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The Reign of Royal China

By Linda Nelson

In spite of its regal name, the Royal China Company was all-American. In 1934, dinnerware production began in the former E.H. Sebring plant in Sebring, Ohio. The Sebring family, who established the town, operated a number of potteries there. Although Royal China was located in the former Sebring facility, the factory was apparently not one of the Sebring family holdings.

Royal China’s ownership changed many times over the years, but the company continued to make quality dinnerware and to use the Royal China name in its backstamps through these ownership changes. Royal China also operated the French-Saxon Company during the 1960s. The Jeannette Glass Corporation purchased the Royal China Company in 1969, and in 1976, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York purchased the entire Jeannette Corporation including Royal China. The company changed hands a few more times before it finally closed in 1986.

Many Royal China patterns used the popular decal method to decorate dinnerware. The Swirl line was frequently decorated in this way. Beginning in the late 1940s, Royal China created some of its most popular patterns using its "patented underglaze process," which used a rubber stamp method to transfer a colored design to the dinnerware before it was glazed. The process was advertised to withstand hard everyday use.

One particular but unnamed dinnerware shape was used for a number of patterns in the 1950s and 1960s. Pieces such as sugar bowls, casseroles, and teapots were cylindrical and low. Lids featured flat disk-shaped finials. The most distinctive feature of the shape was the angular handles on teacups, creamers, and other items. However, sometimes another handle shape was used, perhaps at the request of a specific company, such as Montgomery Ward.

An interesting feature of a number of these patterns is that the backstamps included a design element from the face of the plate. For example, the Currier and Ives backstamp included the scroll design from the border. However, other times different Royal China backstamps were used.

Other Confusing Factors

Measurements of various items may be listed differently by different sources. Companies sometimes "rounded off" measurements on their original price list. The 7-inch salad plate may have an actual measurement of 7 3/8-inches, for instance. Additionally, sometimes the size of an item would change if the company remade its molds or restyled an item. The Garage Sale and Flea Market Annual lists the size for all individual fruit bowls as 5 1/2-inches for the patterns discussed in this article.

Other companies also made dinnerware featuring the Currier and Ives designs. Scio made one that is often confused with Royal China. The 9 1/4-inch green dinner plate pictured here is by Scio. This pattern is frequently called Oxbow because of this item in the border design. Scio rarely used a backstamp on its wares.

Many of the following patterns were used for promotions by grocery and other stores, but the dinnerware was also sold through department stores.

Currier and Ives

According to early advertising copy, Currier and Ives was apparently made in both ironstone and semi-porcelain. Each item depicts a different American scene based on the famous Currier and Ives prints. The design was imprinted in dark blue or pink. Wide borders incorporate scrolled lines and a "coin-edge" pattern.

Open stock price lists, as well as the backstamps on each item, included the names of the scenes. The 10-inch dinner plate features the "Old Grist Mill," the 12-inch round chop plate "Winter in the Country," and the 13-inch round chop "Central Park in Winter." Because the scenes are identified in the backstamp, some people are confused about the name of the pattern. People looking for other items besides the dinner plate in "Old Grist Mill" will be disappointed because that is the name of the scene depicted on the plate, not the name of the pattern, which is Currier and Ives.

This dinnerware was available in sets or open stock. Some of the items on the open stock list include teacups and saucers, 6-inch bread and butter plates, 7-inch salad plates, 9-inch breakfast plates, rim soups, lug soups, and fruit bowls. Serving pieces included a variety of round chop plates, meat platters, covered casserole, and vegetable dishes. "Lug" in the name for soup bowls or platters refers to the tab handles.

Colonial Homestead

This Early American design was printed in dark green on an ivory semi-porcelain body. The large chop plate shows the interior of an Early American home of 1750. Other pieces are decorated with portions of the room scene, including a spinning wheel, the hearth, a tilt-top table and grandfather clock, and a rocking cradle. Some smaller dishes have a single Colonial item, such as the billows image printed on the fruit bowl. Some items, such as the teacup, sugar, and creamer, have a profile silhouette of a man or woman’s head on the side. Some larger items have both. The border simulates wooden planks with pegs where the pieces join.

