How do I hang a heavy charger safely?

Heavy porcelain chargers require a robust, properly sized spring hanger that distributes weight evenly across the rim. Ensure the wall fixing is secured into a stud or uses a rated plaster anchor. Avoid wire attachments glued to the base, as old ceramic surfaces can fail under sustained tension. Check the grip of the hardware periodically to maintain secure wall display.

Are these dishes food safe?

Antique Japanese ceramic dishes, particularly nineteenth-century Imari and Satsuma wares, feature overglaze enamels containing lead and other metallic compounds. These surfaces are designed for visual display rather than culinary use. Acidic foods can leach surface toxins from older enamels and damage the delicate gold leaf work. Use these pieces exclusively for dry presentation or decorative placement.

How do I tell Edo period from Meiji period pieces?

Edo period chargers often exhibit heavier bodies, slightly uneven glaze pooling, and looser, more spontaneous cobalt brushwork. The blue pigment tends to show deep variations in tone. Meiji period production benefited from industrial standardisation, resulting in crisper outlines, denser symmetrical borders, and more lavish application of gold gilt. Markings on the reverse also become more prevalent in the later nineteenth century.