Pam Gritton Gassel

My mom had three sisters and they were extremely close.  Growing up, we spent a ton of time with our extended families at all their houses. While each house had its own personality in terms of décor, there was one dedicated wall in each home that looked the same and always bonded the sisters together. You see, the sisters loved to go antiquing, and they collected these unique dishes called Oyster Plates.  These plates were from the 1800s and usually had 4 to 6 wells on them specifically to serve oysters in the half shell. Every plate was different from the next and they were strategically hung on these walls to showcase their beauty.

The funny thing is, when I was really young, I just assumed everyone had a wall of Oyster Plates--or at least a few hanging somewhere in their house. It just seemed so normal to me and as I got older, I realized that not only was this not the case, but there was also no one that had even heard of them! Realizing this, I then thought about my mom’s/aunts’ very prized possessions and how cool it was that they each had this special wall so that all the cousins would feel at home in their houses. Plus it was a way to tie our families together always.  

Today, all I need to say to my cousins is “Oyster Plates” and it immediately sparks conversations of warm memories such as our holiday dinners, sitting by the wall where the plates were prominently displayed. Also, to know we grew up in a very closeknit family with a one of a kind collection so distinctive and comforting to us, and where that bond continues today, is invaluable.

Anybody out there have any Oyster Plates?