Decorative Collector Plates » Decorative Plates|Collector’s Plates Blog

How to Paint Ceramic Plates

Fekim — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:15:40 +0000

Continuing with my posts about how to make your own decorative plates, I found this nifty video about how to paint ceramic dinner plates.

I originally just thought it would be fun to do a little research into the actual making of plates, but now I'm actually getting excited about giving some of these methods a shot on my own. This one is nice because the cost is relatively low to get started.

Of course I've still got my own collection of "known" plates that I'll keep building, but taking on the project of making your own dinner plates or plates just for displaying, gives a whole new dimension to this fun hobby.

In case you have a hard time keeping up, this video suggests the following materials:

Marabu Ceramica paint
Paint brush
Jar of water
A soft pencil
Masking tape
Marabu Porcelain Painter pen
Scissors
Scrap paper
Tracing paper
Your pattern of choice
The plate you will decorate

How to Make Decorative Plates

Fekim — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:28:01 +0000

Most people just collect plates that they like. Some very creative and talented people however, take things one step further and actually create their own decorative plates. This might not be something that every person is interested in doing, but I wanted to make this site as interesting as possible, and the video below is very well done. Show below is one way to go about creating beautiful custom made decorative plates suitable for display in your home.

This particular video is specifically describing the process of ink jet dye sublimation printing to ceramic and porcelain plates. If you are following along and thinking of tackling this project, pay careful attention to the supplies needed to do the job right. You do not want to get part way into the project only to find that you are missing something.

Some of the basics must have materials mentioned by host Scott Chandler include:
Heat resistant gloves
A quality circle cutter (check with scrapbook suppliers)
A large rubber mat to protect table tops during the cutting process.
Aluminum Plate Puck (to transfer heat into the plate)
Heat conductive rubber
Contact pyrometer with a wire probe
Pro Spray aerosol

This may be beyond the interest level of many collectors, but its a craft that looks like quite a bit of fun once you've purchased the more expensive necessary components. Imagine designing your own collectors plates to hang on your own walls or to give away to friends and family as gifts. What comes to mind for me is the possibility of putting family portraits on the plates or images of pets. Some creative and entrepreneurial soul might even start a small home business memorializing pets that have passed on.

Elvis Plates

Fekim — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:11:06 +0000

For a man who died back in the 1970s, Elvis Presley certainly does still command a lot of attention with collectors. When he was alive, he was known for his music. Now, that he has passed, there are collectibles of almost any genre imaginable, devoted to Elvis. Elvis Plates are one of the big ones. These images may actually show more than just decorative collector plates from time to time. I tried to narrow it down, but there is so much Elvis stuff, that sometimes the memorabilia leaks from one category into another depending on the titles and descriptions used.

A quick tour of eBay, shows that the collectibles category is simply awash in Elvis memorabilia. Every category from men's clothing to music to decorative collectibles, and many smaller categories in between, are filled with examples of Elvis Presley related merchandise. He was the king of rock, and now he may be the king of collectible entertainment memorabilia. It is amazing how popular he still is after all of these years with so many artists coming and going, Elvis continues to hold his own and even gets new fans every day as a younger generation comes to realize that he made some darn good music!

Elvis Presleys 68 Come Back Special Plate
US $.99

Collector Plate Elvis Jailhouse rock 1989
US $9.99

Collector Plate Elvis at the gates of Graceland 1988
US $9.99

Collector Plate Elvis Stage Door Autographs 1990
US $9.99

Collector Plate Elvis Elvis in Hollywood1990
US $9.99

Collector Plate Elvis A studio session1990
US $9.99

Elvis Presley collector's plates are one of the categories frequented by serious Elvis fans. Plate collectors can find an amazing array of Elvis images commemorated on decorative plates. Single plates or entire collections are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Larger lots of the plates that are sold together often do very well for sellers. I'm sure that the buyers are very happy as well with the opportunity to build up their collections so quickly at reasonable prices Every stage of Elvis's career can be found on these plates. If you are a serious Elvis Presley collector, or you enjoy collecting decorative plates and want to branch out a bit, you can't go wrong by checking out the Elvis Presley plates available on eBay. It does not matter whether you prefer the younger, edgier Elvis, or the more mature Presley known more for his Las Vegas days, you will have no problem at all finding something that you like on eBay.

