Collector Plates: Limited Edition Decorative Plates
Collector plates are decorative ceramic or porcelain plates produced in limited editions, typically featuring themed artwork and marketed specifically for collecting rather than use. The modern collector plate market began with the 1895 Bing & Grondahl Christmas plate from Denmark and reached its peak during the 1970s-1980s, when dozens of manufacturers issued thousands of plate series. While the secondary market has declined substantially from its 1980s boom, historically significant plates and early examples retain collector interest.
History of the Market
- 1895: Bing & Grondahl issued the first annual Christmas plate ("Behind the Frozen Window"), establishing the tradition
- 1908: Royal Copenhagen began its own annual Christmas plate series
- 1960s-1970s: The collector plate market expanded dramatically with Hummel (Goebel), Haviland, and others entering the field
- 1970s-1980s: Peak market period; Bradford Exchange became the dominant marketplace; hundreds of series issued annually by Knowles, Pickard, Villeroy & Boch, Wedgwood, and many others
- 1990s-present: Market collapsed as supply overwhelmed demand; most plates now sell below original issue price
Key Series and Makers
- Bing & Grondahl Christmas plates (1895-present): The most historically significant series; early years (1895-1920) are genuinely valuable
- Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates (1908-present): Second great Scandinavian Christmas plate series
- Hummel Annual plates (Goebel, 1971-1995): Based on M.I. Hummel artwork; the 1971 first edition is the most valuable
- Norman Rockwell plates: Various manufacturers; Saturday Evening Post images remain popular
- Wildlife and nature: Series by Lenox, Knowles, and others featuring birds, animals, and landscapes
- Movie and TV themes: Star Trek, Disney, Gone with the Wind, and similar licensed series
Auction Price Ranges
| Plate | Year/Description | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bing & Grondahl 1895 | First Christmas plate | $3,000 - $8,000 |
| Bing & Grondahl 1896-1910 | Early Christmas plates | $200 - $2,000 |
| Royal Copenhagen 1908 | First Christmas plate | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Hummel 1971 | First annual plate | $200 - $600 |
| Bing & Grondahl 1920-1940 | Christmas plates | $50 - $200 |
| Most 1970s-80s plates | Various makers | $5 - $30 |
| Norman Rockwell plates | Various makers | $5 - $25 |
| Licensed character plates | Disney, Star Trek | $5 - $50 |
Condition Factors
- Surface condition: Scratches, chips, or crazing significantly reduce already-modest values
- Box and certificate: Original boxes and certificates of authenticity have some impact on value, particularly for newer plates where completeness is expected
- Firing marks: Minor manufacturing imperfections are common and generally accepted in older plates
- Display wear: Plates displayed in frames or on hangers may show hanger marks or wear on the foot ring
Collecting Tips
- Be realistic about values -- the vast majority of collector plates from the 1970s-1980s boom are worth $5-$30, regardless of original issue price or "limited edition" status
- Early Bing & Grondahl and Royal Copenhagen Christmas plates (pre-1920) are the genuinely valuable items in this category; later years are modestly priced
- First editions in a series typically hold value better than subsequent years
- Avoid buying plates as investments -- the market has demonstrated that mass-produced limited editions do not appreciate; collect for enjoyment
- Condition matters less than in other collecting categories because values are already low for most plates; focus on pieces you genuinely want to display
- The Bradford Exchange and other "limited edition" marketers significantly inflated perceived values during the boom years; secondary market prices reflect actual collector demand, which is modest for most series