from high-traffic household areas.

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An English delft display plate brings eighteenth-century tin-glazed earthenware and hand-painted blue and white or polychrome decoration directly onto the wall or dresser.