Dinnerware Diary

Dinnerware in the American Tradition

 
Gorham China Ariana is rimmed whiteware with a stylized, geometric floral pattern with band on the verge (the verge is where the center of the plate joins the rim), and a similar, larger design repeated on the rim of the plate. The pattern has a wonderfully open and airy feel to it! Gorham, originally known for its high-quality sterling silver, was founded in 1831 on Steeple Street in Providence, RI. Over the 180 years the company has been in business, it has produced a multitude of silver patterns, most notably, Chantilly, a household name, and the best-selling flatware pattern ever produced. In recent years, Gorham has moved into other tableware areas, including the production of high-quality china, like Ariana, and exquisite crystal.

Fostoria Jamestown-Blue is light blue, pressed glass with a concave, squarish bowl that features swirling, spiral panels on the side. The twist stem echoes the shapes of the panels on the bowl, and the foot is round. Even with its square shape, the curves in this pattern are organic and elegant. Founded in Fostoria, OH, in 1887, the Fostoria company relocated to Moundsville, WV, shortly thereafter, because of that region's abundant natural resources. Jamestown-Blue, released in 1958, was another in a line of popular colored-glass stemware introduced by Fostoria in the 1920s. After meeting decades of stiff foreign competition with classic designs and innovative glass-making methods, Fostoria operations were shut down by its parent company, Lancaster Colony, in 1983. Fostoria glass is highly sought-after by collectors today.

Wallace American Tradition is high-quality 18/10 stainless (18/10 represents the ratio of chromium and nickel used in the stainless steel, which adds luster and durability to the pieces) with an elegantly balanced, clean design. The tip of the handle is pointed, and the simple bead design outlining the shape is reminiscent of American Colonial flatware. Wallace Silver, established in Connecticut nearly two centuries ago, has long been recognized for excellence in tableware craftsmanship. The founder of the company, Robert Wallace, was born in 1815 into a family of silversmiths who had emigrated to New England from Scotland. Apprenticed to William Mix, a renowned Connecticut spoon maker, Wallace purchased a dilapidated grist mill after mastering his trade, and began to produce his own silver flatware in 1833. His most successful early product? Spoons! 

Bright Summer Colors, Artistic Design

 
Lindt-Stymeist Colorways is a delightful multi-motif pattern that showcases an eye-catching design with vibrant colors and elegant shapes. The clean style of this design serves as the ideal complement to the equally bold Hancock Platinum and Avignon/Vendom crystal and flatware patterns. Designer John Stymeist introduced this trend-setting, two-tone work in 1986, and Lindt-Stymeist Colorways dinnerware quickly became a popular choice for households throughout the U.S. Stymeist is a master not only of the selection of colors, but in their interplay in combination. While the Lindt-Stymeist Colorways pattern was discontinued in 2006, it remains a favorite among collectors.

Lenox Crystal Hancock Platinum features a multisided, knobbed stem, a round foot, and platinum trim on a v-shaped bowl that flares at the top. Founded in 1889 by Walter Scott Lenox in Trenton, NJ, the "Staffordshire of America" in its time, the Lenox Ceramic Pottery Company produced art-quality pieces. By 1897 examples of Lenox's work were displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. In 1918, President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson commissioned a set of Lenox for the White House, making it the first American china to grace a president's table. Lenox introduced its line of hand-blown crystal in 1966.   

Avignon/Vendome by Retroneu Silver is an 18/10 stainless steel pattern featuring a glossy finish, a plumed tip, and ribbed handle design. Retroneu Silver produced the Avignon/Vendome pattern from 1994 to 2009. This Retroneu design is superbly made - a complement to a wide range of china and crystal. Offering unique stainless steel, silverplate, and gold electroplate flatware featuring gorgeously sculpted handles, Retroneu Silver patterns are designed to enhance both the appearance of the table setting and the enjoyment of the meal. Other popular Retroneu patterns include Scan, Cylinder, Esprit, Contour, and Provence.

