In honour of World Vegetarian Day which was celebrated on Saturday 1 October I am presenting one of my favourite little period features – the asparagus dish. We don’t have as much time nor space as they did in the past but I think its worth having one of these to elevate a plain vegetable into an event. Hope you are inspired to look out for them – I know you’ll want one!

Here’s a plain, elegant dish of English plated silver complete with jug for pouring a buttery sauce. It’s fancy but not fancy enough for me – I prefer something a bit more extravagant.

I’m quite taken with this antique, French Luneville Victorian Majolica.

Or this prettier, more delicate German dish.

If you really want to splash out you could buy asparagus plates too like this antique lovely from Portugal.

And special serving implements.

You’ll need a sauce jug – could be a simple silver one or something like this from Austria.

Or maybe not – I think I prefer something with a little more charm.

And, of course, more serious collectors get to have a gorgeous display – if only I had a bigger home.

Enjoy yourself with some antique dishes – they’re worth investing in just for pleasure.