How do I hang a porcelain plate on the wall?

Displaying antique plates securely requires using coated spring-loaded hangers that grip the rim without scratching the glaze or putting undue stress on the ceramic body. Alternatively, specialised flat-backed wall mounts designed for cabinet plates offer a secure hold. Ensure the wall fixing is anchored firmly into plaster or studwork, particularly for heavier ironstone chargers or bone china cabinet plates. Position the plates away from direct sunlight and heat sources to protect delicate enamel colours and gilding.

How do I tell eighteenth-century Worcester from later copies?

Eighteenth-century Worcester porcelain, particularly from the Dr Wall period, is distinguished by soft-paste bodies showing characteristic potting flaws, translucent greenish or warm tones under transmitted light, and underglaze blue crescent or square marks. Later nineteenth-century and modern reproductions often feature harder, whiter bone china bodies and printed factory ciphers rather than hand-painted workmen's marks.

What is the difference between a cabinet plate and a dinner plate?

Cabinet plates were created specifically for display in glass-fronted furniture or on walls rather than for everyday dining. They frequently feature elaborate hand-painted scenes, extensive gilding, and moulded borders that would prove impractical for food service. Dinner plates, while still decorative, were built to withstand regular use at the table, utilising sturdier bodies like ironstone or heavier bone china.