Dinner plates have historically been used to serve food as well as for decoration.
Dinner plates, which are typically made from porcelain or other earthenware, have been around since the 5th century. They were modeled on earlier, round plates constructed from stale bread. Antique, collectible and commemorative dinner plates continue to enjoy popularity, particularly in Western countries.
Time Frame
Dinner plates originated with the Chinese discovery of porcelain in approximately 600. During the 18th century, European potters began to manufacture porcelain plates, which were mainly available to elites. It was not until the 19th century, specifically between the years 1815 and 1898, that dinner plates became mass-produced and affordable to the public.
Geography
Chinese potters were able to create porcelain due to knowledge of glazing techniques and the local availability of kaolin clay. The opening of trade routes in the 14th century allowed for the export of Chinese plates to Europe, though it took several centuries for Europeans to emulate the porcelain-making process. Mass production of dinner plates occurred mainly in Europe and the United States.
Function
For most of their history, dinner plates have served the double function of decoration and food consumption. The phenomenon of collectible plates, both antique and commemorative, was popularized in Europe and the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.
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