While I typically search for a range of products from all types of sources and at all price points, there are some standout plates for special occasions. But…they’re not cheap. They’re typically hand-painted on fine porcelain with intriguing patterns and unusual glazes. These pieces have an allure you just can’t find at big box stores. Assuming you don’t have over $10K to burn on a complete service for 12, a couple of these could serve as accent pieces. Or, maybe you purchase just two place settings, one for you and one for your partner or spouse.
Hand Painted Plates for Special Occasions
The Italian Stallion
Ginori1735
Long before there were ads featuring hottie Jake Gyllenhaal reclining on a divan, reading a book beside a mysterious pile of china worth thousands of dollars, Ginori1735 ceramics drew me in like a siren. In particular, the Oriente Italiano collection in the color Malachite or Iris intrigued. The way the green glaze partially obscures the pattern is unusual and alluring.
The French Connection
Raynaud Trésor Fleuri
Slightly lurid botanicals jump off the plate’s woven background, providing the plates with a ton of dimension. They’re made out of Limoges porcelain and are hand painted (of course!) in France. You can mix this pattern with two others to create a riot of color and pattern. That will be one very chic table.
The (Relative) Bargain
Sultan’s Garden
I originally saw this pattern, with the evocative name Sultan’s Garden, in a release about a vintage British pullman interior designed by directer Wes Anderson. The exotic pattern of palm and cypress trees immediately intrigued me. Made in the storied potteries in Stoke-On-Trent, England, it is hand painted bone china and is a steal compared to the other plates here!
Story by Stephen Treffinger
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