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- How to Paint Ceramic Plates
- How to Make Decorative Plates
- Elvis Plates
- Norman Rockwell Plates
- Rooster Plates
- Hummel Collector Plates
- Gone with the Wind Plates
- Collectors Plates Values|Price Guide
- Decorative Glass Plates
- Christmas Plates
- Bing and Grondahl Plates
- Why Collect Decorative Plates?
- Collector Plate Popularity
- Replacement Plates
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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!
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 Wear My Ring Around Your Neck  US $.99 |  Elvis Presleys 68 Come Back Special Plate US $.99 |
 ELVIS PRESLEYS BIRTHPLACE TUPELO MS SOUVENIR SPOON US $3.00 |  Remembering Elvis The King by The Bradford Exchange with COA 19061C US $4.95 |
 Commemorating The King KING OF LAS VEGAS Elvis Presley Plate no reserve US $10.99 |  Four Wooden Plate Stands US $4.99 |
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.
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.
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 NORMAN ROCKWELL PLATE 1 cent auction penny auction US $.01 |  IMM Norman Rockwell Collector Plate small US $.01 |
 Norman Rockwell Old Man Winter Plate Bell Set US $.50 |  Dreaming in the Attic Rediscovered Women Norman Rockwell collectors plate US $.99 |
 Vintage Norman Rockwell Bedtime 6 1 2 Collector Plate w Original Box 1984 US $.99 |  THE SHIP BUILDER BY NORMAN ROCKWELL 1980 PLATE 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.
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.
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 DECORATIVE HANDPAINTED CERAMIC ROOSTER PLATE WITH STAND 10 DIAMETER EST1 US $.99 |  COVENTRY FINE PORCELAIN PTS PLATE GENEVIEVE ROOSTER WITH PLATE HANGER EST1 US $.99 |
 WARREN KIMBLE WHILS BLACK ROOSTER COLLECTORS PLATE US $.99 |  LONGABERGER POTTERY WOVEN TRADITIONS PAPRIKA ROOSTER TRIVET HOT PLATE US $1.00 |
 Two Betty Crocker Country Inn Collection Saucers With Roosters US $2.99 |  Mad Red Rooster Wall Plate US $2.99 |
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").
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.
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 Lot of 21 MJ Hummel Annual and Anniversary Plates {1972 through 1989} US $250.00 |  SCHMID THE CREATIVE HAND MOTHERS DAY 1979 PLATE US $.99 |
 Hummel 1986 Mothers Day plate Home From School US $.99 |  1976 Christmas Plate Sacred Journey by Sister Berta Hummel Schmid Bros US $.99 |
 Goebel Hummel 1980 Yearly Plate Crazing No Box US $.99 |  Goebel Hummel CELESTIAL MUSICIAN 1987 Limited Edition Christmas Plate 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.
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.
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 BRADEX KNOWLES GONE WITH THE WIND MELANIE GIVES BIRTH COLLECTOR PLATE US $.99 |  Gone with the Wind Plate Bradford Exchange Costuming of a Legend US $.99 |
 VINTAGE GONE WITH THE WIND COLLECTOR PLATE BY WSGEORGE HOME TO TARA 1989 US $.99 |  GONE WITH THE WIND COLLECTOR PLATE BY WSGEORGE SCARLETT RHETTS HONEYMOON US $.99 |
 VINTAGE GONE WITH THE WIND COLLECTOR PLATE BY WSGEORGE AT CROSS PURPOSES US $.99 |  KNOWLES GONE WITH THE WIND SCARLETT AND RHETT THE FINALE COLLECTOR PLATE US $.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.
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
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!
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 SECOND AVON ANNIVERSARY PLATE IN ORIGINAL BOX US $.01 |  Avon Anniversary Plate 10th Year US $1.00 |
 Avon Anniversary Plate 5th Year US $1.00 |  5 Avon 1982 Mothers Day Plate Little Things US $.65 |
 AVON RECIPE FOR LOVE 1993 MOTHERS DAY PLATE WITH ORIGINAL BOX US $.99 |  Avon The Olympic Woman 1996 collectible plate US $.99 |
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.
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 3 Vintage Music Boxes Great collection Great Deal US $.01 |  danbury mintIndependence Hall collectors plate US $.99 |
 PAIR OF BRASS CANDLE HOLDERS W HURRICANE GLOBES99 NR US $.99 |  1974 CARNIVAL GLASS ASSOCIATION PLATE ANNUAL CONVENTION COLUMBUS OH US $.99 |
 WEDGWOOD PETER RABBIT 5PC SET NR US $.99 |  Lot Dollhouse Miniature Teapot Lunch Box Thermos Plates Strainer Scoop ect US $.99 |
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.
