Calendar Plates: Dated Commemorative and Advertising China
Calendar plates are decorative china plates featuring a printed calendar for a specific year, produced primarily from the 1890s through the 1920s as advertising premiums, holiday gifts, and commemorative souvenirs. Local merchants, banks, insurance agents, and other businesses ordered these plates imprinted with their names and addresses, making them a fascinating intersection of advertising history, local history, and ceramic collecting.
History and Production
- 1890s: Calendar plates first appear as advertising premiums given by merchants to customers
- 1900-1920: Peak production period; thousands of local businesses ordered custom calendar plates annually
- Major producers: Most calendar plates were made by European factories (Germany, Austria, England) and decorated in America
- Dresden Pottery: One of the most prolific American decorators of calendar plates
- Post-1920: Production declines as advertising shifts to other media; some revival in the 1960s-1970s
Types and Themes
- Advertising plates: Feature business name, address, and often a scenic or floral center design
- Patriotic themes: Eagles, flags, and American historical scenes
- Floral designs: Roses, violets, and other flowers surrounding the calendar
- Scenic views: Local landmarks, pastoral scenes, or seasonal imagery
- Portrait plates: Presidents, royalty, or notable figures with calendar border
- Fruit and harvest: Abundant fruit and harvest themes reflecting agricultural communities
- Holiday themes: Christmas, Easter, and New Year's greetings with calendars
Identification and Dating
- Year dating: The calendar itself provides an exact year, making dating straightforward
- Business research: Advertiser names and addresses can be traced through historical directories
- Manufacturer marks: Check for European pottery marks on the reverse (often obscured by decoration)
- Size: Standard calendar plates are 7 to 9 inches in diameter
- Printing method: Transfer decoration, sometimes with hand-painted accents
Auction Prices and Market Values
| Category | Typical Range | Exceptional Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Common floral designs (1900-1920) | $15-$40 | $75+ for unusual designs |
| Advertising plates (general) | $20-$50 | $100+ for notable merchants |
| Patriotic themes | $25-$60 | $125+ for early examples |
| Railroad or mining town plates | $40-$100 | $200+ for scarce locations |
| Pre-1900 examples | $30-$75 | $150+ |
| Portrait plates (presidents) | $25-$60 | $100+ |
| Complete year sets (12 plates) | $75-$250 | $400+ for matched sets |
Condition Factors
- Transfer clarity: Calendar numbers and advertising text must be legible; worn or faded text reduces value
- Chips and cracks: Any damage significantly affects these relatively common plates
- Crazing: Some crazing is typical; heavy crazing with staining is problematic
- Hanging hole: Some plates have original holes drilled for wall display; this is period-appropriate and not damaging
- Color vibrancy: Bright, unfaded decoration is strongly preferred
Collecting Tips
- Calendar plates from your own city or region add personal connection and local history interest
- Plates from defunct businesses, ghost towns, or vanished industries carry additional historical significance
- Railroad-associated and mining town plates are the most sought-after subcategories
- The exact year dating makes calendar plates easy to organize chronologically
- They remain very affordable and widely available at antique shops and estate sales
- Building a collection of consecutive years from the same location tells a compelling local story