What are these Round Decorative Porcelain Disks

[frogpatch]

I have come across these a couple times. They always measure 6 inches in diameter and have floral transfer designs and the ones I have found have had the old flow blue or cobalt border. They are flat and 1/4 inch thick like a round tile. They also have relief designs on the top and the underside is glazed with two raised rings. One near the outside edge and one towards the center. They almost appear like they fit on something like a fancy food container. One person said they were trivets and another said they were wine bottle coasters. I have my doubts that either is correct. They are never marked but look like they may be German or Bavarian or possibly British or American. They quite old showing much wear on the undersides. Any enlightenment would be appreciated. I only had one to photograph. The other is in storage. The photo of the bottom would not transport from my phone for some reason. Thanks

[mart]

From your description one could think canister lids !! Really need to see the back of it !! Don`t know if it would have anything to do with it but have you noticed that they have one side without a flower which would mean to me that it was meant as the top or back of the disc !!

[frogpatch]

Here is a pic of the back. It just showed up in my email an hour later. Go figure. I see where a flower is missing and it could be the back of it. There is no sign of it being worn off as part of the other flower is. If they were canisters I would think that the odds of me finding three of them all the same size in three different places would be slim but still possible. It definitely looks like they were designed to fit on something. I have two of three but one was donated to the thrift store. Thanks

[wendy177]

I would say you have what is called a  pot lid these are not possible to date to an exact production date  as so many were produced over large periods of time with no records remaining. Blue & white pot lids were introduced in the 1820s with colored examples introduced in the 1840s. These were one of the earliest types of visually appealing packaging. They were first used on Bear's grease, toothpaste and meat or fish paste.

[mart]

Are the ones you found identical or different patterns ?? They look like a lid of some sort to me !!   They are most likely stoneware rather than porcelain !!

[frogpatch]

I thought they might have been pot lids. I read about them as collectables many years ago but thought they would have been bigger.

Mart: They are similar in design but from memory they are slightly different. They are not stoneware but more like ironstone in body. I think of stoneware as in steins, jugs and crocks. This is more like the body and glaze of ironstone. Like an old pitcher might be made of. They have a high glaze like porcelain.

Thanks all.

[mart]

Probably are ironstone which is in the same class to me !! I knew not like a jug ect !! Here in the south we call it all stoneware just to separate it from the more delicate porcelain !!

[frogpatch]

There in the South you make more sense. Up here in Yankee land we even refer to the bathroom fixtures as porcelain. Not too delicate there.

[Rauville]

I've always called those "Tea Tiles", used for setting a tea pot on. The raised edge would help keep the pot from sliding off.

To me, "Pot Lids" are something different...I'm probably mistaken in my thinking, as usual.

http://www.deantiques.com/PLG/index.htm

[frogpatch]

That answer makes the most sense to me. The pot lids I saw on line were smaller and highly decorative with scenes and animals and such. Thanks!

[mart]

Hey Frogpatch,, you got enough answers that you can take your pick !! LOL

[KC]

Okay, we are collectors of anything tea....you have a porcelain tea trivet!

Try googling it!

[frogpatch]

That two in a row. Mystery solved . Thank you all!