I am joining Jenny Matlock for our weekly exploration of a letter of the Alphabet! This week we are on the letter S
Southern Potteries, Inc
In Erwin, Tennessee back in 1916-17 a pottery works was created called Clinchfield Chinaware. In 1920 the company was incorporated and called Southern Potteries, Inc.
Most of their pottery used decals for adornment but
in 1923 Charles W. Foreman purchased this company and introduced a new decorating technique. It became so popular that in 1938 this became the main decorating technique
It was called hand paining under the glaze and became knows as
BLUE RIDGE POTTERY
This glorious hand painted china has many many patterns
over 5,000 have been counted so far
Southern Potteries never named these patterns
Today's collectors have started naming them and
many books have different names for the same pattern
My first experience with Blue Ridge was a friend who had two plates displayed and I fell in love with the colors and hand painted designs. I started looking in Antique Malls and found prices out of reach for my pocketbook. However, chipped and damaged were considerably less and so I became a collector of chipped and cracked Blue Ridge China. They found a home with me.
There are many different marks on these plates and many are not marked at all. The shapes, colors and designs are easy to spot once you are familiar with them.
Fruits and vegetables were popular designs
These two plates are "Country Fair" design
with different color borders
They can range from simple sweet flowers
to elaborate patterns
I have many pieces, few that match
I was lucky enough to find four plates of this pattern
"Chatham"
I thought being Thursday I would also do a small tablescape
using these plates
I used the green plates from last weeks thrifty finds as the charger
The blue ridge plate looks spectacular on it
I used these deep wine placemats
An old napkin with pretty details
Simple centerpiece of green ivy, small bird and a
Blue Ridge sugar bowl
I also added large light green wine glasses
More detail of the sugar bowl
(unknown pattern)
I believe in using my wonderful dishes!
I have two books on Blue Ridge China
It is so much fun to look through them and find a pattern you would love to have and then keep an eye out for it
Notice the name of this pattern on the bottom
I think I should have a piece of that don't you?
Thanks for joining me as I share some of my pieces of Blue Ridge China. Not all are flowers or fruits & veggies. They did lots of Roosters and animals and well such a variety you could all find something you would love.
I am also joining in these two parties along with Alphabe-Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday with Suzanne at
and Susan over at
If you would like to learn more about Blue Ridge Pottery there are many websites and lots of listings on Ebay and Etsy.
Always,
Linda