Rectangular Earthenware Cake Plate with Christmas Houses - Cream

This rectangular earthenware cake plate carries a little Christmas street across its cream ground: five illustrated houses and a church with a clock tower, set between tall green trees. Wreaths hang on the house fronts, garlands drape beneath the windows, and red front doors pick up the colour of the borders, where looped green garlands are tied with red bows above a fine sprig pattern. A green line runs around the rim, and the pierced handle at each end carries the same garland and bows. It is 35.3cm long, 13cm wide and 1.8cm deep, a long, slim shape that suits a loaf cake or a neat row of mince pies.

It belongs on the Christmas table. Lay a sliced stollen, a yule log or a line of shortbread fingers along its length and pass it round by the handles, or set it down the middle of a narrow table, where a round plate would crowd the place settings. Through December it sits just as happily on a sideboard or a dresser, ready with something sweet when visitors call, and it is equally handy for the Christmas Eve buffet or the Boxing Day cheese board. As a Christmas gift, it is one that comes out every winter.

The plate is earthenware, with its illustration and borders in green and red on a cream ground. Earthenware likes gentle handling, so we would wash it by hand in warm soapy water, dry it straight away and take care not to knock the rim or handles against hard surfaces. Store it flat in a cupboard between seasons and it will be ready when the decorations come out again. For an easy table, lay a green garland down either side and let the little houses do the talking; as a gift, tuck a packet of shortbread on top before you wrap it.

How big is the cake plate?

It is 35.3cm long, 13cm wide and 1.8cm deep. That long, slim shape suits a loaf cake, a yule log or a row of mince pies.

What is the plate made from?

It is earthenware, a ceramic, with the Christmas houses and garland borders decorated in green and red on a cream ground.

Does the plate have handles?

Yes, there is a pierced handle at each end, decorated with the garland and red bows, so it is easy to lift and pass round the table.

What design is on the plate?

Five illustrated houses and a church with a clock tower stand in a row between tall green trees, with wreaths, garlands and red front doors, framed by garland borders.

How should I clean it?

We would wash it by hand in warm soapy water and dry it straight away, as is good practice for decorated earthenware.

Would it make a good Christmas gift?

Yes, its illustrated Christmas street and garland borders make it a cheerful Christmas gift for a seasonal table, and it comes out again year after year.