Blue Ridge Dinnerware
By Linda Nelson
Established in the small town of Erwin, Tennessee, Southern Potteries Inc., perhaps better-known as Blue Ridge dinnerware, owes much of its popularity and success to the hand-painting technique used to create patterns of flowers, ivy, fruit, and other home-spun designs on its dishes. Fans of Blue Ridge pottery love its simple, flowing designs—some more simple than others. Depending on the skill level of the designer and decorator, patterns range from beautiful and skillfully done to primitive and even crude sometimes.
About 1916, management of the Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Railroad had the idea of opening a pottery as a way to bring traffic to the area around Johnson City, Tennessee. First called Clinchfield Pottery, it became known as Southern Pottery, and was incorporated under Southern Potteries, Inc. in 1920. Originally, the dishes were decorated with simple lines and decal decorations, and many contained advertising messages for businesses. Charles Foreman is generally credited with starting the hand painted designs around 1938.
Many people are familiar with this dinnerware because much of it was given away as premiums. Southern Potteries produced premiums for Quaker Oats, Avon, Stanley Home Products, and trading stamp companies. Others were given away at "dish night" at the movies. In the 1940s and 1950s, Sears and Montgomery Ward sold large amounts of Southern Potteries wares.
By using hand-painted designs, the company could quickly change designs, and the process resulted in many variations. Also, when large retailers discontinued a pattern, Southern Potteries would alter the design slightly and offer the "new" one for sale. Designs were produced on a variety of shapes and various edge designs. Significant shape designs include Clinchfield, Trellis, Astor, Candlewick, Colonial, Piecrust, Skyline, Skyline Studioware, Monticello, Woodcrest, Trailways, Palisades, and Rope Handle. The pattern shown here is Candlewick.
The company also made jugs, pitchers, and teapots. Other items included eggplates, table lamps, vases, cake plates, celery trays, creamers, sugar bowls, snack trays, and other typically made items.
The pottery had its most productive years during the 1940s and early 1950s when it was the largest producer of American hand-painted dinnerware. Following World War II, the re-introduction of imports, rising labor costs, and plastic dinnerware began to erode the company’s success and by 1957 the company had to close its doors.
Collectors today keep the enthusiasm strong for the products of the Southern Potteries, Inc. and meet annually to buy, sell, and discuss the dinnerware made popular during the middle of the 20th Century.
Books about Blue Ridge:
If you would like to learn more about Blue Ridge dinnerware, these books are currently available through Amazon.com. Just click on the links by the book photographs to order the books:
Resources:
Web Sites:
Books:
- Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay, by Lois Lehner, Paducah, Kentucky, Collector Books, 1988.
- The Collector’s Encyclopedia on American Dinnerware, by Jo Cunningham, Paducah, Kentucky, Collector Books, 1982, with prices updated 1995.
- Warman's American Pottery & Porcelain, 2nd Edition, by Susan and Al Bagdade, Iola, Wisconsin, Krause Publications, 2000.
About the Author:
I've been interested in American Dinnerware for at least 15 years, but I knew I was hooked when I bought a 1937 set of Taylor Smith & Taylor dishes. I didn't need them, didn't really have room for them, and had no plans to use them, but I had to have them. I love the charm of their old-fashioned shape and the border of roses linked with a blue art deco-like band. The rest of my collection tends to be a piece here and there because my interest in American Dinnerware is bigger than my pocketbook. So, although my collection is small, my research continues.
I have a bachelor's degree in journalism and commercial art, but I've learned about pottery and glassware from reading, research on the Internet, and looking at pieces in antique shops. I grew up eating Sunday dinner from Taylor Smith & Taylor Lu-Ray dishes. My mother still uses them for special occasion dinners - like when "the kids" come home. (It's nice to have at least a couple of places where we can still be "the kids.")
After many years in a pressure-cooker job, with my husband's blessing I traded my long commute and a respectable paycheck for a chance to pursue some dreams. Now, I provide freelance writing and editing services remotely, thanks to email and the Internet. My primary customers are high-tech companies. My husband and I live in Sherman, Texas, with our spoiled-rotten rat terrier, Biscuit.
My other interests include drawing, painting, reading, crafts, antiques, and searching the Internet to learn more about it all. Visit me at American Dinnerware. I'd love to hear from you and talk about dinnerware. The site is new but will be growing.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
