Once you think you've seen all the there is to see out in the world of thrifting and collecting, along comes something that makes you realize you were wrong. In my case the culprit was a lemon serving plate, something I had neither heard of nor seen out in the wild.
I was totally intrigued by a handled plate with gold trim and a floral motif. I had no idea what the handle was for. But I was about to find out.
Sometimes you find a unique piece of vintage china without knowing its intended purpose, but you buy it anyway because you think it's pretty and unique - hello - and you just have to have it. That's exactly how I ended up bringing home this beautiful, delicate floral patterned plate.
I found it at Goodwill for $2.99. I then found the exact same one offered on Etsy for $25.
The main thing that attracted me to this plate was the attached handle decorated with intricate painted flowers. Why would a small plate like this have a handle on it? In all my years of collecting I had never seen anything like it. I was intrigued.
I absolutely fell in love with the delicately fluted, gilded edges. So what is this plate supposed to be?
After a bit of research, I found out that I was not alone in my bafflement. I found tales of other people who were also surprised when they found out the true purpose of their own delicately handled plate.
Some people even went all out and bought collections of these mystery plates!
As a true tea lover and china collector, I can't believe this was all new to me. It's a lemon serving plate for goodness sake -- lemons to be served with tea! Talk about proper tea etiquette!
Lemon serving plates trace back to the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, specialized small shallow dishes -- often called handled lemon plates -- became popular tea table accessories for serving sliced citrus for tea (and sometimes seafood) across Europe, Japan, and the United States.
And who says it's only for hot tea? How about serving lemons on this lovely dish while sharing iced tea on a hot summer day?
The makers mark says "TT hand painted Made in Japan." This means it was made by the Takito company (1880-1948) in Japan and it's at least 78 years old!
Yellow and blue always go well with each other -- hence the thrifted vintage Blue Willow china tea cup and saucer.
More chinoiserie in the form of a cachepot centerpiece, a tiny chinoiserie tureen filled with sugar cubes and Pimpernel Spode blue toile placemats from Goodwill (4 for $3.99). One of these placemats is selling on Etsy for $28.
To me this plate is unique, oh-so-pretty and highly collectible. Alas, another vintage find that I will now be on the lookout for! Have you ever found a lemon serving plate?
Well, that's it for today, friends!
I hope you've enjoyed reading about my
Vintage Takito TT Hand Painted
Lemon Serving Plate
and that I've inspired you in some way.
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