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Floral patterns have been used to decorate just about everything and appear almost everywhere.They have been used so extensively, that we take them for granted even though we pass them by everyday. One area of design we may not notice is on dinnerware. The floral patterns depicted here reflect the art work of great designers and remind us of a history in which flowers played a central part.
Roses are probably the most widely used flower for decorating dinnerware. One of the most popular patterns is Desert Rose created in California by Frederick and Mary Grant in 1941 for the Gladding McBean pottery. It is a depiction of the Rosa rugosa, a shrub that grows into a dense thicket with tomato sized hips.First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy chose Franciscan Desert Rose for use in the White House and is on display in the Smithsonian as one of the largest selling patterns in the history of American dinnerware. A rugged wild plant, this rose grows wild on coastlines and sand dunes and is commonly called beach tomato, sea tomato, saltspray rose and beach rose. Valued for its resistance to diseases such as black spot and rust it is endangered as a wild plant. It has been hybridized and is now sold as Knock Out Roses.
Rosa rugosa hips pink rosa Franciscan Desert Rose
Another popular line of dinnerware featuring roses was introduced in 1933 by the Homer Laughlin pottery called Virginia Rose. However, the Virginia Rose (rosa virginiana) was not the rose featured on its ware.This was actually the name given to the shape and was decorated with a myriad of floral designs but the most popular was the Moss Rose or “fluffy rose” decal. Named after the general managers granddaughter, it was designed by Frederick Hurten Rhead who also designed Fiestaware and was sold for decades through Woolworth’s. Moss Roses (Portulaca grandiflora) ) produce flowers ranging from one inch to two inches, in bright reds, oranges, yellows, purples and pinks set atop green, succulent leaves. An annual, they need good drainage and bright sun and thrive well in strawberry jars.
Moss Rose Detail of Moss "Fluffy" Rose Virginia Rose bowl
Many other American potteries featured floral patterns and trees on their ware in the early days of this industry. Pictured are some other early decals of roses. In the next article we will take a look at some of the other popular floral designs such as the Blue Onion, Blue Willow and Blue Tulip that were in use.
Devon Spray Roses Detail of Devon Spray Blue Ridge Roses
W.S. George "Derwood " 1898 Detail of Derwood Homer Laughlin Rose Bowl
About Joyce B. Gladden
I am a transplanted New Yorker, writer, and novice gardener learning more and more each season. My plant of choice is Coleus (growing to include roses and others as I become more passionate about gardening). Other long time interests include book collecting and quilting.
Posted by slowtornado (from Belle Plaine, KS) on November 25, 2007 at 02:07 PM:
The pic took my breath! My Father bought the entire set for my Mother when it first came out. I never knew much about it, so thanks for the history lesson.
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 25, 2007 at 02:16 PM:
Your Welcome!
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Subject: Range!!
Posted by pupilpropogtr (from Birmingham, AL) on November 20, 2007 at 12:54 AM:
I love this article, too. Imagine that. My grandmother collects depression glass. Her line is the cabbage rose. I will have to get a pic of it to post. Thanks once again for a great article.
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Subject: Post Your Dinnerware Pics!
Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 19, 2007 at 09:19 PM:
Here is a thread to post pics of your pottery or dinnerware! Would love to see them!
Posted by PamFromMD (from Silver Spring, MD) on November 19, 2007 at 10:49 AM:
thanks for this post Joyce. It made me so nostalgic for my grandmothers' dinner tables, where I feel I've seen all of these patterns. A nice treat for a Thanksgiving week! (and I too am a quillter-gardener, a wonderful combination of hobbies!)
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Posted by grampapa (from Wheatfield, NY) on November 19, 2007 at 12:28 PM:
Another quilter/gardener here, Joyce. Wonderful article! I love floral china and have always thought Desert Rose was one of the most beautiful. I have a little collection of cups and saucers that my mother got many years ago at the super market, one per week, each with a different floral pattern.