An open stock price list included teacups and saucers, 6-inch bread and butter plates, 7-inch salad plates, 9-inch breakfast plates and 10-inch dinner plates. Bowls included rim soups, lug soups, fruit bowls, 6-inch oatmeal bowls and 8-inch shallow and deep vegetable dishes. Platters included 12-inch and 13-inch round chop plates, and 11 1/2-inch meat platters. Other serving pieces included gravy boats, gravy boat stands, covered casseroles, covered sugar bowls, creamers, pickle or olive trays, salt and pepper shakers, and a 6-cup teapot.

Old Curiosity Shop

Advertisements for this dinnerware state that Charles Dickens’ novel The Old Curiosity Shop inspired this design printed in green on ivory semi-porcelain. Various pieces depict a scene or item from the shop. This pattern is often confused with Colonial Homestead, but the wide border on this dinnerware pictures hinges above and below the center design and handle pulls on either side, rather than the wooden planks design used on Colonial Homestead.

Old Curiosity Shop was advertised as being ovenproof and guaranteed against crazing. One advertisement stated that the "stunning green color will never wash out or fade even in a dish washing machine."

A 1953 price list includes the following items available in open stock: teacup, saucer, fruit bowl, rim soup bowl, lug soup, oatmeal bowl, 6-inch, 7-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch plates. Serving pieces included 11 1/2-inch lug meat plate, 12-inch and 13-inch chop plates, 13-inch oval platter, shallow and deep vegetable bowls, covered sugar, creamer, salt and pepper shakers, gravy boat, boat tray, tea pot, and covered casserole. This list is not inclusive because other items such as ash trays and butter dishes were also made.

Memory Lane

Memory Lane ironstone features rural scenes printed in pink. The border consists of acorns and oak leaves. Memory Lane had the typical pieces that Currier and Ives had, although the Garage Sale and Flea Market Annual identifies the 7-inch salad plate and the 9 1/4-inch luncheon plate as rare. The Memory Lane backstamp incorporates acorns and a leaf, but does not identify the name of the scenes on the front of the dishes, the way the Currier and Ives pattern does.

Although I didn’t find any reference to a blue version of this pattern in my research, I know that at least 10-inch dinner plates were made. My mother bought two plates like the one pictured here identified as Memory Blue in the backstamp (shown above), at a garage sale a number of years ago. The backstamp on her plates is different from the typical Memory Lane backstamp. This one uses the Royal China backstamp that incorporates what I consider to be crossed ivory tusks.

Fair Oaks

This pattern features various pastoral scenes printed in brown with red, green, yellow and blue accents on a white body. The border consists of flowers colored in yellow with green leaves. This pattern stands out because of the multiple colors on each item.

Some Fair Oaks items were different from what was offered in the other patterns. For instance, according to an old price list, Fair Oaks does not have a 9-inch plate or 12- or 13-inch chop plates. It does have a 12-inch divided vegetable bowl and a 7-cup teapot.

Willow

Royal China created its version of Willow in blue, pink, green, and brown on both ironstone and semi-porcelain. At least two different backstamps were used on Royal China Willow. One includes a line drawing of a branch from the tree on the face of the china with the words "Willow Ware by Royal China." Another specifies "Blue Willow by Royal Sebring, Ohio" and has a simple looped line above the words "Blue Willow."

Willow ware was available for a long period of time and used at least two shapes for its cups—the angular handled cup and one with a curved handle.

Bucks County

Bucks County dinnerware uses outdoor farm scenes printed in brown on a yellow body. The line-drawing designs include buildings and people performing farm chores such as plowing, washing clothes in a wash pot, shocking hay, and gardening. The Pennsylvania Dutch inspired border features stylized flowers and wheat, and on larger pieces, images of children dancing are positioned within the floral border. The backstamp shows a wooden plank sign with the words "Bucks County."

Sources:

Books:

Garage Sale and Flea Market Annual, Eleventh Edition, by Sharon Huxford, Paducah, Kentucky, Collector Books, 2003.
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.

Web Sites:

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.