Influence from the Italian Renaissance

 
Royal Worcester Ambassador-Green is fine English bone china, rimmed, with a gold band on the verge (the verge is the area where the plate merges with the rim), a gold geometric design on the rim, and is completed on the edge with a band of gold, a green border with raised gold dots, and gold trim. Like its name, Ambassador-Green is statesmanlike! From its inception, quality of materials has been a hallmark of the Royal Worcester company. In 1751 Dr. John Wall, one of the founders, developed "soft paste" porcelain that would not crack or shatter in boiling water. From the very beginning, Dr. Wall wanted to produce tableware unmatched in its detail and design quality. More than 250 years later, Royal Worcester remains on the forefront of design and production excellence.

With a convex bowl and gold trim, Lenox Crystal Monroe (Gold Trim) features a flower petal design connecting the bowl to the twist design of the stem, and a round foot. The clean design of this crystal beautifully complements the ornate geometric band and gold trim of Royal Worcester's Ambassador-Green and the elegance of Gorham's English Gadroon sterling. Founded in 1889 by Walter Scott Lenox in Trenton, NJ, the "Staffordshire of America" in its time, the Lenox Ceramic Pottery Company produced art-quality pieces. By 1897 examples of Lenox's work were displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. In 1918 President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson commissioned a set of Lenox for the White House, making it the first American china to grace a president's table. Lenox introduced its line of hand-blown crystal in 1966.

English Gadroon sterling by Gorham Silver is a magnificent example of gadrooning, an ornamental band that is embellished with fluting, reeding, or another continuous pattern. This form of design, also used in architecture and furniture-making, was made popular during the Italian Renaissance. Finished with a fan/plume design on the tip of the handle, English Gadroon was introduced in 1939 and remained in production for more than five decades. Gorham Silver was founded by Jabez Gorham in 1831 in a shop on Steeple Street in Providence, RI. Born into a family of eight, Gorham had been apprenticed to 18th century New England silver patriarch Nehemiah Dodge at an early age. After founding his own company, Gorham quickly established a reputation for hand-crafted silver of the highest quality - a reputation that endures today.

Classic American Designs

 
Homer Laughlin Fiesta-Rose (Older) is an iconic design with embossed concentric rings at the center of the plate and at the rim. Many of the plates are classified as "coupe", which means the plate has a convex shape, with no rim on the edge. Fiesta comes in a wide variety of solid colors that can be mixed and matched. Designed in 1936 and showing the strong influence of the Art Deco movement, Homer Laughlin Fiesta is the best-selling dinnerware in American history. Simple shapes and bold colors broke with the ornate, floral dinnerware traditions of the time, and spoke to the emerging casual lifestyle in American households. Homer Laughlin personally noted customer reactions to different colors that were being considered for the initial release of Fiesta - an early example of consumer focus groups!

Duncan & Miller Starlight is blown glass with floral and star cut designs on a convex bowl that flares at the top. The ribbed stem features molded design elements that add a pleasing effect to the glass's overall shape. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Duncan & Miller got its start in 1865, when George Duncan bought the Ripley & Company glass factory and created Duncan & Sons, a partnership between Duncan and his sons, Harry B. Duncan and James E. Duncan, and his son-in-law, Augustus H. Heisey. Later, John Ernest Miller joined the company as a designer, and, during the next 52 years, would become world renowned for his glass designs. The period from 1893 to the closing of the plant in 1955 is generally known as the Duncan-Miller period, although the partnership was not official until 1900, when the firm was incorporated as Duncan & Miller Glass Company. The handmade glass at the Duncan & Miller Glass Company was distinguished by the artistry of design, the skill of the workers, the batch formulas, and the lovely colors of their glassware. Many of the Duncan & Miller pieces required ten or more people to create each piece. Duncan & Miller ceased production in 1955, as machines and assembly lines made the production of handmade glass not profitable. Duncan & Miller glass is now highly sought by collectors.

