Question about displaying Heirloom Dishes

Those are lovely and i like them stacked together like that... I would do it with E6000 or silicone glue, but only if it means you will use them more. Otherwise, I would just use them as serving dishes for desserts :-)

If these are heirlooms, you will destroy any value they may have by modifying them in this way. It would be a good idea to find out their appraisal value before doing anything.

if you want to keep them as heirlooms and still sometimes stack them, get some of that museum wax. it is a product that is used in museums in earthquake prone areas to keep delicate items from falling off shelves when a tremor hits. it is removable and will not damage your dishes.

I agree with the museum wax. I can hear your great great grandchildren saying "might as well throw these away, we'll never use them like this". Beautiful dishes!

I agree with Tova and Canadianlady. They look great stacked. E6000 adhesive wouldn't harm them. There are so much China for sale that it has brought values down. They would have to be rare to bring any decent value. Most buyers look for replacements that may have been lost or damaged. You can research the marks and see what they are worth. "replacements.com" is a fair research site. They buy and sell replacement China. They tend to be overpriced and what they purchase is a nominal price. I would keep them and enjoy them.

In my humble opinion, these are your dishes, and if you don't use them and will use them more if they are stacked, I stay stack them. I made several cake plates using candlesticks and plates found at a thrift store. I used E6000 glue and it's been over 5 years and they are still working well.

If something does not bring you joy, either get rid of it or diy it into something that will.

I love your dishes and I love the look of them stacked.

I love the wire plate hooks you get at the dollar stores. Then find some place in the kitchen or dining room that you would like to display them. Up high is the safest as long as your hook is secured well on the wall.

They would also be pretty arranged and hung on the wall. You can use "Flatirons Disc Adhesive Plate Hangers. They glue to the back, are invisible from the front, hold well and can be soaked off at a later date without harming the plates.. Available on Amazon.

Oh, please do not cover up the beautiful design in the center of the plate. They are so pretty. They would be pretty hanging in a baby girl's nursery. If they were mine, I would not 're-purpose' them into tiered serving pedestal. If you feel the need to down-size and get rid of them, then at least put them in a 'consignment store'.....someone will 'love' these plates, purchase them and you might get a few dollars in return. Check with Replacements Co. in Greensboro, NC and see if they can determine the value and also if they would like to purchase them to put them into their inventory.

I entertain.....ALOT! Depending on my menu, I stack pretty plates with glasses acting as the pillar using museumwax/earthquake hold. I take them apart and put away after the party because the stacked dishes take up so much space. If you want to have the tiered plates all the time as part of your decor, you would probably be better off using the E6000 glue that is available at Michaels/Joannes. BTW That china is beautiful.

I agree with everyone who said not to glue. if you have kids or grandchildren they might want to inherit the them! Good luck in deciding what to do. Let us know what you decide to do!!

I think they are beautiful and would give to another family nbr b4 I ruined them

I have my mothers first set about 72 years old I display them on a wall in the kitchen. Small platter and 2 plates. They mean a lot to me I remember eating off them at about 4 yrs old. Fried chicken. Good memories.

You could stand the bigger plate upright and use epoxy to glue the bowl, once you cut one side of it flat, to the plate and make it a bird feeder. You could use the smaller plate as the bird bath. Just glue them to some you wanna use as a pole. Tah dah, a unique bird bath and feeder.

If these dishes are important to you keep them as the are or only make changes that can be undone. You will be surprised how many times your style and taste will change in years to come.

I have never experienced that but it's a good point. If she was worried about that she might want to put a small piece of felt between the plate and the wire. Thanks for the heads up!

I like your idea t make the three tier display. E6000 is is good adhesive for this project.

i would use it on my vanity for placing jewelry, hair clipa etc.

Why glue them then you are stuck with that forever it looks great. But do you or would you really use that often in that shape. Do you entertain often? Think about that because then it becomes a hassle finding where to place that when not in use if you glue,not to mention that they may have value and it would disappear. Is it just that you feel you have to lug them out of guilt. You can love something and still want to not see it. Maybe you just need a break from them and that's ok. Change them out but save them for some other time. Hey think of it as a child that moves out you don't stop loving them but you don't have to see them everyday because you know that they are ok.

