How were cabinet plates used?

Cabinet plates were manufactured primarily for display in drawing rooms rather than for serving food. They allowed households to exhibit fine porcelain painting and armorial designs. Owners typically placed them on specialised stands or hung them on walls to showcase the artistry of makers like Copeland or Meissen.

How do I identify a vitrine?

A vitrine is a glazed display cabinet designed specifically to exhibit porcelain collections and decorative objects. 19th-century examples often feature kingwood, serpentine fronts, and ormolu mounts. These cabinets protect delicate figures and plates while providing glass panels for all-round viewing.

What subjects appear on figures?

Porcelain figures commonly depict putti, allegorical characters, pastoral figures, and children in garden settings. Makers like Volkstedt and Meissen specialised in these modelled groups. Many incorporate intricate details such as applied lace, delicate floral garlands, and hand-painted facial expressions.