Newport Shell by Towle Silver was produced for almost a century, from 1910 to 2001. Newport Shell is an exquisite sterling pattern with a charming shell motif, beaded edge design, and a glossy finish. The understated look of the Newport Shell design works well with the bold Fiesta-Rose and Starlight patterns by Homer Laughlin and Duncan & Miller. The history of Towle Silver is rooted in the Moulton family of England. Starting with William Moulton II, a tradition of craftsmanship and artistry would be built by six generations of Moultons, including William Moulton IV, who would apprentice a young Anthony F. Towle. After years of diligent study, Anthony decided to start his own business upon the retirement of William IV. Using the knowledge he had acquired working with the Moulton family, Anthony Towle and partner William P. Jones would buy the Moulton family stock to form Towle & Jones, Co. in 1857. The company found firm footing and a warm reception in the silver industry and market at large. Production of the first Towle hollowware lines (tea sets and other pieces) began in 1890, and Towle gained recognition for fine craftsmanship in the many years that followed. Patterns like Candlelight, produced since 1934, and Old Master, produced since 1942, have consistently drawn hordes of dedicated followers. Today, Towle embodies all of the original principles set forth by the Moulton family, and used so wisely by Anthony Towle. The Towle Silver legacy of great craftsmanship, beautiful design, and quality will ensure its continued success in the silver tableware market.

Passion for the Sea

 
With a gold band on the verge (the verge is the area where the plate merges with the rim) and delicate blue scroll designs on the rim, a dark blue band, and wide gold trim on the outside edge, Royal Doulton Princeton exudes refinement and elegance. The pattern beautifully represents the design and production excellence associated with the Royal Doulton company. Founded as Doulton and Watts in Lambeth, England, in 1815, the company produced both industrial and household ceramics. (In 1901, King Edward VII conferred a Royal Warrant upon Doulton and Co. to honor the company's production of ceramic vessels that successfully filtered pollutants from the water of the Thames River, London's primary source for drinking water.) Royal Doulton is also known worldwide for its elegant figurines.

The Wedgwood Crystal Monarch goblet features two pairs of concentric rings that border delicate etched designs of scroll work and shells on the bowl, with panels and cuts that refract light beautifully. The multi-sided stem stands atop a round foot with starburst cuts. In 1759, Josiah Wedgwood established himself as an independent potter at the "Ivy House Works" in Burslem, England. During his career, Wedgwood made many refinements in the production processes for porcelain dinnerware. The Monarch crystal pattern features Wedgwood's personal passion, conchology, the study of mollusk shells. Wedgwood often was seen on the beaches of England, collecting shells. He used their organic shapes in many of the original designs and patterns for his tableware and figurines.

Another lovely shell pattern is featured in the sterling pattern, Romance of the Sea, by Wallace Silver. The swirls on this wonderful silver pattern suggest the motion of waves, and the shell design at the tip of the handle is dramatic. The designer must have had a personal love of the sea! Wallace Silver, established in Connecticut nearly two centuries ago, has long been recognized for excellence in tableware craftsmanship. The founder of the company, Robert Wallace, was born in 1815 into a family of silversmiths who had emigrated to New England from Scotland. Apprenticed to William Mix, a renowned Connecticut spoon maker, Wallace purchased a dilapidated grist mill after mastering his trade, and began to produce his own silver flatware in 1833. Romance of the Sea is just one of many examples of Wallace Silver's high-quality work.

Spectacular French and American Artistry

 
Inspired by eighteenth-century Venetian porcelain, Ceralene Guirlandes is a gorgeous pattern richly decorated with hued floral garlands interspersed with dark green trim. The center design is a cheerful bouquet surrounded by sprigs of foliage. Ceralene is produced by Raynaud, a manufacturer known and recognized as being a leader in applied art in tableware design. Raynaud was established in Limoges, France, a city 200 miles southeast of Paris, world-renowned for its artistry in fine porcelain. According to the Raynaud website, "Raynaud has upheld its custom of producing resplendent relief shapes, gilt decorations and engraved tableware whose signature hallmarks have transcended generations." The Guirlandes pattern is a wonderful example of Raynaud's dedication to superior quality and design.

