Object of the Day - Ironstone Platters

I've always had a fondness for ironstone platters, ever since my catering days back in high school. I just think there's something so simple and beautiful about them, and I especially love the patina they acquire with age.

Around the holidays, I think they're perfect for serving everything from a stuffed pork loin to my favorite gingerbread cookies. But instead of getting into a holiday crunch, searching tag sales and flea markets for ironstone platters when they're probably at their most expensive, why not keep a lookout all year long?

To display my collection, I organize them by shape, then stack them in graduated sizes in the open sections of the old pharmaceutical cabinet my grandfather and I refinished years ago.

Another idea for decorative display is to group them on a wall in a dining room. That way, when you want to use them, they can come right off the wall and onto the table. Do you have a particular platter you love for the holidays? What are you planning to serve in it?

Comments

[Lisa]

Help! I just broke my mother's vintage glass cake platter (with silver colored flowers running through it). She received it as a wedding gift- in 1953.. Any suggestions on where I might find a replacement? I have not told her yet! Thanks, Lisa

[Whitney Grant]

I have just started my collection and i have one deep serving dish that i would love to use for a shepards pie or something. Is it safe to put these dishes in the oven? I feel quite comfortable warming something up on it, but i am not sure about cooking with them!

Thank you for any advice!

[Katie]

Hi Eddie, do you ever read Victoria magazine? The Jan/Feb issue (just out) has a GORGEOUS story on Ironstone. Thought you might enjoy!

[nikki]

while it's not ironstone, i do have a big oval silver platter that we inherited from my husband's grandmother. it has channels and a well to catch the juices... perfectly turkey-sized!

[Judy]

Beautiful, gorgeous, exquisite...no words describe it. You did a beautiful job. I love all of the ironstone. I have some pieces of my Grandmothers that I cherish. Where is the spaghetti and meat balls?

[Joni Webb]

I love your ironstone collection. It goes so perfectly in your home with all the grays. I started one last year and ebay is a great resource for it!!! love that ebay. Jaithen - thank you much for your kind comment.
Joni

[Theresa-Garden Antqs Vintage]

I just found you through Heidi Claire's Blog. You have exceptional taste and I can't wait to see more of your style.

[milly]

cant wait to see what you do for Thanksgiving!!

[beachbungalow8]

I love, love iron stone. It makes such a great architectural statement.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

I especially like the pieces displayed on the wall. I learned years ago that white dishes are the best because you can mix anything with them. I'll be using my favorite antique Adams Ironstone floral platter and covered dish plus lots of plum accents. I will be posting on Thursday about "the sweet history" of dinner tables for any of you china junkies who want to stop by.

[katiedid]

Love your collection! I started collecting ironstone after my mother began giving me caste offs years ago. She has kept the most unusual peices, but I was lucky enough to get some great things and kept on searching for things myself. I agree, they are the most useful things that I have in the kitchen!

[Kathysue]

Love the way you have them displayed. Decorative and useful. I don't think there is anything prettier than white dishes. I have always had a set since the early 70's. I have replaced them over the years and right now I have a set of Mikasa,Antique White,super strong fine china. It has the casual look of ironstone but a finer glaze like china. Simple and classic.

[Rhoda]

Oh, be still my heart! I missed that post about the cabinet, but what a sweet story that you and your grandfather refinished it. What an heirloom to keep in the family forever! OK, just have to show ya'll my ironstone wanna-be collection:

http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/2008/07/creamware-collection.html

It's not expensive stuff, but I love it just the same. All of yours are gorge, what a fine collection!

[Karena]

I have a large transferware platter with a large bunch of carrot in the middle and small carrots around the edge. I use it to serve roasted carrots, butternut squach, parsnips, & baby onions in a brown sugar and butter glaze.

[Heidi]

Great post, I love ironstone. I display it sometimes on the wall turned backwards to show off the hallmark. I did a post about you on my blog yesterday and all my Australian bloggers just loved you. Thanks so much for sharing, HEidi

[Mona from Toronto]

Simply gorgeous!! I love your collections! Everything you get from tag sales and flea markets comes together and looks like a designer set!!

And what a lovely bouquet of red roses at the side of the photo!

[Mimilee]

I have a platter that I use traditionally for the Thanksgiving roasted turkey. Perfect size and also lovely. It is Wedgewood,"Strawberry and Vine" pattern. Love it!

Great post, Eddie!

[Lori]

I have a platter with a rooster on it (it says "Poppy Trail" on the back of it?). Thinking of using that for a large salad. Admiring your ironstone...

[kristen]

ohai, GREAT idea, your flea market tour. too bad i'll be in philadelphia for the weekend, otherwise, you couldn't keep me away!

i love ironstone too - i was at a bridal shower this past weekend, in the most amazing apartment on wooster street, it also happens to be shown in elle decor for december.

the food was displayed on a combination of ironstone platters and beautiful white place settings; famous and french and i can't think of the name, but it was a lovely table.

[David in KC]

I picked up an old Wedgwood white ironstone platter at an auction this past summer. It has a blue transfer of shells and coral and sea plants. Not so great for Thanksgiving, but I think it's perfect for a seafood platter on New Years Eve.

[sandra/tx]

I swoon over your ironstone collection in that antique cabinet, Eddie. I only wish I had that extensive a collection.

I only have a few pieces of ironstone, but I collect Homer Laughlin Majestic & Rosewood china and have amassed most of my pieces from Ebay. My favorite platter is Rosewood from 1937. It's a bit darkened from age and has beautiful crazing, but I still enjoy using it. In fact, those two patterns, which are very similar, make for a very pretty Christmas table. Perhaps I'll blog about them in a few weeks. :-)

[Pam]

How can you tell if it's ironstone. I have one piece, but it says that it's ironstone in the marking. I suspect other pieces that I find are ironstone but without a mark I'm not sure how to tell.
Can you shed some light on this for me?
Thank you,
Pam