This very large platter is an oddity. It is neither quite round or what is generally considered oval. It is 2 1/2" out of being round as its 17 1/2" x 20" dimensions suggest. As the shape is quite different from oval platters we decided to give it a page of its own. Originally it was one of a pair we bought almost 50 years ago in PA. Unfortunately, its twin (17 3/4' x 20 1/8") survived until a few years ago when one day it and its wall hanger fell onto a tile floor and was badly smashed, our greatest loss over our collecting years.
This platter is a curiosity as it has a mixture of blue and black decoration which we have never seen before. Notice some of the motifs are outlined in black with cobalt blue filler, in places. The tree left center is drawn in black with a blue canopy. The platter is 8" x 10 1/2" and the bottom is unglazed. This piece was deaccessioned from the Tyler Collection at a North Carolina museum.
Oval platters are scarcer than the common octagonal platters accordingly, they command higher prices for the same size platter. They are attractive with their full Canton scene and rain cloud borders. They have unglazed bottoms and they do not have any decoration on the undersides. The 8 (the largest 19 5/8" platter would not fit in the picture so is shown by itself) oval platters shown here range in size from 10 3/8' long to 19 5/8" long and weigh from 1 lb. 1 oz. to 8 lbs. 2 oz. (since creating this page, I learned of an 17 5/8" x 21" example). The two pictures of the 2 platters show the largest and the smallest ones. The last 3 pictures show the two stands described in the next paragraph.
Octagonal platters are common compared to oval platters, accordingly they command lower prices for the same size platter. Pricewise, there is an escalating range up the length ladder to the very large 20+" platters. They are attractive with their full Canton scene and rain cloud borders. They all have unglazed bottoms and they do not have any decoration on the undersides.
These Canton meat platters and strainers are very useful and are hard to find complete. A set is worth more than the sum of its parts. Individually, platters or strainers are scarce, a set is considered rare. First are 3 sets shown with the pieces together and separate. Next are the bottoms of both the platters and strainers showing they are unglazed.
These fish platters and strainers are very useful and very hard to find complete. Shown here are two complete platters and one without its strainer. All three have very good decoration and dark blue color. The platters and strainers all have unglazed bottoms. All of these platters have 4 flowers on the outside. The top platter's strainer has 64 holes in it plus the finger hole and the other strainer has 72 holes plus the finger hole. Note: these oval pierced plates are also known as "drainers" or "mazarines".
A very useful platter for turkey or steak diners as the juices run down the tree shaped indentations into the well. These platters are sloped from the high end to the well end. All well & trees have two feet and the well bump upon which they rest. Most of the bottom is glazed except for the bump and bottom edge strips. This large platter is 18 1/2" long. There may be larger and smaller ones. Oval shaped well & tree platters are very rare. The octagonal ones are scarce but more are available. Octagonals are pictured and discussed separately.
A very useful platter for turkey or steak diners as the juices run down the tree shaped indentations into the well. On the largest platter pictured here there is a slope from the high end to the well end of 1/2". All well & trees have two feet and the well bump upon which they rest. Most of the bottoms are glazed except for the bump and bottom edge strips. These four platters range in size from 12 1/8" long to 18 7/8" long. We are aware of a platter that is 19 1/2" long and there are others to fill in between the smallest and largest shown here. Octagonal Well & Trees are scarce but the oval shaped well & tree is very rare. One example is pictured and discussed separately.