Seneca Cut 870 is an alluring blown glass pattern featuring a concave bowl that flares at the top, an intricate polished and gray cut bowl design with floral and garland elements, a multisided stem, and a round foot with a cut design. The Seneca Glass Company opened in Seneca County, OH, in 1891, using immigrant glassworkers from Germany's Black Forest region. The company soon relocated to Fostoria, OH, in a former plant of the Fostoria Glass Company. In 1896, the Seneca Glass Company again changed locations - moving to Morgantown, WV, where newly discovered natural gas deposits provided ample and relatively cheap fuel for firing, and river and railroad transportation were available to move the company's wares. Diversity of products, the use of various decorative techniques in a variety of colors enabled Seneca Glass Company to find success in a highly competitive market. Depression-era production included clear glass, cobalt blue, and light green, topaz, and additional colors, according to authors Bob Page and Dale Frederiksen in their book, "Seneca Glass Company 1891-1983: A Stemware Identification Guide." Production of glassware in a wide spectrum of colors would become one of Seneca's trademarks in the 1970s. Hues included "Accent Red" (ruby), "Amber," "Buttercup" (yellow), "Cinnamon" (brown), "Delphine Blue" (light blue), "Ritz Blue" (cobalt), "Sahara" (light amber), "Gray" (smoky), "Moss Green" (dark green), "Lime Green," "Peacock Blue," "Black," and "Plum" (amethyst). Seneca also holds the distinction of being the last American-made lead crystal stemware to be sold by Tiffany & Company.

Christofle (France) Brienne is a stylish sterling pattern that features an elegant floral and garland motif, and a glossy finish. Christofle began production of Brienne in 1991, and the understated design and floral motif showcased in this pattern are excellent complements to the Guirlandes and Cut 870 designs. Christofle was founded in France in 1830 by jeweler Charles Christofle. After purchasing a patent for an electroplating technique in 1842, Christofle opened a large factory that was one of the first factories in the world to use electricity. By 1855, the quality of Christofle's products had garnered such acclaim that Emperor Napoleon III appointed Charles Christofle official purveyor to the French court. Christofle literature states, "Christofle has always seen its name associated with major creative trends, renowned artists such as Man Ray or Jean Cocteau, avant-garde architects such as Gio Ponti, and modernist silversmiths such as Lino Sabattini and Christian Fjerdingstad, as well as present-day designers such as Andree Putman, Martin Szekely or Ora ito. Today, as in the past, whether gracing the tables of emperors, princes, or maharajas, in palaces on board the Trans-Siberian Railway, Orient Express, or transatlantic ocean liners ... Christofle continues to make an impression."

Emperors, Kings, and Presidents

 
Royal Crown Derby Old Imari is English fine bone china, lavishly decorated in blue, red, and gold floral and geometric designs. Long distinguished for its high-quality creations, Royal Crown Derby was founded in the town of Derby prior to 1750 by a wealthy British businessman and a French Huguenot who emigrated to England to escape religious persecution. "Imari" patterns were popularized by English china makers in the 19th century. The patterns and colors imitated porcelain pieces first produced during the Edo period (1603-1868) on the island of Kyushu, Japan. The porcelain was designed specifically for export to the European markets, and the port used was the town of Imari. This region of Japan was home to "The Village of the Secret Kilns," where much of the Imari porcelain originated. British manufacturers enjoyed tremendous success when they released their versions of the old Imari patterns in their home market.

Baccarat St. Remy crystal features a convex bowl that curves inward at the rim. The design is beautifully balanced with no cuts in the crystal whatsoever. The magnificent shape and clean design of St. Remy are wonderfully complementary to the highly ornate design of the Royal Crown Derby Old Imari bone china. In 1764 King Louis XV of France granted the Bishop Montmorency-Laval of Metz rights to build a glassworks in the town of Baccarat. By the 1830s the company was producing crystal glassware, candelabras, and banisters for palaces and manor houses in England and across Europe - even crystal hookahs for Constantinople! By the end of the 19th century, Baccarat crystal was known throughout the world. In 1885 orders poured in from India, the United States, England, Mexico, and Brazil. Baccarat crystal has graced the tables of King Louis XVIII, King Charles X, Emperor Napoleon III, and many French presidents.

