When it comes to food experiences, presentation matters. Everything on your plate has to be a representation of how different ingredients have come together to bring you a little taste of heaven. After all, if we like what we see, we tend to naturally develop a liking for it. And, a perfectly carved platter lies at the foundation of it all.

A plate may seem like a less significant detail but it brings a unique charm to the table, and is an important part of the bigger picture. The dilemma of choosing from different types of plates for serving food is quite real given that there is plenty to choose from - a treasure trove of shapes, sizes, forms, colors, patterns, textures - and the list goes on.

Plates are not just celebrated for their aesthetic appeal; each one serves its very own purpose. It is important to pick the ones that perfectly fit into the theme you have chosen for your occasion, and the menu for the evening. So, what are the different types of dinner plates when it comes to craft types? Let’s take a look at the types of dinner plates brought to you with love from Ikai Asai, along with the thoughtful process that goes into it.

3 Types of Plates Material-wise

1. Terracotta Plates

From drinkware, cookware to serveware, terracotta products are claiming their rightful place on many shelves. Terracotta clay products come in extensive selections of designs, sizes, and shapes. Few of the modern-day terracotta plates are also known to be microwave-safe. They also bring you benefits in terms of wellness as they help neutralize the food’s acid content. The earthiness of terracotta plates help you serve tastier food. Using ancestral knowledge, our craftsmen take from the finest of nature to create exquisite plates.

Our Process:
-The clay is first refined to remove the dust particles and other impurities.

-Then it's mounted at the centre of the potter's wheel for our craftsman to shape it.

-Once the shape is ready, it is dried under the sun for 2-3 days.

-It is then fired in a traditional bhatti, an open furnace, powered by local fuel such as dry coconut leaves or small wooden pieces.

-Once ready, this extensively treated piece is given a beautiful transparent glaze to give it a refined finish.

2. Kansa Plates

Kansa is the traditional (Indian) name for Bell metal. This metalware is made using a 4:1 proportion of copper to tin. Different regions have their own names for it. In Assam, it is called Kanh; while in West Bengal and Odisha, Kansa. It is widely used for cooking and eating utensils. One of the reasons for its popularity is that eating food served in Kansa plates regularly can boost our immunity system. It also does a brilliant job of retaining heat, keeping the food warmer for a longer duration. Our gifted Kansari Karigars use only handmade tools to create plates that serve you well.

Our Process:
-Using handmade tools, our craftsmen form an alloy of Kasa (Bell Metal) and Pital (Brass) and turn it into a metal ball.

-This ball of metal is then melted and set into a small thick coin.

-Then using a Hatudi, the coin is hammered and beaten into the desired shape. After that the shape is cast and turned into a Koi (crucible). This entire process is called heat and beat. It is a collaborative activity needing the perfect coordination of at least four Kansari Karigars.

-The entire process from melting Pital to the final embossing is done under one roof, where each member of the tribe specialises in and performs a singular part of the process.

3. Studio Pottery Plates:

This category mainly comprises handcrafted plates born out of serpentine stone & ceramics. This art form is still extensively practised in the Indian subcontinent. It is believed that ingredients that form ceramic are considered non-toxic. The clay is burnt at a very high temperature, and as a result, it is durable and non-porous. You can find studio pottery plates in different shapes, sizes and colors as well! Our ceramic collection is characterized by dipping only half of the plate into a coloured glaze, symbolising the craving to find what completes you.

Our Process:
-Our studio potters from Auroville and Shantiniketan use ball clay since it is found in abundance around them. This clay is carefully prepared by our potters using exact proportions.

-Kneaded to perfection, the prepared clay is then mounted on the potter's wheel.

-Our craftsmen then give it a shape using traditional hand-building techniques.

-Once the shape is ready, it's fired in a bisque powered by local fuel.

-After the shape solidifies, it's glazed to give it a natural sheen.

-Once ready, the piece is left to dry under the sun for 2-3 days.

-On drying, this piece is glazed by dipping, trailing or brushing on a thin slurry composition of the glaze and water and then it's fired in a bisque.

-The colour of the glaze changes significantly before and after firing.

-The glazing process renders porous pottery vessels impermeable to water and other liquids, increasing their shelf life.

Explore Different Types of Plates for Food with Ikai Asai

The next time you are hosting an event, turn to Ikai Asai. We are home to plates born out of terracotta, ceramic, kansa, studio pottery, black clay pottery and more. Browse through our collections of handcrafted serveware and dinnerware to best serve and host your guests!