Dinnerware Diary

Art Deco Influence

 
Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta-Persimmon (Newer) is coupe-shaped, round china, with embossed concentric rings at the center of the plate and at the rim. Fiesta comes in a wide variety of solid colors that can be mixed and matched with Persimmon. Designed in 1936 and showing the strong influence of the Art Deco movement, Homer Laughlin Co. 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!

Imperial Glass-Ohio Old Williamsburg-Clear is a wonderful complement to the simple lines of Homer Laughlin Co. Fiesta-Persimmon (Newer). The concave bowl of the glass flares at the top, with beautiful panels on the side, a multi-sided stem with wafer and ball, and a round foot. Old Williamsburg-Clear was produced by Imperial Glass-Ohio from 1959 to 1982, when the company closed its doors. Founded in 1901 in Bellaire, OH, by Edward Muhleman, a riverboat captain and financier, the Imperial Glass Company began production in 1904, and was at the time "the largest factory in this part of the Ohio Valley."  Over its 82-year history, the company produced a fantastic array of glassware, figurines, and accessories that were sold in the leading department stores of the day.

Kirk Stieff Silver Williamsburg Shell is an elegantly simple sterling pattern with a large shell design at the tip of the handle. The broad handle narrows to a slender waist at the utensil - providing real flair to this understated design! Kirk Stieff Silver is the culmination of two great Baltimore, MD, traditions.  Charles Stieff founded Stieff Silver in 1892; Samuel Kirk founded his silversmith firm much earlier, in 1815 (Kirk's firm is acknowledged as the oldest silversmith company in America). The firms were combined in 1979. From their inception, both companies were recognized for innovative design and master craftsmanship. Just before World War II, Stieff began to produce silver for Colonial Williamsburg to make replicas of American pieces going back to silversmiths like Paul Revere.

Distinctive, Eye-Catching American Designs

 
Mikasa Tango is gorgeous coupe-shaped, all-black china that showcases artfully rendered asymmetrical floral designs. The Tango pattern beautifully represents the craftsmanship and production excellence associated with the Mikasa company. In the early 1930s, Mikasa was established as an international trading company based in Secaucus, New Jersey. The company, while wholly American, looked to Japan for inspiration. Named in honor of Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, Mikasa soon established itself as one of the most recognized Japanese brand names in the West. Importing merchandise produced by a network of over 150 manufacturers worldwide, the company itself never attempted to make any of the dinnerware it sold. Rather, the Mikasa branded items were imported from Japan, Ireland, England, France, and Germany. Business exploded in the 1950s, and tableware became the staple business for Mikasa. Customer requests were pouring in from all parts of the country, and department stores including Bloomingdale's and Macy's could not keep enough stock to meet demand. Consumers found Mikasa ceramics to be very strong, versatile, and stylish. Today, Mikasa continues to leverage the momentum it has built over the decades since its inception.

Accented by dazzling gold trim, Talia-Gold  by Christopher Stuart features an elegant shape with a concave bowl that flares at the top, a knobbed, multisided stem, and a round textured foot. Christopher Stuart is a division of Mikasa. By the beginning of the 1960's, Mikasa had established a reputation as "the pioneer of American casual." They refined their product range by introducing new patterns in unique groups known as "lines." For example, the 'Studio Nova' line was produced for the "young-at-heart" casual diners who would likely eat their meals in the kitchen. The 'Home Beautiful' line appealed to those who wanted durability and affordability. 'Christopher Stuart' reflected the taste of the consumer who "wants a broad selection of styles." Talia-Gold is one of many examples of high-quality Christopher Stuart crystal.

Named for one of New York City's first residential neighborhoods, Tribeca by Oneida is a fantastic flatware pattern. Tribeca showcases a glossy finish and a graceful "twist" handle that perfectly complements the elegance of the Talia-Gold crystal and Tango china. Oneida, Ltd. grew out of the original Oneida Community founded in upstate New York by John Humphrey Noyes in 1848. Many products were manufactured by the Oneida Community, including silk, chains, and, eventually, some of the world's most recognizable, high-quality, and beautifully designed flatware. Today, Oneida, Ltd. is one of the world's largest marketers of stainless steel flatware, positioned to continue being a leader in the tableware industry for generations to come.