A beveled outline and flat handle with scalloped tip distinguish the classic lines of the Fairfax sterling pattern by Gorham Silver. Introduced in 1950, Fairfax is substantial and versatile - like the simple balance of the St. Remy crystal, Fairfax sterling is a lovely complement to Old Imari. Gorham Silver was founded by Jabez Gorham in 1831 in a shop on Steeple Street in Providence, RI. Born into a family of eight, Gorham had been apprenticed to 18th century New England silver patriarch Nehemiah Dodge at an early age. After founding his own company, Gorham quickly established a reputation for hand-crafted silver of the highest quality. Gorham Silver produced flatware for the White House of Mary Todd Lincoln, a silver vase for Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, and Gorham Chantilly was used aboard Air Force One during the presidency of George H. W. Bush.

Summer Blooms and Butterflies

 
Charnwood is a gorgeous bone china pattern produced by Wedgwood from 1951 to 1987. The asymmetrical floral design of the pattern features rich colors and verdant foliage replete with butterflies and other insects seamlessly incorporated into the design, complemented by stylish gold trim. In 1759, Josiah Wedgwood established a pottery at the "Ivy House Works" in Burslem, England. During his first 10 years of business, Wedgwood made many advances in the refining of porcelain. One of Wedgwood's most important creations was creamware, true fine china that was easy to produce, relatively inexpensive to make, easily decorated, and desired by royalty and commoner alike. In 1765, King George III's wife, Queen Charlotte, solicited Wedgwood to be "Potter to His and Her Majesty." As a result of his new title, Wedgwood changed the official name of his creamware to "Queen's Ware." Jasperware, a non-glazed porcelain featuring classical figures in bas-relief, was another important invention of Wedgwood's, and has become virtually synonymous with the Wedgwood name.

Reizart Charnia is a lovely blown glass pattern with a concave bowl that flares at the top, knobbed stem, and round foot. The exquisite bowl cuts depict a graceful butterfly amongst leaf and floral designs. If it looks as though Charnia crystal perfectly complements Charnwood china, that's because it was designed specifically for that purpose! The maker, Reizart Crystal, traces its beginnings to 1859, when German immigrant Charles Reizenstein founded the C. Reizenstein China & Crystal Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the 1950s, Charles' son, Louis, created a "Made to Match" product line. To create this line, Reizart purchased "blanks" from glass manufacturers like Duncan & Miller, Morgantown, Seneca Glass, and others (the Charnia pattern uses a blank by Bryce Crystal). The blanks would then be cut and decorated to coordinate with china patterns from companies like Castleton, Franciscan, Lenox, Syracuse, Wedgwood, Minton, and others. The coordinating china and crystal patterns were marketed together in many upscale department and jewelry stores. In the mid-1960s, Gorham Silver purchased Reizart Crystal, and for about five years advertised it as "Gorham/Reizart."

Produced from 1953 to 1991, Gorham Silver Decor (Sterling) is a remarkably graceful flatware pattern! Decor (Sterling) features a flowing asymmetrical design with a pierced handle, a floral and scroll edge, a plumed tip, and a glossy finish. The balance in proportions and shape represents the apex of great design, where each element enhances the effect of the whole. Decor (Sterling) offers an array of interesting place and serving pieces, including salt spoons, jelly servers, tomato servers, and much more. The pattern even includes a beautiful gold wash lapel pin! This elegant pattern was produced by a legendary American company. Its founder, Jabez Gorham, was born into a family of eight and apprenticed to eighteenth-century New England silver patriarch Nehemiah Dodge at a very early age. In 1831, Gorham founded his own company in Providence, RI. He quickly established a reputation for creating distinctive hand-crafted silver of the highest quality. Gorham Silver's reputation for excellence endures today.