Abstract: A hot plate assembly for supporting heated elements above a more heat susceptible surface, while also presenting an image through the translucent or transparent top plate of the hot plate assembly. The transparent or translucent top plate or main body is preferably formed of a tempered glass and a photographic element or other manner of illustrating an object is mounted or positioned on the undersurface of the top plate so as to be visible through the top plate. The image member provided on the undersurface of the top plate is fixed in position by way of a larger area backing layer which is bonded at least to the top plate's undersurface but also to the image member such as a photograph. Alternatively, the backing layer has the image integrally formed on or in the backing layer. A method is also described for forming a hot plate assembly which includes the sandwiching of the image member between the top plate and backing layer.