A Covering for Your 'Cakes

The Victorians thought of every thing. One of the items that I've recently discovered that I simply love is the covered pancake dish. They are not only beautiful, but also very practical. The dishes were comprise of an underplate that usually measures around 9" with a covered dome lid that had vent holes in them. The pancakes were brought to the table warm and the holes were for the steam to escape. Often times, the piece would have matched the china on the breakfast table.

Pancake dishes were manufactured by a variety of companies, including Limoges, Haviland and Nippon, to name a few. Some are extremely beautiful with floral painting with gold trim and ornate finials on the cover. Prices on the dishes can range from around $50 to well over $500, depending on the age, maker and condition. The number of vent holes on the dishes may also vary. If the lid does not have vent holes, it is more than likely a covered butter dish instead of a pancake cake dish.

Covered Pancake Dish, manufactured by GDA (Gerard, Dufraisseix & Abbot) Limoges, c. 1900-1953. (Inquire for availability. Priced at $285. Free shipping in the Continental US.)