I always enjoy looking at the live and completed Elvis Presley auction on eBay because it gives you a really good feel for what is out there and what kind of value it has. It is very difficult to find the older Elvis items that were produced years ago unless you are willing to check out eBay. The sheer number of auctions running at any one time can't be matched by most collectibles outlets in the retail world.

One very cool lot of Elvis Presley memorabilia that I came across recently included a blue Cadillac with Elvis sitting in the back seat playing a guitar that was actually a cookie jar. This came with a plate commemorating Heartbreak Hotel. It was one of the more expensive ending items at $134. For a collector though, it was a great find. The large number of bids on it was testament to that.

Larger collections, or lots, of Elvis plates almost always seem to do well if the sellers price them within reason. From what I've seen, most complete Elvis plate sets finish up at under one hundred dollars. Many sellers realize this and do price their auction items reasonably. People who don't learn quickly that they will not be getting any bids. In fact, while I tracked them recently, most collectible plate set featuring Elvis ended in the mid seventies or below. If you haven't priced collectibles lately, that is not too bad at all.

If you are a collector of Elvis plates, do yourself a favor and at least check out what is available on eBay before you drop much money on collectors plates anywhere else. The prices are hard to beat unless you get very lucky.

Norman Rockwell Plates

Fekim — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:21:59 +0000

Collecting Norman Rockwell Plates

Norman Rockwell plates are one of the most popular types of collectors plates available today for sale. There is something special about Rockwell's artistic style that transcends changing times and connects us all at a very human level. His amazing work was, of course, featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for a span of over forty years during the twentieth century. His early career also included time working with Boy's Life magazine as the art editor. Throughout his long and prolific career, Norman Rockwell produced art that was seen in a wide variety of publications. Norman Rockwell collectible plates are a popular way of celebrating his huge body of work.

Norman Rockwell plates are available in several different collections. If you choose to look for them online, you may want to get specific in your searches if you know exactly what you want. Looking for the title of a particular painting could be useful, but it might limit what shows up and not present you with collections that include the piece you are looking to add to your plate collection. Each one is a little slice of Americana that captures the sentiment and often, the news of the time. There are a number of collectors plates to choose from if you enjoy Rockwell's illustrations. eBay is one of the best places to find many of these collections available for sale. They definitely have one of the largest selections to choose from online.

Certified Norman Rockwell Bookkeeper Santa Plate 2001 Serial No 5878A
US $.01

IMM Norman Rockwell Collector Plate small
US $.01

Knowles Decorative Collectible Plates Norman Rockwell Mothers Day 1993
US $.99

Knowles Decorative Collectible Plates Norman Rockwell Grandmas Love
US $.99

Knowles Decorative Collectible Plates Norman Rockwell Christmas 1991
US $.99

The Hamilton Collection By Norman Rockwell The Wonders Of Radio
US $.99

One of the most famous Norman Rockwell paintings was is Boy with Baby Carriage. This was actually his first cover for the Saturday Evening Post. Over his forty seven years with the publication, Rockwell went on to produce 321 different covers. These, along with his many other paintings make up a collective work that has been captured in several different commemorative plate collections.

Although entire collections sell very well on eBay, there are also single plates available. These are sometimes replacement plates for broken pieces, but there are also single plates sold that are not a part of larger collections. Norman Rockwell commemorative Christmas plates have been selling well. A recently split collection from the early seventies sold for about $84 per plate. The prices of other individual Norman Rockwell plates and complete sets can vary quite a bit depending upon the maker, the number of pieces included in the plate set and the scarcity of the plates. If you are a collector of Rockwell's art, or if you know someone who is, a quick check of what is available for sale on eBay might be time well spent.

Rooster Plates

Fekim — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:12:13 +0000

Collectible Rooster Plates

Not everyone who collects decorative plates focuses just on one particular maker. Many plate collectors prefer to follow a central theme regardless of who the plate was made by. Roosters are one of the more popular themes for home decor and collectors plates.

Decorative rooster plates can certainly be purchased individually, but they are often sold in sets. Depending on the specifics of the lot or individual plate being offered, prices recently have been ranging from around twenty dollars to a top end of between two hundred to three hundred dollars.

