Avon Christmas Plates

The annual Avon Christmas plates are round and vary in size from about 7-1/2" to 9" in diameter. They were issued in multiple editions to meet production requirements and consumer demand. They almost always bore the year on the front as a part of the design and the back bore the plate's title, Avon copyright notice and often the name of the manufacturer or place of origin. Many of these plates were made in England by Enoch Wedgwood.

Over the years, as public taste, decorating trends and popular culture changed, the annual Christmas plate designs adapted to consumer interest. The collection began with Wedgwood designs featureing large borders of blue trimmed in 22K gold with a central portrait of a pretty country scene.

In the mid 1980s, a new look was introduced when for two years, "A Child's Christmas" designs were sculpted in white bisque porecelain. The center scene was actually produced in a raised sculpture style with a wide white border embossed with snowflakes and the traditional 22K gold border trim.

Collecting mania was still strong in the late 1980s when we still enjoyed our country kitchens adorned with a goose, collected teddy bears and thought anything miniature was just adorable. Avon responded by producing both full and miniature editions of the holiday plates. Minis were only 3" in diameter, about a third of the size of their full size counterparts and could be displayed on miniature stands or hung on the wall just the same.

There were lots of country and Victorian inspired themes to the Avon plates. The kinds of traditional Christmas memories which make them still highly collectible today. By the 1990s, however, the borders gave way to new edge-to-edge designs. Victorian children and towns and Santa remained popular. But every once in a while we just couldn't resist the cute portrait of a family of bears in Victorian dress or a whimsical look at two children falling asleep waiting for Santa and appearing like angels as they dreamed.

As the century turned over and we survived the Y2K scare, Avon began licensing artists's work, giving credit to Tom Newsom and others on the reverse side of the plate. In 2009, two versions of "A Gift To Remember" were offered. Both depicted two excited children opening up a wrapped box beside a decorated Christmas tree. Both are very happy to discover the puppy inside. One version featured African American children and the other Caucasion.

After a brief break in the series, Avon Christmas plate collectors will be happy to know the tradtion continues in 2011 when Avon will relaunch it's annual holiday tradition.

As a long time Avon customer myself and now as an Avon Lady in Kissimmee, FL, I have often given these plates as gifts myself. I like to remove the plate, wrap it in clear plastic wrap or cellophane, then wrap the box separately in colored foil. Then I deck the plate with an assortment of freshly baked Christmas cookies, garnish with a few foil wrapped candies and wrap the plate again with cellophane. Secure the plate to the box with a festive wired ribbon bow and you have a beautiful and always welcome gift basket!

This lens is maintained by an Avon Independent Sales Representative and the opinions expressed are hers and not those of Avon Products, Inc.