Why Collect Decorative Plates?
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.