WARREN KIMBLE WHILS BLACK ROOSTER COLLECTORS PLATE
US $.99

Early Bird Nikko Freezer to Oven Rooster Blue Yellow Plate About 10 Round
US $.99

Vintage Rooster pastel eggs Betson handpainted Floral Spring stand Salt Pepper
US $.99

Set of 2 Red Rooster Plates
US $1.00

Vintage White Rooster Salt Pepper Shakers Japan
US $1.94

Rooster 8 decorative porcelain plate with brass hanger American Atelier in box
US $1.99

During a recent check, a single 1953 De Grazia signed plate featuring a rooster sold as a buy it now item for $250. Within a week, a set of 5 eight inch Colonial Faience Rooster plates sold for the same price. That particular set of plates sold as an auction item, but only received a single bid. Most of the decorative rooster plates sold during the same two week period ended for less than half of that price.

Some of the recently popular auction items included a set of Metlox Poppytrail decorative rooster dinner plates. These featured a repeated image of a green rooster and received several bids. They topped out around $42. For just a wee bit less someone purchased a set of eleven Susan Winget Rooster Sunrise plates.

If you are going to explore what is available and you know specifically what brand of plate you are looking for, you might still want to start with a general search of "rooster plates". I suggest this from experience. Many times sellers will not know the exact title to list, especially if they are selling off estate sale merchandise. By taking a few minutes to browse what is available, you might find something that was either mis-labeled or listed under too general of a term to get found (something like "set of rooster plates").

Hummel Collector Plates

Fekim — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:32:27 +0000

Beautiful Hummel Collector Plates

Hummel collector plates are just a small part of the entire Hummel collectibles line. eBay has become a center for selling and buying these beautiful plates. Although the selection is limited to what people are putting up for sale at the moment, there is still usually a very nice variety available at any given time. Having these sometimes difficult to find plates just a click away has made building your collection easier than ever.

M I Hummel Plate Collection Country Crossroads
US $.99

“Herald Angel” by Sister Berta Hummel
US $9.99

A Time to Remember by Sister Berta Hummel
US $9.99

A Message From Above by Sister Berta Hummel
US $9.99

Parade in Toyland by Sister Berta Hummel
US $9.99

Goebel Hummel 1980 Yearly Plate Crazing No Box
US $.99

How much do Hummel Collector Plates cost on eBay?

The price for Hummel plates available on eBay can span a very wide range. It depends not only on what the individual seller is asking for the plate, but also on what competition there may be. Of course scarcity of the plate also plays a part. Recently a single 1971 Hummel Heavenly Angel anniversary plate received twenty bids, topping out at just over $76. The same plate sold days earlier for $140 in a a Buy it Now sale (no bidding). What I found very interesting is that the same plate slipped by everyone two days later in an auction. It did not receive a single bid even though it was only priced a $9.99.

If you are exploring what is available in discontinued or vintage Hummel decorative plates, you could definitely benefit from taking a few minutes to check out what is available on eBay. Although you'll want to compare sellers, don't wait too long if the plate you are interested in purchasing is particularly hard to find. Also, although it may seem like common sense, always feel free to ask the seller if there is anything you should know about the plate before bidding. Most sellers on eBay are honest because getting negative feedback can damage their standing as sellers. Still it isn't a bad idea to ask about possible chips or cracks if you think you see something in a photo.

Gone with the Wind Plates

Fekim — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:37:07 +0000

Finding Gone with the Wind Plates

Gone with the Wind plates are a very popular choice among people who enjoy collectors plates. There is almost always a nice selection of these available at any time on eBay. If you are searching for one particular hard to find Gone with the Wind plate however, you might not want to let it slip by without bidding. You never know when another one will pop up again for you.

9 collectors plate Strolling in Atlanta Gone With the Wind 50th yr MGM 1989
US $4.99

Gone With The Wind Golden Anniversary Series Plate
US $20.00

VINTAGE GONE WITH THE WIND COLLECTOR PLATE BY WSGEORGE AT CROSS PURPOSES
US $.99

WJ George Gone with the Wind Plate Scarlett Ashley After the War
US $.99

Rhett Gone With The Wind Collection Limited Edition
US $9.99

Rhett Butler Knowles Gone With the Wind Complete in Box with Cert of Auth
US $2.99

It is amazing how well Gone with the Wind collectibles have stood the test of time. There have been many collectors plate series released honoring the film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's time honored novel. Many individual plates sell well on eBay whether it is as a replacement for a broken original or a finishing touch to a collection being built piece by piece. Most common plates go for somewhere around ten dollars a piece, but there is a wide range in winning bid amounts. Something to be careful of is not allowing yourself to get into a "bidding war" with someone over a plate. Certainly, some plates will be worth what you end up paying, but don't get so caught up in a frenzy that you overpay for a plate that is not all that hard to find.