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 precious moments miniatures sugar town 1994 plates pigs 1984 annual edition US $.99 |  MIB 1999 CRYSTAL CLAUS PRECIOUS EDITION HALLMARK MINIATURE ORNAMENT SILVER PLATE US $.99 |
 Lot of 7 Royal Copenhagen Annual Christmas Plates 1966 through 1972 US $.99 |  Lot of 5 Royal Copenhagen Annual Christmas Plates 1967 1969 1970 1971 1972 US $.99 |
 Lot of 18 B G Bing Grondahl Annual Christmas Plates 1962 Through 1979 US $.99 |  Lot of 7 B G Bing Grondahl Annual Christmas Plates 1965 Through 1971 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!
Collectible Bing and Grondahl Plates
Bing & Grondahl have been producing high quality decorative plates for years. Bing and Grondahl plates have been released along related themes over a number of years and the values are quite variable. Many people turn to eBay as a way to get their hands on these collector plates. If you look other places online, you will find a wide spread in costs depending on the series and the year. eBay is a popular place to visit for these plates. Because there is such a huge base of people selling, you often can sniff out those hard to find replacement plates or that one single plate in particular that has been eluding you.
Some of the popular series include:
- Children's Day
- Christmas
- Christmas in America
- Christmas Around the World
- Family Portraits
- Easter
- The Gentle Love Collection
- Danish American Heritage
- And many others.
The company has been around since 1853 and has Danish roots. Since 1987 it has been merged with its former competitor, Royal Copenhagen. The Bing and Grohdahl Christmas Plate that was released in 1895 is considered the first real limited edition plate produced for plate collectors. Both companies have a history of providing more than just plates, so if you look up the name on eBay, you are quite likely to see several vases and figurines appearing as well as decorative collector's plates.
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 BG Copenhagen Porcelain Jule After 1983 Plate US $.99 |  BG Copenhagen Porcelain Mors Dag 1980 Mothers Day Plate Woodpecker US $.99 |
 ROYAL COPENHAGEN 1977 CHRISTMAS PLATE US $.99 |  1982 Bing Grondahl Copenhagen Porcelain Mothers Day Plate Tiger w Cubs MINT US $.99 |
 1985 Bing Grondahl Copenhagen Porcelain Mothers Day Plate Bear w Cubs MINT US $.99 | Lot of 18 B G Bing Grondahl Annual Christmas Plates 1962 Through 1979 US $.99 |
People collect plates for many different reasons. In fact, there are probably millions of reasons why people find plates so collectible. They are a great way to commemorate a favorite movie or artist, but they also can be so beautifully covered in artistic patterns that they rival or outdo any painting you might hang on the wall.
Another thing I really like about the whole adventure of collecting decorative plates is the fact that they can be displayed in so many ways. There are people who like to use them in traditional plate stands and there are those get creative and mount them on the wall in whatever fashion happens to suit their tastes. I'm sure there are some people out there who have gotten really creative with their displays and I'd love to hear about them!
One thing that seems common about collectors of almost anything is the love of the hunt. Certainly there are some people who are fortunate enough to see exactly what they want and then buy it. Many of us collectors though have found that our love of collector's plates has grown to the point of wanted to expand our collections to include more and more of our favorites. Where we run into problems is when we want something that isn't made anymore. At that point, I usually turn to eBay because I can almost always find someone selling what I'm looking for at a decent price. Sure, there are times when people ask outrageous amounts, but if you watch, you will notice that they don't end up selling their plates. Often you will see the same seller listing their plates at a later date for a much lower price. I really like it when that happens.
Star Trek Plates
Many collectors focus on some central theme. A collector of Star Trek plates will focus on those, while a collector of dog themed plates by Danbury Mint will have an entirely different focus. The great thing is, I can find both of those on eBay. I have had terrible luck finding any plates that I like at local collectibles stores. The selection around these parts is horrible and the owners of these shops seem to always price these plates at the highest price shown in collectibles guides. If I purchased only from them, I'd probably be able to afford on plate per year!
Our reasons for collecting plates may be different and the types of plates may not be the same, but we all have an appreciation for the value in preserving beautiful art and displaying it on our decorative plates.
Some people new to plate collecting may be wondering what types of collector's plates are worth the most money or have the biggest following. Taking a look at eBay can give you a pretty good feel for what people like and what they are willing to pay for to have as an addition to their collection. For this post, I'll refer to some recently ended auctions and buy it now offerings.
I really prefer looking to eBay as a guide on this topic because frankly, that is where most people will look when searching for a hard to find decorative plate or other collectible. Some people do prefer to go to specialty shops, but they often end up paying top dollar for whatever they are looking for simply because the owner of the shop is most likely going to charge whatever he or she can get. It is simple economics. They have no chance of something bidding up, so they must price their collectibles in a way which guarantees them a certain profit margin.