Gorham Chantilly Hors D'oeuvre Fork

Named after the famous French palace of Chantilly, Gorham's Chantilly pattern is the most popular sterling flatware pattern ever produced. Chantilly's graceful border and floral designs were inspired by the Rococo style of early eighteenth century France.  During the reign of King Louis XV, Rococo emerged in response to the heavier, highly ornate art of the late Baroque period. Rococo comprised elaborate designs with playful swirls, scrolls, and decoration. The Chantilly pattern features a distinctive scroll design with fleur-de-lis accents. According to Gorham literature, Chantilly is "essentially a pattern that will appeal to those who seek in the family silver a certain simplicity with just enough ornament to relieve it of the appearance of plainness." This diminutive hors d'oeuvre fork is a fantastic representation of this refined pattern.

 
Literally meaning "outside the work," "hors d'oeuvre" is taken from a French architectural term referring to a small building apart from the main one. The term first appeared in food context in the late 1600s, and originally referred to the variety of small plates of food that supplemented the main courses of the meal. At the time, a typical French meal included two or three courses, each of which consisted of a variety of different items served in a strict order. These courses would be supplemented by a number of smaller plates containing items like radishes, butter, pickles, artichoke hearts, and sardines, left on the table for the duration of the meal. By the nineteenth century, the meaning of "hors d'oeuvres" had shifted to become synonymous with appetizers - a word that appeared in English in the 1860s to refer to small bites served before a meal.

 
The designer for the Chantilly pattern, William Christmas Codman, was born in England on Christmas day, 1839. According to Charles Carpenter Jr. in Gorham Silver: 1831-1981, Codman showed an early aptitude for drawing and painting. After completing formal art training in Norwich, England, Codman worked as an ecclesiastical designer for several English silver makers, producing religious items for a number of cathedrals and abbeys (including Westminster Abbey). His Gothic-style pieces included lighting fixtures, communion plates, stained glass windows, and candelabra. In 1885, Gorham Silver created a new ecclesiastical department for religious wares and set out to find a designer to head this new department. Gothic design was extremely popular in ecclesiastical products at the time, and Gorham's first place to look for a designer was England, where many of the most noted Gothic designers worked.  At the time, William Christmas Codman was considered to be one of the most noteworthy Gothic designers, as was his son. In 1887, Gorham convinced William's son to head their ecclesiastical department, and William joined the company as chief designer four years later, in 1891. Codman's first major project for Gorham was designing products for the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition. The Codman designs showcased there included enameled and jeweled ewers, trays, and vases. These designs received good reviews, although Gorham's most notable display at the exposition was a life-sized model of Christopher Columbus cast in solid silver (30,000 troy ounces worth!) modeled by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who also designed the Statue of Liberty.

 
On July 30, 1895, Codman received a patent for the famed "Chantilly" design. Codman went on to create fifty-four other flatware patterns, although none achieved the success of Chantilly. In 1896, Codman began working on designs for Gorham's "Martele" product line, Gorham's response to the Arts & Crafts movement at the time. Pieces in "Martele" (French for "hammered") were completely handmade by silver artisans. For the creation of pieces in this Art Nouveau-inspired line, a rough sketch of the intended design (many attributed to Codman himself) would be provided to the craftsmen working on the piece, who would be allowed the freedom to enhance the product's design as they saw fit. "Martele" pieces garnered critical praise and numerous awards after being displayed at the Paris International Exposition of 1900, the Turin Exposition of 1902, the St. Louis State Fair in 1904, and other exhibitions. Eventually, more than 8,200 "Martele" pieces were produced over a forty year period; these pieces are much sought after and remain highly collectible. William Christmas Codman retired from Gorham in 1914, having worked there for 23 years. During his time as chief designer at Gorham, Codman demonstrated a versatility that allowed him to excel in both high-quality, mass-produced commercial designs like Chantilly and innovative, one-of-a-kind artware exemplified by "Martele."

American Rose Designs

 
Victoria by Syracuse is rimmed, ivory china with delicate, beautifully rendered roses decorating the center and rim, and an embossed edge with gold trim. This lovely pattern was produced from 1949 to 1970. The story of Syracuse China begins in 1841, when W. H. Farrar founded a pottery in Syracuse, NY. The company was sold in 1868 and changed its name to Empire Pottery. The company changed hands again in 1871, when it was purchased by the Onondaga Pottery Company. The initial products manufactured by Onondaga were earthenware pieces, and the company produced a variety of table and toilet wares. In 1888, the company became the first American company to produce translucent, vitreous fine china on par with that being produced by Europe at the time. The company continued to expand and innovate throughout the early twentieth century, and found success supplying china to the hotel and restaurant industries. In 1966, the company officially changed its name to Syracuse China. In 1995, after a series of mergers and acquisitions, Syracuse China was sold to Libbey, Inc., which shut down all North American production of Syracuse in 2009. Today, Syracuse China pieces remain highly sought by collectors.

