“Woke up with a huge feeling of needing this thing,” reads one comment on a now-viral TikTok by Gabby Geismar Machi of Goob Ceramics—and it’s pretty much the same feeling I had about the “oyster plates” the Brooklyn-based ceramic artist posts on her social channels.
Of course, I didn’t know such a thing existed until that moment, but it changed my mindset about what it means to have a well-rounded collection of serving dishes for a dinner party. The previous approach? Large, versatile serving platters that work for whatever you’re serving. The new approach? Bespoke, for a niche, the right dish for the right occasion.
The oyster plate is by no means a new idea. “(They) have a rich history dating back to Victorian times when they were considered the epitome of elegance and luxury,” explains artist Catherine Rex, a California-based designer behind Rex Design. “These plates were made to highlight the beauty of oysters and elevate them as a delicacy.”
But they weren’t just aesthetic pieces – there was a practical reason why the Victorians used this type of platter to serve oysters. Because oysters have a rough shell, they scratched the more delicate, often elaborately painted plates. The oyster plate therefore offered a way to serve them without the shell while still maintaining the theatricality of the cuisine.
Today’s plates are sturdier and oysters are often served in the shell, so why are they making a comeback and why do I want one so badly? Just to be clear, I don’t even eat shellfish. But the reemergence of the oyster plate underscores a broader design trend toward beautiful ceramics that serve a niche in the hospitality industry that I just have to support.
Why are oyster plates making a comeback?
Oyster plate by Goob Ceramics, $150
(Image credit: Goob Ceramics)
The popularity of the oyster plate continues to be coupled with the fact that space is at a premium in our kitchens, especially for the New York City clientele of Gabby Geismar Machi of Goob Ceramics. So why do we return to specific niche designs when we still need to find space to store serving platters?
“Nowadays, people want to fill their homes with objects that feel unique and have a specific purpose,” Gabby tells me. “This is especially true for my clients in their 20s and 30s who enjoy hosting friends and family for intimate gatherings at home. As an artist, I believe that special objects offer the opportunity to create lasting memories at the table, and oysters are the perfect vehicle for that.”
We are increasingly shifting our purchasing decisions and self-expression to well-considered choices that are less based on general practicality and more based on the things we love and that matter to us.
This is also true for Catherine Rex of Rex Design. “One of the beauties of handmade ceramics is that it weaves art into our everyday rituals,” she says. “I also think the design of the oyster plate invites people to think of food as a conversation piece, as a work of art, and as a serving platter.”
What makes a good oyster plate?
Oyster plate by Rex Design, from $240
(Image credit: Catherine Rex / Rex Design)
A cursory online search for oyster plates will reveal that you have a lot of choice when designing one of these pieces. From mass-produced ceramic and metal to hand-formed and painted plates by artisans like Gabrielle and Catherine, there’s plenty of scope to make your choice an expression of your home’s style.
Catherine herself is drawn to ideas that give her pieces a coastal design. “A good oyster plate seamlessly combines the beauty of the ocean with form and function,” she explains. “Personally, I designed my plates with rich colors and hand-painted details that evoke the textures and hues under the sea. It should have indentations to keep the oysters safe and a central bowl for your favorite garnish – I personally like lemon the best.”
Gabby often recommends serving the oyster plate on a bowl of ice at home to keep it cool when served.
How are they made?
Making an oyster plate often comes down to using shells to create the perfect indentations, and Gabby, who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, is no exception.
“My love of oysters was rekindled in 2022 when I moved from San Francisco to Brooklyn. My husband and I started dining at the incredible restaurants in our neighborhood and sharing a dozen oysters. We often meet at a New Orleans-style oyster bar in Williamsburg called Maison Premiere. They source oysters from all over North America and you’re given a menu with a list of about twenty different oysters available that day. You can choose which oysters you want and how many of each,” she tells me.
After many weekends of bonding over this shared meal, the ceramic artist knew she needed to make an oyster plate to recreate the feeling of home. “We decided to celebrate my 28th birthday at Maison Premiere and I went to this dinner knowing I would ask to take the oyster shells home to make my plate. After that, I researched how I could preserve the shells so I could use them to form my plate. It’s been almost a year since I started making oyster plates and to this day I still use the same oysters I brought home from my birthday dinner,” says Gabby.
(Image credit: Catherine Rex / Rex Design)
Catherine also uses shells to create her oyster plates. “Sometimes I sketch out an initial design, but this one developed more organically,” she says of the oyster plate above. “I experimented with different arrangements of the oysters until it felt right, like they were dancing with each other.”
“Then I carve these shapes into clay to create a master mold. Using this plaster mold, I shape each plate by pressing freshly rolled clay slabs into the mold to form them. I let them dry slowly for one to two weeks.”
“Before the first firing, I paint abstract oyster shell patterns, inspired by the times I used to paint seashells with my mother as a child,” explains Catherine. “The slab is then fired for two days, after which I apply a clear, food-safe glaze and fire it again for two days, glazing the piece at over 2000°F. Finally, I sand the bottoms to ensure they are even and smooth before sending them to their new home. A lot of love and time goes into each piece.”
Do I really need an oyster plate?
If you’re not an oyster opener by nature, you probably haven’t read this far anyway, but the oyster plate says more about how we present food when entertaining than it is limited to those who like to indulge in this delicacy. And they’re not without versatility either – there are other ways to use them to elevate a simple table setting.
“I’m all about casual dinner parties and like to use pieces that really only serve one purpose, like an oyster plate, no matter what you’re serving,” says Catherine. “I’ll put a selection of charcuterie on it, or even small appetizers with a dent in the middle. What makes any plate great is that it becomes the focal point of the table – something that draws attention and sparks conversation.”
(Image credit: Goob Ceramics)
Gabby takes it a step further and incorporates a “snack plate” as one of her signature pieces. “My snack plate absolutely evokes the same feelings as oyster plates and was similarly inspired by memories around eating with friends and family,” she tells me. “It works as a personal snack plate and a serving plate for hosts, and that’s how I typically use it. The concept for my snack plate originally came from making seder plates for the Jewish holiday of Passover. When I first started making them, I was inspired by a Hanukkah menorah that I had named ‘The Blobby Menorah’ – I wanted to create and emulate the same curvy, blobby effect, but in a plate format for the next holiday.”
“When the plate came to life, I felt like the concept went way beyond using it as a holiday centerpiece. My family has always had a huge passion for cooking, eating, and sharing food experiences, so when I started sharing the piece with family and friends, it was a natural progression to use it as a snack plate. Once I realized it was a snack plate, it felt so important to share that with the world, especially with the growing social media trend of ‘girls dinner.'”
The idea of the oyster plate is fun, irreverent and by no means something everyone would want to own. For those who enjoy oysters, whether plain or as a main dish at a dinner party, it is definitely a decor piece that “creates moments.” “A niche piece like an oyster plate allows people to transform the simplest moments and meals at home into memorable occasions,” says Gabby.
Price: $59.99
This extremely minimalist oyster plate features elegantly designed recesses (although no central recess for your accessories).
Plate with half a dozen oysters by Laura Johnson
Price: 35 USD
Pretty, modern and picturesque, this oyster plate has a rather abstract shape.
Abigail’s handmade ceramic oyster plate
Price: 60 $
With a watercolor-like glaze, this design appears beautifully handcrafted.
Price: 127 USD
This oyster plate by Brooklyn ceramicist Virgina Sin looks super cool and modern.
Rosecliff Heights Luna Platter
Price: $81.99 for a set of two
A more classic design with clear coastal influences.
