Decorative Plates|Collector’s Plates

There are many types of collectors in the world.  People who collect decorative plates and other collector plates are a very diverse group.  Some people enjoy collecting plates just for their beauty.  They can be used in so many different ways to decorate around the home. Decorative plate hangers or plate racks allow people to mount and display their plates almost anywhere in their home that their imagination inspires them to decorate.

Others see the plates as a way to show off the work of a favorite artist.  Thomas Kinkaid plates and Norman Rockwell plates are great examples of this.  I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy the unmistakable look of a Norman Rockwell painting.  Plates like these are great because they not only capture special slice of life moments, but they also represent a piece of innocent Americana that seems to slip farther away every time you listen to a news report.

People also specialize by collecting plates that memorialize some "favorite" from their life.  Elvis Presley, Wizard of Oz, Disney, Gone With the Wind and even Star Trek are examples of these.  Collectible plates like these used to be offered on television quite often when I was growing up.  The pitches for the plates still ring in my ears telling of a "limited number of special edition plates signed and numbered by the artist".

Depending on the type of decorative or collector plate you may have chosen to collect (or are choosing, if you are just starting out), the values may or may not have actually increased.  There are quite a few collectible plates out there that have appreciated in value as time has passed.  Of course, not every plate is going to become a sought after item, but every plate can have great value to the person who owns it.

Norman Rockwell Plate

Some people of course, have a more calculating approach to collecting plates.  They see each decorative plate as an investment that they or their heirs will be able to sell off at some point for a profit.  These people may pick and choose among makers or topics with no real interest in the plates themselves beyond future value.  There is certainly nothing wrong with doing that, but they have a decidedly different approach than a person who collects just "favorites".

Some of the more popular plates prized by collectors include Pfaltgraff, Wedgewood, Noritake, and of course Bradford Exchange.  Each type of plate has its own special characteristics that inspire people to collect and cherish them whether for beauty's sake or as an investment.

Because of the nature of collecting limited production items. there is now a huge market for people buying and selling both individual replacement plates and entire sets of collector's plates.  The Bradford Exchange did an amazing job at bringing plates to the public.  Today, eBay offers so much variety in the way of collectible plates that looking at a price guide, while still useful, can be somewhat of a moot point.  If you have watched auctions for collectible plates on eBay at all, you have no doubt noticed that the same plate that goes for several hundred dollars one week, can often slip through the cracks and end up selling for a fraction of that amount during a different week when no one seems to be in the market for it.  This can be a great thing for people looking to build a collection or to replace a broken favorite, but it does pose a bit of a challenge to those who are looking to sell off collections or replacements.  Because of eBay's effect on the collectibles market, sellers may want to consider using a reserve price when listing on eBay.  That will prevent the loss of a valuable plate for a price you can't live with comfortably.

I once had a conversation with an acquaintance who couldn't seem to grasp my interest in decorative plates. He wondered why someone would want to own a bunch of hand painted ceramic plates that no one would ever even eat off of. I started to explain my interest to him, but finally just let the course of the conversation go in a different direction. Collecting plates is not the most popular hobby in the world, but there certainly are many people who enjoy it.

I suppose you either appreciate collecting and displaying decorative plates, or you don't. I think one of the things I like most about this type of collecting is that the plates make wonderful display pieces that easily work right into a home's decor. When I was younger, I collected coins for a while. I found it interesting, but I never got to really show of my collection. With decorative plates, they can always be on display if you wish. They look good displayed in a favorite china cabinet, or they can easily be mounted and used as wall decor. When I decorate walls with plates, I leave my options open. I try to mount them so that they can easily be moved about or transferred out for other favorite plates when the spirit moves me or when I want to go with something seasonal. That is another great thing about building a collection of decorative plates...you are never lacking for decorating ideas or new things to try. You can hang decorative plates almost anywhere in your house as long as the themes match.

My family certainly is happy that I collect plates. It makes shopping for gifts for me a snap. Every holiday at least one person will go the route of buying me a new decorative plate or even entire decorative plate sets (eBay is good for this). I've also managed to accumulate two wonderful decorative platters that were both purchased and given to me as gifts on the same Thanksgiving. They are much larger than most of the decorative dishes I own, but I love displaying them as the holidays approach as they just happen to look stunning with some antique decorative plates that I picked up years ago at a garage sale in my neighborhood (another great place to find good deals).

Collectors of plates are a truly mixed lot of individuals.  Some people have built up amazingly huge collections of plates worth thousands of dollars, while some may have only a few decorative plates that were left to them by their Grandmother.  Whatever the case may be, enjoy your plates and be proud of your collection.  They are a great way to show off a little bit of your personality while beautifying your home.