A Beginning Introduction to Collecting Antique Oyster Plates

In Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana -- eating raw oysters is not uncommon today or in the past. Left over from the Victorian age, when eating oysters were one of the top fashionable fads, are colorful and varied oyster plates collected and appreciated by many today.

In my family, my Great Aunt Julienne's oyster plate collection was her prized possessions. The elegant porcelain oyster plates sat on the top shelf of her china cabinet. There were eight of them, one for each member of her household. She only used them once. The sheer joy of owning them was enough for my Tante Julienne. They had been a wedding gift in 1895. It gave her much joy to know she was the only woman on an oyster shell paved road, along Bayou Lafourche to own such gold gilded expensive plates.

Memories of watching her clean them and show them off to the ladies of her gardening club, probably inspired me to want to collect antique oyster plates. One of my fondest memories of this aunt and her oyster plate collection is remembering the day that one of the ladies from the club, dropped and broke a plate. Ever so politely and ever so silently she picked up the shattered plate, and promptly ended the meeting, never even serving the luncheon she had lovingly prepared.

She had a sick head-ache for three days over it, before she forgave her friend. It took her friend three years to save up enough money to replace the broken plate. The joy they both held on the day the missing piece was restored with a replacement was one to treasure.

Today, passionate collectors hunt for such plates from famous china factories as George Jones, Havilland, Limoges, Minton, Quimper, and Wedgwood. These were well-known European china factories. The collecting of oyster plates persists and grows as the use and availability of such china continues to shrink. They come in an incredible variety of form, colors, and hand decorations. They make a stunning wall or china cabinet exhibit.

There are three basic styles of oyster plates:

• Deep well plates (for oysters with ice)
• Deep well plates (for oysters without ice)
• Plates for oysters without shells (more commonly found and most sought after today).

Additionally, oyster plates vary in the number of depressions for oysters, examples are:

• Five depressions
• Six depressions
• Two-three depressions
• Platter style for up to two dozen

One of the most fashionable styles of oyster plates to collect, is the Majolica. They have intense colors and a distinguishing style. Many of these patterns follow the time-honored shell patterns or highlight other sea creatures. Their popularity is so great among collections that they quite pricey to collect. Some can fetch thousands of dollars in well-advertised auctions.

Less significantly known china factories, also created remarkable examples in the majolica style, as well as porcelain and even glass plates. Unmarked oyster plates are the least costly for the beginning collector. As with any antique collection, the condition and scarcity establishes the going set a price.

As with other collectibles, the beginning oyster plate collector needs to be careful to research the different types and styles of plates. You also need to be aware that because of their popularity, there are many reproduction oyster plates.

One tip off that a plate is a reproduction, is it having small holes on the backside for hanging. A true antique oyster plate would not have that feature. Another thing to watch for is fake or missing china marks.

Do your homework and enjoy the oyster plates you collect!

Everyone has their favorites and many oyster plate collectors will specialize in certain types of oyster plate collections.

Some of these are:

• Crescent Oyster Plates
• Five Well Oyster Plates
• Four Well Triangular Oyster Plates
• French Six Well Porcelain Oyster Plates
• German Delft Oyster Plates
• Japanese Oyster Plates
• Majolica Oyster Plates
• Monogramed Oyster Plates
• Nippon Oyster Plates
• Octagonal Five Well Oyster Plates
• Presidential Oyster Plates
• Pressed Glass Oyster Plates
• Silver Oyster Well Plates
• Six Well Oyster Plates
• Square Oyster Well Plates
• Ten Well Oyster Plates
• Twelve Well Oyster Servers
• Turkey Oyster Plates

Other things that oyster plate collectors, also collect:

• Decorative wooden oyster boxes and shipping containers
• Oyster cards and advertisements
• Oyster Cans
• Oyster Tins
• Oyster Glass Containers
• Single Oyster Shaped Dishes
• Sterling Oyster Forks
• Oyster shucking knives

• Purchase a good Oyster Plate Collecting guide book
• Choose a type of oyster plate that you like the best, a color you like the best, or a theme and stick to learning all you can while you collect that selection only
• Never buy a flawed plate no matter how cheap
• Don't hang the plates
• Put the plates on stands
• If you buy them online, insist on non-flash photos
• Ask for complete details on any markings
• Ask for complete details on age
• Remember that there are many reproductions
• As a rule, plates under $75 are usually reproductions
• Plates with piercings for hanging wires are reproductions
• Oyster plates with deeper wells for ice, are more rare and hard to find in good condition
• Most oyster plates had a center well for sauces or lemons
• The best plates came from well-known European china factories

Some of the art work and decorations on oyster plates are nothing less than exquisite works of art. My Tante Julienne's treasured plates, were known as Presidential oyster plates.

Originally, the design of these plates was part of a set of Presidential china commission by President Rutherford B. Hayes. The marine themed oyster plates that were part of that White House China pattern, looked similar in shape to an American turkey.

The china turned out to involve a complicated process, and were so expensive to manufacture, that the Havilland company was asked by Congress to lessen the cost by issuing a set of cheaper china, to be offered to the general public. The oyster plates were part of this set. The difference between the White House China and the ones marketed to the public are in the markings -- the copies have the Presidential seal, the Havilland mark, and Davis' signature.

Artist Theodore R. Davis was a very accomplished artist long before being commissioned to create the White House china. He is more famous for his real contributions, in terms of both art and historical visuals.

His depictions of Civil War battles and documenting the conditions after the War still are some of the best. He worked for Harper's Weekly as an artist and cartoonist. He was a spy for the North against the South. His depictions of Sioux Indians are considered to be some of the earliest and some of the finest.

The turkey pattern Havilland plates order by President Hayes were hugely popular. Soon they were copied and many fakes were openly sold.

My Tante Julienne's four oyster plates from this pattern were her pride and joy.

Today, many oyster plate collectors would pay dearly for just one of them. She would be pleasantly surprised at today‘s market price.

You see, it may she came by her four plates, not from buying copies, but directly from the White House.

A lot of White House china was auctioned off when the next President came into term. Her husband had shocked her by buying the oyster plates as a birthday gift in 1882.