If you want to use them as a tiered server and have them return to their unglued state, why not use hot glue when you are using them as a server. Then use your hair dryer to loosen the glue so they return to their original state.

Emma, you are brilliant, I have plates that I wanted to use as tiered servers too, but did not want to ruin them. I am going to the store tomorrow for a hot glue gun.

I have a space at the antique mall and I sell teapots, teacups and saucers and other vintage and antique dishes. If these dishes have some value to you, either actual monetary value or if it's sentimental value, leave them as is and do not make anything out of them. Their value as they are now will be the value for the future. I find that it's fun to make things as shown in your photo, out of other dishes that have no particular value to you. You can find some cute dishes at thrift stores for the craft projects. I think they are very pretty dishes, but please leave them as is.

Thank you everyone for sharing all your thoughts and ideas about this. I thought I would share with you what I'm thinking at this point in case you are interested. The plates don't have any value, and no I am in no way interested in getting rid of them. They are still proudly on display in my china cabinet (has a window). If I want to try stacking them I will probably start with either the hot glue or museum wax. This will allow me to try it and decide if I like it yet give me the versatility to keep them single. If I find I like them and use them more stacked then I will use the E6000 to adhere them permanently. Thanks again!

Use the museum wax when displaying your pretty dishes.

Have you thought of making a mosaic out of them

have you had them appraised? I watch PBS roadshow and its amazing how many people think things have no value and it turns out they do or are extremely valuable . some guy found a set of chicken and rooster salt and pepper shakers that were popular way back sitting on top of garbage can He brought them to RS and they were made by a now defunct pottery co in England in the 1800s they were about 4" high have a very faint marking on the bottom of each and turned out to be worth drum roll ....30K So don't do anything to them until you are absolutely sure

Chas, I just got a better look at the plates. Your idea of making a three tier sand really makes them POP too. They are beautiful and just in time for spring;;; try the E6000 glue ( think that's the name, but be aware....it spreads like ma.d.

i have and buy these at thrift stores...25 cents each...for small size...i know what e~bay says they are wort i also rent in antique malls ..how many pieces do you have..is it a large set? if only a few..you could glue them with th e6000 glue to dowel rod or copper pipe for bird feeders...i have made tea cup wreaths...also...they would be pretty dis played on a wall (the plates) and set around for jewelry..etc. in bedroom and bath..if your heart is connected to them...put away and set out for special celebrations..i found at vincent de paul thrift store ...hand painted...made in japan...gorgeous china...25 cents each...a couple days ago ...set of 14 pieces..etsy says they are worth 15.00 each...common sense ...i will not get 5.00 each...but sentimental value has no...price ...:)

I also have some antique dishes, I keep the teapot, sugar bowl and one teacup and saucer on display. The rest of the dishes are in my cupboard. I only have one teacup but I have 12 saucers I think I will use the saucers to make mosaic birdhouses for family members

I found 8 saucers & bread n butter plates that matched the only piece of good China, a platter, my mother received when wed - I gave one to each of the grand daughters & daughter in laws to use - as a jewelry dish or other item. I wanted them to remember that even tho mother had a beautiful home & many lovely things, she did not always get everything she had wanted but enjoyed what she had. We all need that reminder...family 1st

I watch PBS roadshow and its amazing how many people think things have no value and it turns out they do or are extremely valuable .

Thanks

these are drop dead gorgeous .... could you please tell me what they are called ... on the bottom of the dishes should be a manufacture name & possibly a brand/catagory name .... i've been looking for a good set of china for years ... we have a place here in the states called "replacement.com" that specializes in all kinds of dishes that if i can give them that information they might have them..... i would be such a happy happy camper. (ps we just completed building our new home & am now getting "stuff" to complete my long awaited - 16 years!!! home.

awesome ... thank you so very much ... they are similar to my grandmothers ... but have what appears to be a pink band

awesome ~ thanks ~ could you also tell me if they are pink or more salmon colored.