Nancy Prentiss Milburn Rose is a lovely blown glass pattern with a v-shaped bowl that flares at the top, molded stem, and round foot. The exquisite cut bowl features a gorgeous rose motif that perfectly complements the Victoria china and Spring Garden flatware featured here. This hand-blown, hand-cut leaded crystal is one of a series of patterns produced by Nancy Prentiss Crystal to match Westmorland sterling silver patterns (this one, of course, was designed to coordinate with the Westmorland Milburn Rose pattern). Other made-to-match Nancy Prentiss crystal patterns include George & Martha, John & Priscilla, Enchanting Orchid, and Lady Hilton.

International Silver Spring Garden is an alluring silverplate flatware pattern with a delicate and understated rose design. International Silver started as a combination of America's greatest silver manufacturers. During the American Colonial period, New England was home to many artisans producing high-quality pewter, sterling, and silverplate, primarily in Connecticut. Around 1808, Ashbile Griswold opened a pewter shop in Meriden, Connecticut. Through mergers with regional companies, Griswold's original shop grew to comprise fourteen silver manufacturers, including Holmes and Edwards (Bridgeport), Meriden Britannia (Meriden), and Rogers Brothers (Hartford). In 1898, the International Silver Company became truly "international," establishing offices in England and Canada. Throughout the years, International Silver products have remained immensely popular.

Greco-Roman Applied Art

 
Staffordshire Calico Blue (Burleigh Backstamp) is a rimmed, traditional chintz pattern with spectacular blue-on-white floral coloration. The word "chintz" derives from the Sanskrit, "chitra," for "painting." Chintz calico was imported from India into Europe at the beginning of the 17th century. But not until three centuries later would the English popularize the decoration on dinnerware. In the late 19th century a lithographer developed a method of decorating porcelain that was similar to printing images on paper. His specialized transfer printing process enabled china firms to apply the bold, elaborate designs and brilliant colors of chintz fabric to china economically. Staffordshire was a leading company in developing this technique.

Fostoria Buttercup glassware features a goblet with a concave bowl etched with delicate filigree, floral designs. The multi-sided stem has a molded, wafer design, with round foot. Buttercup was produced from 1942 to 1959, a period of competition among several American glassmaking companies, including Heisey, Cambridge, Imperial Glass (Ohio), and Tiffin Glass Co. For more than 100 years, Fostoria produced glassware of exceptional quality and beauty. New technologies developed during World War II enabled glassmakers to produce pressed glass of the elegance and high quality associated with traditional, hand-blown glass. Fostoria was a leader in implementing these innovations. Buttercup is one of Fostoria's traditional, ornate designs, especially popular during the first half of the 20th century. After WWII, Fostoria's creations began to reflect "minimalist" design, with polished, smooth surfaces and swirling shapes.

Making its debut during the reign of Queen Victoria, Buttercup sterling silver by Gorham is an exquisite example of the Greco-Roman applied art popular during the period. It features a scalloped shape, with an intricate design of buttercups, scrolls, and leaves, and a spray of buttercups at the bowl of the utensil. Produced from 1899 to ca. 1950, Gorham Buttercup includes a large selection of sterling silver place setting and serving pieces. The pattern is also available in magnificent hollowware, including tea sets. Afternoon tea, like the Buttercup pattern, was a staple of Victorian England - made popular by Anna Maria Stanhope, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford.

Organic Designs, Masterful Craftsmanship

 
Portmeirion Botanic Garden is rimmed, round china with a multi-motif floral design and brightly colored butterflies, bees, or dragonflies at the center. At the bottom of the design is the Latin botanical name and English common name of each featured floral design. A verdant, geometrical leaf design is painted on the rim. The pattern offers a spectacular array of choices, not only in the floral designs, but also in the shapes and sizes of the china! Depicted here is Helleborus Niger, "Christmas Rose." Portmeirion artist Susan Ellis-Williams came up with the multi-motif idea for Botanic Garden in 1972, when she was looking through rare books at an antiquarian shop. A volume of old, beautifully colored, meticulously drawn illustrations called out to her. The launch of Botanic Garden included 28 different flower types and was an immediate success!

