Hobbies And Interests
Types
Some vintage glass plates are thick, durable and meant for daily use. Others are fine china only used for special occasions. The most ornate type, often painted with scenery, flora, portraits or other artwork, can be displayed prominently on a wall or shelf. Still others are collector plates, adorned with images of famous people, movie scenes or events. Some of the most popular commemorative plates include Elvis, the Wizard of Oz and Norman Rockwell paintings.
Features
Plates range in color from light powder blue to a deep crimson and can be shaped like flowers, suns, stars, shells or scallops. Some may be shaped as decorative fans or butterflies. The glass often contains a series of bubbles or mosaic pieces throughout. Some come with stands or pedestals for decorative display or for use as a serving platter. You can also collect cake, pie or oyster plates.
Function
Some vintage glass plates are displayed as art pieces. They can be placed on wooden, plastic or metal easel-like stands on a shelf or attached to wire stands that fasten to the wall. Plates can be used as change bins, candle bases or even turned into a clock face or mirror frame. Plates that are chipped or broken can also be quite useful in creating a mosaic or collage and even stuck to walls as borders around windows or door frames.
Considerations
Plates meant to be used for serving food may come with a plain center and decorative edges made with gold or silver paint. Others are framed with scalloped edges, thin glass designs that resemble lace or other decorative borders.
Other uses for vintage glass plates may make one lose his appetite altogether. A pair of artists who make up Tulip Enterprises used broken, vintage glass plates in a gallery display titled "Disco Sucks Again." The plates were made into erotic imagery, with underlying themes of hedonism and obscenity.
Warning
Most vintage plates will not fare well if placed in the dishwasher. Others, especially those with gold or silver leafing, will be ruined in the microwave. Extreme care should be used in maintaining the plates. They should be dusted often with a soft cloth, secured tightly to any wall or shelf and stored between soft pieces of linen to deter breakage and chips. Vintage glass plates are best kept behind glass.