Plateau

Plateau — a large flat dish, usually used for serving appetizers, fruits, pastries, or desserts. In Russian and European art, the plateau was made of porcelain and silver, often serving as the central decoration of the table. In the 19th–20th centuries, plateaus were actively decorated with complex painting, gilding, reliefs, and handles in the form of animals or plants.

At auctions, unique plateaus with hand-painted decorations or unusual history are especially highly valued: there was a case when a porcelain plateau in the shape of a sea shell sold for more than 45 thousand euros at a major European auction. Important: recognizable painting style and factory marks often help establish provenance and increase the value of the item.