~ jan
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 19, 2007 at 12:42 PM:
I'm so glad you enjoyed the article! I think I am as nuts for pottery as I am about gardening!
Pam--With the holidays coming it's always a treat deciding which old dinnerware to use. I too love the Desert Rose and I do believe it has been reintroduced so many more people can enjoy this pattern.
grampapa--I would love to see your collection! My next article features give-aways from supermarkets. They are so durable and even now, quite lovely. They just don't make 'em like they used to :-)
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Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on November 19, 2007 at 03:15 PM:
Thank you for this article, I learned the origin of my knock out roses!
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Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on November 19, 2007 at 10:59 PM:
I love the desert rose pattern. Nice to see it before Thanksgiving!
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Subject: Hi Joyce
Posted by Dyson (from Rocky Mount, VA) on November 19, 2007 at 09:35 AM:
Thanks for the article, I think the wife will be really interested in this one, and I have been trying to get her "into" DG. She has a tea pot thing going on (can not move without bumping into them ).
I will show her this article. Again - thank you!
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on November 19, 2007 at 09:55 AM:
As a collector of old glass and pottery pieces, I loved the connection you've made from out gardens to our tables. Good Job!
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Posted by Brinda (from Yukon, OK) on November 19, 2007 at 12:13 PM:
Good Job Joyce! This brought back some wonderful memories as my Grandmother had the desert rose pattern for as long as I can remember. Thanks for making me smile today!
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Posted by pajaritomt (from Los Alamos, NM) on November 19, 2007 at 12:39 PM:
Nice article on the connection of dishes and flowers has got me thinking of the connection between dishes and vegetables and fruits as well. I remember a lovely old pattern of Perrugia china that is dotted with tiny fruits and vegetables. The fruit and vegetable styles are not as common as the flower ones, but they, too, exist.
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 19, 2007 at 12:49 PM:
Thanks everyone! Glad you enjoyed it!
Dyson--I too have a "few" teapots and hope your wife enjoys this!
Melody-Thanks, we must show our collections on a forum here at Dave's!
Brinda- Desert Rose is a beautiful pattern and you were lucky to have grown up with it. Now where are the coleus dishes ? :-)
pajaritomt- Yes, the fruit and vegetable patterns are delightful also. I'll have to research that one and maybe do an article featuring them as well.
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Posted by pajaritomt (from Los Alamos, NM) on November 19, 2007 at 01:04 PM:
By all means do an article on the fruit and vegetable ones. They can be quite lovely.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein, Marshall Islands) on November 19, 2007 at 01:21 PM:
Joyce - great job! Very interesting reading about the history...and what beautiful pictures! Keep it up! I agree the fruit and veges would make for an equally interesting article.
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Posted by CountryGardens (from Lewisville, MN) on November 19, 2007 at 08:44 PM:
I, to am a sucker for floral china. I like the hand painted ones from Germany, Austria, & other European countries. Then of course there are the R.S. Prussia ones.
A good place to start a thread on the floral dishes would be the Antiques & Collectibles forum.
Bernie
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 19, 2007 at 09:17 PM:
Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on November 19, 2007 at 11:29 PM:
My Grandma served lunch every single Sunday on the Devon ?. I remember the pattern so well. Wouldn't it be fun to start a thread with everyone's china patterns or pottery patterns of floral designs?
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Posted by CountryGardens (from Lewisville, MN) on November 19, 2007 at 11:31 PM:
There is, look above your post.
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Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on November 19, 2007 at 11:36 PM:
poor jadyjoy........she just tried to tell me in an dmail and i didn't know what she was talking about.......thanks
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Posted by UniQueTreasures (from Beaumont, TX) on November 20, 2007 at 09:56 AM:
Awesome article Joyce. I've seen many of the beautiful flowered plates in my gallivanting. It's nice to know some history behind them.
Janet
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on November 21, 2007 at 01:46 PM:
Poor Gessie! I was trying to be discreet about something that was pretty obvious. You got it now?