Featuring sparkling cuts on a v-shaped bowl and a multisided stem, Glandore crystal by Waterford is an exquisite pattern. With its elaborate, eye-catching design and leaf motif, Glandore is an especially fine accompaniment to the floral designs of Botanic Garden china and Waltz of Spring silver. Waterford Crystal dates back to the Flint Glass Works, founded in 1783 on the quay in the port town of Waterford when George and William Penrose opened the Flint Glass Works. In 1788, Waterford produced a glassware service as a gift to her Majesty, Charlotte Sophia, wife to King George III. The King and Queen were so charmed by the crystal service that they ordered the set to be displayed at Cheltenham castle. Today "Waterford" is synonymous with fine crystal, and is found in households around the world.

Wallace Silver's Waltz of Spring is a delightful sterling pattern, produced from 1952 to 1996. Showcasing a graceful handle design with floral elements and a glossy finish, Waltz of Spring is an eye-catching and elegant pattern! 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 immigrated to New England from Scotland. Apprenticed to William Mix, a renowned Connecticut spoon maker, Wallace, after mastering his trade, purchased a dilapidated grist mill and began to produce his own silver flatware in 1833. Waltz of Spring is just one of many examples of Wallace Silver's high-quality work.

Exquisite Floral Design

 
First produced in 1918, Noritake Azalea is gorgeous rimmed china, with asymmetrical azalea designs that spill over the verge (the verge area is where the well of the plate merges with the rim). So life-like are the blossoms that when you touch them, you expect to feel the delicate softness of petals rather than the hard glaze of fine china! Gold trim on the edge completes the design. Noritake was founded in 1876 as "Morimura Brothers" by Baron Ichizaemon Morimura IV and Yutaka Morimura. With offices in Tokyo and New York, the company exported curios, paper lanterns, and other items. Visiting the Paris World Fair in 1900, the baron formed the idea of producing fine dinnerware for export to the United States. Noritake manufactured and shipped its first china to the U.S. in 1910.

Tiffin/Franciscan Wistaria-Pink crystal features a delicately colored concave bowl that flares at the top, a multi-sided, notch-shape stem that is heavier at the bottom, and a round foot. The unique Wistaria-Pink color was developed about 1948 by Tiffin's Ellsworth Beebe. Beebe worked with chemists from India to create the formula, which he committed to memory. When Beebe died in 1963, Tiffin was never able to replicate the subtle and exquisite color. The crystal was marketed in conjunction with the appearance of actress Helen Hayes on Broadway in a play entitled, The Wistaria Trees. This rare crystal is highly sought-after by collectors, as is the Tiffin giftware that was produced in the Wistaria color. Crafted by Tiffin Glass Company, a firm that began production in a brand-new Ohio plant in 1889 - this is classic American crystal!

Gorham Silver Strasbourg is scallop-shaped sterling silver, with a scrolled edge and fan/plume design at the tip of the handle. The balance in proportions in this silver represents the very apex of great design, where each element enhances the effect of the whole. A wonderful complement to Azalea and Wistaria-Pink, this elegant pattern was produced by a legendary American company, Gorham Silver. Jabez Gorham, its founder, born into a family of eight, was apprenticed to 18th century New England silver patriarch Nehemiah Dodge at a very early age. After his apprenticeship, Gorham founded his own company in 1831 in a shop on Steeple Street 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.

Outstanding American Artistry

 
Cloisonne Peony-Black by Fitz & Floyd features gold trim, a white center, and a black rim adorned with a colorful peony design motif that spills over the verge. The graceful elegance of Cloisonne Peony-Black is a wonderful complement to the charming Empire-Gold Trim crystal and Cameo sterling patterns featured this week. Since 1960, Fitz & Floyd has earned a reputation for producing high-quality china and collectibles. Their distinctive products have graced the tables of some of the world's greatest homes. In 1983, Nancy Reagan requested that Fitz & Floyd provide a dinner service for the West Wing of the White House. In 1991, Fitz & Floyd was commissioned to create a tea service commemorating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Texas. Over the years, Fitz & Floyd's unique designs have become highly sought after.

Mikasa Crystal Empire-Gold Trim is a beautiful blown glass design featuring a concave bowl that curves in at the top, resting atop a multi-sided, knobbed stem and a round foot. In the early 1930s, Mikasa was established as an international trading company based in Secaucus, New Jersey. The company, while wholly American, looked to Japan for inspiration. Named in honor of Prince Mikasa, the youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, Mikasa soon established itself as one of the most recognized Japanese brand names in the West. Importing merchandise produced by a network of over 150 manufacturers worldwide, the company itself never attempted to make any of the dinnerware it sold. Rather, the Mikasa branded items were imported from Japan, Ireland, England, France, and Germany. Business exploded in the 1950s, and tableware became the staple business for Mikasa. Customer requests were pouring in from all parts of the country, and department stores including Bloomingdale's and Macy's could not keep enough stock to meet demand. Consumers found Mikasa ceramics to be very strong, versatile, and stylish. By the beginning of the 1960s, Mikasa had established a reputation as "the pioneer of American casual." Today, Mikasa continues to leverage the momentum it has built over the decades since its inception.

