Handful of Plates

These whimsical folded plates stemmed from a problem familiar to anyone who has tried to hold a conversation at party while nibbling on snacks: food rolling off the flimsy, flat paper plate so common to casual gatherings.

Designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew decided it was high time to keep the conversation flowing (and prevent the food from falling). She began exploring the concept of pre-folded plates made of a sturdier material. She carved her first prototype out of alabaster, and then experimented with ceramics, slumping flat dishes over molds. The end result: plates that rested securely in the palm of the hand.