Decorative Charger Plates

As anyone with an heirloom china collection knows, plates can be a striking addition to home decor. Unlike china, decorative charger plates are more often seen on a table than on display. But in recent years, decorative chargers have found favor with home decorators looking for unique ways to enliven the style of a moribund living or dining area.

What Are Decorative Charger Plates?
Decorative charger plates are traditionally used to enhance the aesthetic appearance of place settings at formal dinners. They function as underplates on which other dishes are set. Chargers can be removed when diners are seated, after soup or salad, or after the appetizer has been finished.

The surface of decorative charger plates is often very ornate. Hand-painted images and logos are commonly featured, sometimes with paintings etched in gold or silver. Decorative charger plates made from ceramic or pottery might also display the indigenous art of another country.

The term charger plate derives either from Middle English chargeour or Old French chargeoir, meaning to load, as plates are loaded on top of them. A more contemporary and darkly humorous explanation is that charger plates are more often used at restaurants that "charge"a lot for their food.

How to Decorate with Charger Plates
Fine china is usually kept in china cabinets, but decorative charger plates are commonly displayed out in the open. Decorative chargers can be arranged singly or in sets depending on the space available and the uniqueness of the plate style.

For single decorative chargers, plate easels are excellent presentation accessories. Plate easels are typically made from wood or wrought iron, and add significantly to the artistic appeal of charger plates.

If the style of your kitchen or living room is more conducive to a set of decorative chargers, there are many display options available to you. Dish shelves, ornamental multi-plate racks, a series of metal plate brackets, or a wooden plate rail would enable you to transform your decorative charger plates into beautiful wall plates.