Minton Prawn Plate

Q: I have four Minton plates that appear to be made in the mid to late 1800s. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find anything like them on the web. They are molded prawn plates. Can you help identify when they were made and/or what they may be worth? Also, are there records of who may have first purchased them? I’m in Western Australia in the Peel Region and bought them with other old plates from a garage sale held by two elderly local ladies.

 

A: Minton china was made in the Staffordshire region of England beginning in 1796. This crown on top of a globe mark was used from about 1873 to 1912. The word “England” was added in 1891, so your plates were made sometime between 1891 and 1912. There isn’t any way to trace who originally bought the plates or how they came to Western Australia. Your plate looks similar to an oyster plate. Oyster plates sell for over $100.