plates

Kate Spade clearly knows that few things are more festive than brightly colored holiday lights, so she used them as the main pattern on her holiday accent plates. The 9-inch china plates work with her Rutherford Circle line of tableware, but the plates can also be used on their own, for dinner or dessert, and can be matched up with other white dinnerware if you already have such collection. The plates come in a set of four and are dishwasher safe. Price: $80.

Designer Helen Waites has come up with this brilliant Fake Riches Cabinet, which not only allows your dishes to stand in as artwork when not in use, but also adds some grandeur to what would otherwise be plain white plates. The cabinet has two layers, a back rack and an overlying glass face, which is decorated with pale blue patterns of the type often seen on antique plates. The white plates cause the designs to pop out, giving the impression that you actually have antique china in the display. We disagree with the possibility of gaining a "sense of worth" from such a cabinet, but that doesn't mean we like it any less.

[via mocoloco]

Despite the name, there is no reason that the colorful Summer Play Dessert Plates should not be used year round. Their splashy, bright designs, done by artist Zao Wou Ki, play the same role in dressing up a dessert presentation as dots and splashes of brightly colored purees and sauces do at restaurants. These splashes don't contribute anything extra to the flavor of the dish, but when it comes of accenting a dessert, some chefs don't spend a great deal of time on the 1/4 tsp of sauce that gives the plate such a finished look, anyway. In other words, you might not be missing out by simply opting for design. Sold in a set of six, $250.

Sold in a set of four, these lovely Ink Blot Plates can be the entertainment as well as the tableware at your next dinner party. Each plate has a unique blot at its center, along with a "haiku-like saying," such as "Dueling Roosters", "Compassion Among Species" and "Unlikely Event." The sayings are meant not to caption the blots, but to provoke further thought about what the designs might contain. The plates are made of porcelain in the US and were designed by Kathleen Walsh .

One additional bonus of using these at a party is that your guests will be sure to clean their plates to reveal the ink blot design in full. Price: $220.

The limited edition Suburbia Red & White Plate is probably not something that you want to eat you dinner off of. The plate is made from blown glass and is finished with both a diamond lathe and a diamond tip engraver to give the finishe product a level of precision that is almost never reserved for something so basic. Each plate measures 18.5 inches in diameter and is handblown by the artist, Anu Pentinnen. Only 20 pieces of the plate will be made. Price: $1,250.

[via cribcandy]

If you have a nice set of dishes, though luxury consumers tend to prefer basic tableware, you might not want your kids eating off of it, especially if they are very young. Not only could they have an accident, dropping a plate or bowl, but working with a knife and fork that are too large for their small hands can be quite difficult. The Kid's Stuff Complete Dining Set from Alfredo Haberli is kid sized and much more refined than those cartoon-covered plastic dish sets that are often given to children. It includes a plastic tray, porcelain bowl & plate, glass, a four piece flatware set, wooden cutting board and spreader and everything is sized to the proportions of a child, with wide grips that are easy to hold. The cutting board is designed to encourage children to cut up their own food, rather than waiting for an adult to do it for them. Price: $150.

Black and white may be the hot colors in dinnerware, but few things are bolder than a flaming red dragon, which the Ming Dragon Dinnerware from designer Johann Joachim Kaendler proudly displays. The fine porcelain is hand painted, with gold edging on the plates. Because the dragon is traditionally portrayed either in the clouds or amidst waves, the dishes have a slightly scalloped outer edge and, in a slightly unusual touch, the coordinating teacup shows the same wave-like patter along its rim. Price, per 5-pc. setting: $958.

The pattern for the Woodgrain Breakfast Set was originally created in the late 18th century, an expertly-painted wood pattern set on fine porcelain, and though this is a modern reproduction, it is the first to be seen in a very long time. On top of the wood pattern, there is an image of a painting, similar to one that an 18th century engraver would have tacked to his workbench for reference as he reproduced it on copper. The plates are all rimmed with 24K gold. Each set comes with a cup, saucer and breakfast plate. Price: $3,200.

When it comes to high end dining, most consider the food, rather than the tableware. At Berkeley's Chez Panisse, chef/owner Alice Waters worked with Heath Ceramics to design custom place settings. Her reasoning was that since her food was locally sourced, her tableware should be, too. While you can buy the full range of Thomas Keller's tableware, Heath Ceramics has only released a 4-piece set, along with some serving dishes, for home use from their Chez Panisse Collection. The set is available in a neutral almond/ginger color. Price: $146.