Children's Dishes have been manufactured since the 17th century, being made in England and China. Along with being made for children to play with, they were also miniature collectables for adults. Even today, the small dishes are very desirable for people of all ages.

By the 19th century, the dishes were popular for children's tea parties and for them to play with and enjoy. Today, many women remember playing with the beautiful pattern and cut glass dishes from the 1800s and 1900s that were handed down to them from their mothers and grandmothers.

Although the very early miniature dishes are getting harder to find in today's market, they are out there and are worth searching for. The price, quality and rarity of old glassware make them very desirable to own, collect and display. When you do find them, the prices are comparatively as high as full scale dishes.

A child's Flow Blue casserole dish can fetch from $90 and up. Tea sets that are in excellent condition from Germany or England can bring in the hundreds. Westmoreland Co. of Pa. designed the beautiful Flattened Diamond and Sunburst pattern in 1890. The lines on this pattern are very delicate, and each piece has a sawtooth edge, even on the edges of the butter dish.

Dishes have been made in Cut Glass, Milk Glass, Carnival Glass, Pattern Glass, Opalescent, Alacite, Slag, and even Bristol Glass. As the years went on, others were made from plastic, aluminum, and tin. Also some were painted, and most of those were made in Japan. Dishes made of Ironstone and Lustre Ware are easier to find. Flow Blue, Blue Onion and Blue Willow dishes take more searching, but they are out there.

There was a time when the dishes were made by very good craftsman. They reflected dignity and pride in offering our little people items of beauty to enjoy and play with. Just to name a few companies to make these lovely pieces were Cambridge, Duncan's Sons & Co., Bryce, McKee & Co., Westmoreland, Heisey Millerburgs., and Coalport.

Moderntone "Little Hostess" tea sets, made in the 1950s, came in soft pastel and also dark colors. They command high prices for pieces in excellent condition. Tea sets in the original box add to the value.

Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. made a Nursery Rhyme series and a Western series, made of milk glass with decals. This company also made the famous Shirley Temple cobalt blue dishes.

Fry Glass Company was the maker of the "Kiddibake" Cookware, circa 1922. They were made in clear opalescent glass and came in bread dishes, casseroles, pie plates and ramekins.

Some of the companies that made Depression child dishes in various colors were MacBeth Glass Co., Jeannette Glass Co., Hazel Atlas Glass Co., Imperial Glass Co. and New Martinsville Glass Co.

Pictured in this article is the "WILD ROSE" pattern, made in Milk Glass and trimmed in red. They were in Butler's Brother's 1910 glass catalog. They were also made in Crystal Glass. The butter dish has an inverted rose on the bottom of the dish. As the pictures indicate, the sugar, creamer, and spooner have very large handles and the roses are in relief. Also made in this same pattern were punch bowls and cups and candlesticks. Prices on these pieces can range from $60 each and go up from there.

So search your favorite Antique Shop, Flea Markets and even garage sales. It is a lot of fun and definitely a day worth spending to find nice dishes for your favorite young person or yourself. Have fun!

You may visit Carol's Antiques at 80 N. Howard St. in Croswell. The store is open from May through November, Saturday from 11 - 4, Monday from 10 - 3 and Sunday by appointment. Email Carol at cantique@greatlakes.net.