| Collectible kitchen plates have been around for a long | | | | are times when someone will make or have made |
| time. Your grandmother may have had a collection of | | | | plates commemorating the day of your wedding. |
| antique or specialty plates. Decorating with these | | | | These are precious items that you will want to |
| plates is one way to add interest to your rooms. | | | | display proudly. |
| There are many categories of these collectibles. | | | | Many people like to gather kitchen plates when they |
| Some of them were designed to be collected and | | | | visit tourist locations. Others like to get ones that |
| some of them became more desired as their value | | | | have been acquired years ago and buy them as |
| and popularity grew. When these products were no | | | | antiques. Either way, they are or will become |
| longer available to be purchased new, they began to | | | | collectible. You can get plates from locations like the |
| become prized parts of a collection. | | | | Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yellowstone Park, the |
| More Valuable if the Design is No Longer Available | | | | Royal Gorge, Pike's Peak, or other scenic places. |
| Some of these plates that started out as china to be | | | | These often have a picture of the tourist site on the |
| used for dining are simple pieces. They may be blue | | | | front. A similar type that is of interest to tourists is |
| cornflower, or have a hand-painted rose design. If | | | | the state-themed plate. |
| the design is no longer available, they are valuable. | | | | Old-Fashioned Collections |
| Some are fancier but still considered as china. These | | | | There are certain old-fashioned items that have |
| may be embossed with the name of the place | | | | come down through many generations. Many of |
| where they were used. It could be a restaurant, a | | | | them are still being made today, but usually they are |
| hotel, a cruise ship, or even a plate used at | | | | not as elaborate. One of these types is the recipe |
| government functions. | | | | plates. These are generally made of porcelain. They |
| Other plates are designed with collecting in mind. | | | | have an actual recipe painted on the front. The |
| These are the ones such as the Danbury Mint limited | | | | recipes are real and if you follow the directions, you |
| editions. There are special Norman Rockwell plates, | | | | will have a cake or salad that is easy and flavorful. |
| and also from Currier and Ives. Of these latter, the | | | | The other type is the prayer plates. These are also |
| Four Seasons group is quite popular. | | | | elaborate, often gold rimmed, and have a kitchen |
| Commemorative Plates | | | | prayer painted on their fronts. |
| Some plates are made to commemorate a specific | | | | Collectible kitchen plates can make your cooking area |
| event. You will find some celebrating the bicentennial | | | | come alive. They are reflections of your personality |
| of the United States, city and church founder's day, | | | | and they radiate charm. Hang them on your walls, or |
| Mother's Day and Christmas. Some of these may | | | | put them on plate stands. You will find that after |
| have a special significance to you. For example, there | | | | awhile, they will start to seem like old friends. |