One nice thing about collecting GWTW plates is that there is a great selection. With many makers providing a variety of series painted by different artists, you can almost certainly find something that you like. Another thing to consider when collecting Gone with the Wind collectors plates is the actual images on the plates. Does one series capture more of your favorite movie scenes than another? That may play a part in your decision about which series to purchase.

Gone with the Wind is truly an American classic. The 1939 movie still draws in new fans to this day. Gary Cooper is rumored to have predicted that it would be a miserable flop at the time. If you like GWTW trivia, you might enjoy this site.

Collectors Plates Values|Price Guide

Fekim — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:32:38 +0000

Figuring Collectors Plates Values

Many people who find this site are looking to find out how much their collector plates are worth. There are a few ways to go about finding collectors plates values and they could give you very different results.

First off, I'd say that if you are serious about collecting decorative and/or collectors plates, it might be a wise choice to invest in a quality pricing guide. Especially if you intend to sell collectors plates, you have got to have some starting point. Keep in mind that buying anything but the latest edition of such a guide is pretty much pointless unless you are writing some kind of historical perspective on the value of collectible plates. You can spend time shopping around, but generally, you will have a tough time beating the prices available at Amazon. Selling collectible plates without some frame of reference is just asking to make a mistake that could end up costing you a lot more than what a decent price guide would cost. Amazon deals with such incredible amounts of merchandise, that it is pretty hard for anyone to beat their prices. Here is a link to their PRICING GUIDES. These guides will give you a relative "book value" to work with if you find yourself negotiating a price as either a buyer or a seller, but they often have little to do with what a plate will actually sell for today on the open collectibles market. Depending on what types of plates you collect, Amazon might also have the actual plates you are considering. It is worth a look. You can follow this link to check on the PLATES ON AMAZON.

Next, I would heartily recommend checking out the current listings and the recently completed listings on eBay. Love it or hate it, eBay sets the bar for the prices of many collectibles being sold today. eBay is the place to check to see what collectors plates are selling for in the "real world". In my opinion, it gives you a nice number to work with if you are planning to sell off all or part of a collection. It doesn't matter what a price guide book says if the eBay buyers are only willing to pay half of what you are asking for your items. I've seen many people list their plates on eBay and proudly boast about the book value. They set a starting price right around what the "book" told them their plate was worth, and then spend the next week watching their plate get zero bids. If they had bothered to look, they might have found that plates similar to theirs were being sold at half the price right next to their listing. Of course, this works both ways. Sometimes a collector plate with a low book value with spark a bidding war and sell for WAY above what might have been predicted. The whole scenario can be frustrating, but it is also part of the fun of buying and selling for plate collectors.

Finally, there are collectible shops that include these plates among the items they sell. Frankly, I don't envy them. It must be hard to compete with what is being sold on eBay right now. Everyone knows about eBay and serious collectors are almost always going to check the site for available items that can be shipped right to their door before heading out on a search of collectible shops. With the overhead involved in keeping an actual brick and mortar shop open, collectible shops are in a tough spot right now. I still visit them because I like to look around and will occasionally find some interesting old items for sale, but I have to admit to being partial to buying collectible plates on eBay.

Each person will have their own favorite method of acquiring plates and finding out collectors plate values. I don't think that any one is really the definitive and clear "winner". Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Take a look around and try to enjoy the experience as part of building your collection!

Avon Images of Hollywood A Chorus Line Collectors Plate
US $.01

AVON CARDINAL NORTH AMERICAN SONGBIRD 10 COLLECTOR PLATE DON ECKELBERRY IN BOX
US $.01

AVON 1975 GENTLE MOMENTS 9 COLLECTOR PLATE IN BOX BEAUTIFUL SWAN
US $.01

AVON 2 EASTER PLATES 1995 1996 MINT MIB BOXED
US $.01

Avon 1984 Christmas Memories Commemorative Plate 10
US $.99

Avon Oaktree collectors plates Oak tree 2 in total
US $.01

Decorative Glass Plates

Fekim — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:29:39 +0000

Decorative Glass Plates for Home Decor

For those who like a bit of a different look, decorative glass plates might be a nice touch for your home decor. There are some stunningly lovely glass plates available that can really work nicely as an accent or highlight in a room's decorating scheme.

