Majolica Egg Plate

Q:  I found this plate which looks like an old majolica oyster plate. It has lots of wells for oysters, or possibly it’s for eggs. It’s marked with an incised “Th” on the bottom. I would love to know its place of origin, and if it actually is for oysters. What is its value?  A:  […]

Oyster Plates on the Full and Half Shell

It’s hard not to fall in love with 19th-century oyster plates, even if you aren’t a fan of eating oysters. Oyster plates emerged during the Victorian era when raw oysters on the half shell became a delicacy, and a proper Victorian dinner service had a special plate or utensil for every type of food. The […]

Colorful and Collectible Wedgwood Majolica 

Majolica ceramics were made in Britain, Europe and the United States with colored lead glazes and nature-inspired styles. Wedgwood, the British ceramics company founded in 1759, made majolica from 1860 to 1940. Items include jugs, pitchers, candlesticks, umbrella stands, bread trays, platters and many kinds of plates in patterns that reflect nature. A recent majolica […]

Minton Prawn Plate

Q: I have four Minton plates that appear to be made in the mid to late 1800s. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find anything like them on the web. They are molded prawn plates. Can you help identify when they were made and/or what they may be worth? Also, are there records of who […]