glass plate /with birds painting and gold overlay

In the late 70's the Brdford Exchange sold allot of plates where there was a minimum distribution, similar to Franklin Mint. Prior to the late 70's and through the beginning of the century ornamental or commemorative plates were sold.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=bradford+exchange&aq=f&o…

Looking at the plate it is my guess that this plate of course was never intended as a eating utensil, my guess is that the plate was designed to be set on a window sill to allow light to come through it.

There is a very outside chance that the plate was European and designed with Tourists in mind, but my better guess is that it is a limited collectible plate.

Here is but a partial list of those types of plates..
http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com/

Keep in mind that some estimates place collecting/buying plates as the third largest collectible activity behind coins and stamps only in the USA.

Without original packaging or some idea of the the plates history, tracking down one-off plates can be time consuming or difficult..