These beautiful decorative plates can often be found with very interesting textures that catch the eye. Scalloped edges, etching in the glass itself and lovely frosted patterns are some interesting little touches you can look for as you build your decorative plate collection. Others prefer to concentrate only on hand blown creations.

Of course you don't have to just stick you collector's plate on a wall or in a display cabinet. Many decorative glass plates are designed to be fully functional, and sometimes are created in interesting shapes to fit with particular themes. Holiday themed glass plates can be put out at the appropriate time of year, or broader themes like flower shapes can fit in during any time.

Some popular names in decorative glass plates include Bradford, Franklin Mint, Castellani and many others.

The Lone Sailor Stained Glass and Pewter Plate w COA
US $.01

Small Holly Deco Glass Dish 7 inches
US $.89

Wedding Love Birds Trinket Box Cherish Heart Dish
US $.99

Clear Glass Plate Etched Boat Design USED GC 8 inch
US $.99

Clear Glass Plate Etched Flowers 6 inch USED GC salad
US $.99

NICE CLEAR GLASS PRAYING ANGEL ON A MIRROR WOOD STAND
US $.99

Christmas Plates

Fekim — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:42:57 +0000

Collecting Christmas Plates

Christmas plates are a pretty good seller on eBay no matter what time of year it is. Waiting until just before the holiday season to start looking may bring more competition, but that will most likely be set off by an increased number of plates getting listed by sellers.

Christmas Plates

There are other holiday plates that get collected, but Christmas is a big one. A lot of people pull out all of the stops when it comes time to decorate for the holidays and that often includes pulling down existing decor and replacing it until after the new year comes. If you are in to decorative and collector's plates, then you probably include them as part of the Christmas decorations. If not, well why not? There are so many beautiful plates available and they can provide a wonderful change of pace from what has been on display during the rest of the year.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND ANGEL PLATE
US $9.99

Royal Copenhagen 1970 Christmas Plate Christmas Rose and Cat
US $.99

1969 Bing Grondahl Christmas Plate
US $.99

1976 AVON CHRISTMAS PLATE BRINGING HOME THE TREE
US $.99

1979 AVON CHRISTMAS PLATE DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW
US $.99

1980 AVON CHRISTMAS PLATE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
US $.99

I can't speak for everyone, but as much as I enjoy the summer time and dread the cold weather of winter, I do look forward to the holiday season. No matter what holiday you choose to celebrate, or even if you don't celebrate at all, I hope you do enjoy the festive decorations that appear to ward off the shortened hours of daylight and bitter cold. For collectors, Christmas plates are sometimes a special part of their collection. There are probably some plate collectors who specialize in collecting only holiday plates. There are plenty of them to choose from and they can do a great job of celebrating the season. Checking out eBay, the sales of decorative Christmas plates are about what you would expect. There are a lot of Norman Rockwell Christmas plates getting bid on along with other standards like Royal Copenhagen and Wedgewood. I expected to see more "Twelve Days of Christmas" sets being sold, but it may be too early for that yet as I write this. I noticed a lot of Spode Christmas Tree plates, but they didn't seem to be getting any bids, so if you collect them, the time might be right to check things out.

If you are looking to buy Christmas plates, don't forget about actual dishes that you eat off of for your holiday meal. My Grandmother breaking out the special holiday plates was a part of my family's holiday tradition when I was growing up. My sister has her dishes now that my Grandmother has passed on, but getting out the good china and holiday glasses is still part of what we do to get ready for the holidays around here. If you don't already, you might want to think about starting that as one of your own family traditions!

Decorative Collector Plates » Decorative Plates|Collector’s Plates Blog

How to Paint Ceramic Plates

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How to Make Decorative Plates

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Elvis Plates

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Norman Rockwell Plates

Collecting Norman Rockwell Plates

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Rooster Plates

Collectible Rooster Plates

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Hummel Collector Plates

Beautiful Hummel Collector Plates

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Gone with the Wind Plates

Finding Gone with the Wind Plates

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Collectors Plates Values|Price Guide

Figuring Collectors Plates Values

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Decorative Glass Plates

Decorative Glass Plates for Home Decor

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Christmas Plates

Collecting Christmas Plates

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