Reed & Barton's Cameo is a gorgeous sterling pattern that features a scroll edge, a framed cameo tip, floral design accents, and a glossy finish. The Cameo sterling pattern was produced by Reed & Barton for close to 50 years, from 1959 to 2009. This elegant patternis emblematic of its maker, Reed & Barton of Taunton, MA, a company that traces its origins to a jewelry store founded by Isaac Babbitt in 1822. After changes in ownership, the company began to use the "Reed & Barton" stamp on its silver in the 1840s. One of the company's best-known patterns is Francis I. Introduced by Reed & Barton in 1907, Francis I quickly became a favorite of nobility and presidents (no less than four U.S. presidents dined with Francis I - Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and Gerald Ford). Now well into its second century of operation, Reed & Barton is a leader in finely crafted sterling silver and stainless steel.

"Crown Collection" by Fostoria

The "Crown Collection" by Fostoria is a beautiful pressed glass series that comprises 4 different patterns: "Windsor (2749)," "Hapsburg (2750)," "Navarre (2751)," and "Luxemburg (2766)." Here, we feature a chalice and a candy dish, both in the "Hapsburg" pattern. Pieces in the "Crown Collection" were produced in gold, clear, royal blue, and ruby colors. Types of pieces in the collection varied among the different patterns, but included bottles with stoppers, candleholders, chalices, footed chalices, candy dishes, and bowls, along with a trundle candle bowl (the only known piece produced in the "Luxemburg" pattern).

 
Fostoria advertising literature provides an interesting historical backdrop for their "Crown Collection" series: "Fostoria's Crown Collection is fashioned after the famous crown designs of the Old World. Each owes its inspiration to the glittering splendor of an actual royal or imperial headpiece. Originally, crowns were simple garlands, awarded for achievement in athletics of battle. They had no intrinsic value; the honor, early Romans felt, was reward enough. Rulers wore the diadem, a simple band of linen or silk, of Eastern origin. Later, rewards became more material. The first soldier to scale a wall received a crown of gold, decorated with turrets. The one given the victor of a sea battle had points, symbolizing the prows of ships. Crowns, as we know them, are a richly decorated combination of the award for achievement and the diadem which conferred authority. Now Fostoria offers you these historic shapes in sparkling, hand-molded crystal, to enhance your modern decor with a touch of elegance out of the past. Use "Crowns-in-Crystal" for candy and nut dishes, in centerpiece arrangements, in matching pairs on mantels or end tables."

 
The series was designed in the late 1950s by George Sakier, a painter, industrial designer, engineer, and inventor who began providing glass designs to Fostoria in 1929. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1897, George Sakier was educated at Pratt Institute and the Art Students League before attending the engineering school at Columbia University. After leaving Columbia, Sakier painted camouflage patterns for the U.S. Army Camouflage Division during World War I.

It was around this time he began working as a draftsman for the Franklin Railway Co., where he designed a number of inventions later used by railroads and the U.S. military. He then went on to work as an art director at magazines like French "Vogue," "Modes and Manners," and "Harper's Bazar" before beginning his relationship with Fostoria. Sakier's bold, geometric, glassware designs were decidedly modern, and represented a departure from Fostoria's more traditional design aesthetic. Sakier's design work for Fostoria includes Art Deco vases in the "Lotus" and "Diadem" patterns, a variety of square-footed, short-stemmed glassware, geometric bowls and candleholders, the "Sorrento" pattern, and many more chic designs.

 
Based on the radical design elements found in these pieces, the "Crown Collection" designs were surprisingly traditional for Sakier! In addition to his designs for Fostoria, Sakier also created glass and ceramic designs for Venini & Co. in Italy and L. F. Grammes & Sons, along with award-winning package and art designs for a number of products ranging from liquor to perfume. Sakier also became known for his eye-catching industrial designs - his Neo-Classic plumbing and bathroom fixtures were installed at New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel in 1931. Sakier counted famous artists like Marcel Duchamp, Willem de Kooning, and Man Ray among his friends, and his glass designs and paintings have been exhibited in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and others around the world. Sakier continued to send designs to Fostoria until its closing in 1986, two years before his death in 1988.