Personally I use sturdy folding 2 prong stands.

I have actually seen custom made boxes with glass viewing front that you can use to display on the wall. Very effective.

Mark

Hello Michael:

I'm pleased you raised this topic since it has I think been somewhat neglected.

When I first started collecting about 40 years ago, I got my first items from a well-known Madison Avenue store. The lady who spent time selling the items to me directed me to a very large store on the upper west side of NYC that sold all manner of contemporary Asian art objects. I then purchased my first couple of vase stands and later bought the two-prong folding plate stands that Mark refers to. The quality in those days was some what better than it is now, but they were still relatively inexpensive compared wth the wonderful items that rested on them.

I have continued to use the same plate stands and vase stands. I usually get them from the Oriental Furniture Company. However, for some reason that no one can explain the carved vase stands are largely unavailable from them and other similar sellers now. I have some items that came with genuine antique vase stands that are beautifully carved and have a wonderful patina that the contemporary ones lack. One can buy these, as you know, individually on eBay. However, I have never really felt the need to  increase the cost of an already expensive purchase by buying an antique plate or vase stand to accommodate it.

 I agree with you about hanging plates on wires on walls. It is a terrible practice that damages the porcelain.

I think that the contemporary rosewood plate stands that are available are more than adequate. They have the virtue of being very simple and plain and allow the plates to present their beauty without any distracting effects. The same applies to chargers. I simply use larger two-prong folding plate stands.

Regards,

Errol

The price of genuine old stands whether for a plate/vase have increased dramatically over the recent years as Peter has pointed out on numerous times via his newsletter.

It makes sense that people who have a 19th century item would like to have a appropriate era stand despite the cost.

Mark

Hello Mark:

I think here one has to draw a distinction between plate stands and vase and fish bowl stands. The two-prong folding plate stands that we both use are hardly visible. The vertical part is covered by the plate and one sees only the feet. I see no reason to look for an antique plate stand for that purpose unless one looks for stands with  different and more elaborate configurations.

I agree though that with vase stands the stand can make a big difference. I would certainly prefer to have all antique vase stands. However, as I mentioned earlier even contemporary Chinese vase stands are hard to come by these days. Antique stands sold on eBay are often very scuffed. As you mention, those in good condition are very costly. There is also the issue of size. I like vase stands to closely hug the foot of the vase so that there is no space between the vase's foot and the rim at the edge of the stand's interior. It can be exceedingly difficult to find the correct size. Also hand carved wood antique items are by their very nature often somewhat asymmetrical. I have found that if I buy an antique stand that is nominally 5" in its inner dimension it might actually be 4-7/8" in one dimension and 5 inches in another dimension at right angles to the first. Then a vase with a 5-inch foot does not fit into it and one either has to return the stand or have an unstable vase.

Because of all these considerations I have largely given up on trying to obtain antique vase stands. I love those that I have though that were hand made to fit the item.

Regards,

Errol

That's how I do mine. No wires or stands. I make my own shadow boxes. Glass fronted for smaller items or plexiglass for large. Irony is the mount / glass often costs more than the piece, however the protection value is priceless. They are screwed to the wall to ensure nobody cleaning can knock them off. Making boxes can be time consuming but it works for me. Hope you like them. Best wishes

Posted by: Supioduo

That's how I do mine. No wires or stands. I make my own shadow boxes. Glass fronted for smaller items or plexiglass for large. Irony is the mount / glass often costs more than the piece, however the protection value is priceless. They are screwed to the wall to ensure nobody cleaning can knock them off. Making boxes can be time consuming but it works for me. Hope you like them. Best wishes

That is a lovely box! How do you secure the plates in the box? OR do they just lean against the glass?

I've been looking into something similar. There are some wall mounted display boxes on ebay for toy cars. They are acrylic on all sides, except the back. I imagine that a similar box, with some prongs to secure the plate, could look pretty good. Built in light might be cool too, or you could always use one of those lights you can fasten on top of a painting to illuminate from above (probably cheaper than building in a light).

Very nice supio hand-made display.

I am looking for something similar to box 3 framed large matching dragon amist waves nephrite green Jade plaques.

Now thanks to you I have something to work with.

Mark

Hello All. Glad you liked them.

Michael the depth of the box with the dishes is 1mm more than the depth of the dish. They therefore just rest lightly on the glass. It is a two person job to remove them if I wanted to but since the seal is quite tight I really hope it will be years before I ever need to get in there. Best wishes

Dear Michael,

what a coincidence, just last week I did change the way to display dishes. They were previously hanged to the wall with wires.

Now I opted to solid wood boards in which I made some grooves, as you can see in the picture.

The plates just rests against the wall, I know some care is necessary when walking around. And not suitable in areas subjected to earthquakes.

Giovanni

Nice display Giovanni.

I take it you don't have a cat/other?

Mark

Dear Giovanni:

This is a very nice way of displaying your plates. I have plates on tables and on the walls mounted on gilt brackets largely made in Italy. Your method permits the display of a much larger number of plates. I have a fair number of paintings and I'm almost out of wall space. However, if you were not so far away I'd ask you to set up similar shelves for me!

Best regards,

Errol

Dear Mark, Erroll,

bad new☹!

Do you see the big Yongzheng dish that is in the picture of the detail of the shelf? Well, last night, while picking up a pen from the floor, in lifting up the head I hit the down side of the shelf. That dish, which was almost in very vertical position, dropped down and split in two. Stupid me!

Now I have glued it back but this time I have placed it in the second slot, so it is more safely resting against the wall.

Giovanni

Welsh dressers are made to display plates etc. 

Dear Giovanni:

Sorry about the plate. One of the problems of collecting antique porcelains is that they limit one considerably if they are going to be kept safe. I'm terribly nervous about having anyone near these items. If I need any home repairs or maintenance done I remove all porcelains between the front door and the location of the work. It's onerous, but knock on wood I have had no casualties so far. When I moved to my current house from a few hunded miles away I personally double boxed each item for the movers. I also bought huge rolls of bubble wrap. It's a lot of work and I don't envy people who sell and ship antique porcelains. 

Nic - I have seen these Welsh dressers before. However, I don't like the crowded effect. Each item to me has its own beauty and that is shown best by having some separation between items. I also don't like mismatched colors. So I have all Imari, for example, in one place and like to group famille verte and famille rose items in groups of their own. 

Regards,

Errol