The top selling plate at this particular moment is a Bing and Grondahl Christmas plate from 1899. Listed simply as a Christmas plate of "Two Crows", it ended up selling for just over $500. This is more of an exception though as most of the prices are far less than this on any typical day. Right now, there are almost 9,000 listings in the "Collector Plates" category. Most likely any brand of plate you could be looking for would be included. As a collector of plates this massive number of listings can really help you out. Because there are so many sellers competing with each other, you have the opposite effect occurring from what is seen in a collectibles shop. Seller find it necessary to price their items as low as they can possibly risk giving the plate up for or they will almost certainly eliminate their offerings from the buyer's consideration. They hope that potential buyers will find their auction interesting enough to bid it up so that they can make a few dollars.
Gone With the Wind Plates
Take a look around eBay and you will find almost any plate you might be interested in purchasing. In fact, you will often find more than just one of what you are searching for and be able to comparison shop. Unless you are collecting plates that are extremely rare, you have a pretty good chance of finding them just waiting on eBay. Looking for plates commemorating a favorite movie like Gone With the Wind? Just type it in and you'll usually find it. That is a lot easier than hunting through garage sales and collectible shops and it is probably part of why collector plates are such a large category on eBay. Sellers and buyers both seem to enjoy the venue. That can be a definite money saving opportunity no matter what you are collecting.
Finding Replacement Plates
Sometimes, accidents just happen and you end up needing replacement plates. It might be your pet cat jumping up to explore a cabinet, a toddler throwing a ball in the house, or maybe just your own butter fingers. Before you even know what happened, one of your collectible plates goes crashing to the ground and it turns into a slow motion scene from a movie.
If this has happened to you, there are some ways to get replacements for even the most difficult to find decorative collectible plate. I'll tell you right now, that the very first place I look is eBay. Why? Because there are so many plates on there and it is a market designed for selling items like replacement plates. If you do choose eBay, the trade off for the convenience may be a price higher than you like (but not necessarily) but the upside is that you can find any number of collectibles being sold. These are often sold by inexperienced sellers who do not understand what they actually own, so sometimes you can grab a real bargain.
The flip side to eBay sellers is that you can also find some people who really know their stuff. If you are looking to find a particular collector's plate, you can often search it out and find it listed by someone who can give you an incredibly detailed description. There are many people who sell replacement plates full time. It is their livlihood and they take it seriously. You won't get a steal from them, but you will find the plate you want more often than not.
If you are feeling more adventurous and you are not in any great hurry to find the replacement, you can also go out on your own and check a few places. You will want to head to yard sales, estate sales and thrift shops. Each of these will offer a slightly different situation to you.
Estate sales often have tons of older items up for sale. These sales are usually held after a person dies. If the person collected plates, it is likely that the company hosting the sale knows what the plates are worth. You may find a decent deal if the plates have not moved by the last half of the sale. Sometimes the prices are cut in half around one o'clock of the last day. If you don't like the price, you can often leave a bid for the family to consider. If they really want to get things moved along, you may get a call after the sale ends saying that they have accepted your bid.
Yard sales are hard to predict. Many times you will find people willing to sell off their items at VERY low prices. They are tired of looking at the things sitting around their house and they just want it gone now. The other extreme is the yard sale seller who looks things up on eBay and then tries to charge the highest price they saw something selling for on the site. Usually, you are better off leaving these items alone. If they are quoting eBay prices, there is a good chance you can find it cheaper on eBay yourself with a little bit of patience. Again, you can make these people an offer and see if they decide to take it after their items haven't sold.
Thrift stores used to be a much better place to shop. Now, eBay sellers swarm the shops looking for things they can re-sell. Thrift stores have caught on to this and they now either raise the prices before putting the merchandise out or the sell the better quality collectibles on their own websites and completely ignore their retail outlets. Shopping thrift stores often ends in frustration.
Any of these last three options are very hit or miss. Sometimes ads for these events will include data about specific items, but most times they do not. You pretty much just have to drive around from place to place hoping to find what you are looking for and your odds are not very good. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt for what you collect though, it can be fun and sometimes you can find a really incredible deal.
To help you out, here are some of the currently listed discontinued plates being offered for sale on eBay!
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 Avon 5th Anniversary The Great Oak Collector Plate Representative Exclusive US $.99 |  Currier Ives Collectors Plate Old Homestead in Winter 1978 US $.99 |
 MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB LMTD EDITION COLLECTORS PLATE US $1.99 |  The United Presbyterian Church West Union Ohio 175th Anniversary Collector Plate US $2.95 |
 Mothers Day 1973 Holly Hobbie Commemorative Ed Plate US $3.82 |  Berta Hummel Christmas Plate 1978 3 Angels 78BHXP NEW US $3.95 |
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.