Vintage Shenango Restaurant Ware Dinner Plate with Orchid Flower circa 1987

{HISTORY}

Made in 1987, this vintage floral dinner plate came to life in the final stretch of the Shenango days, just after they were acquired by Anchor Hocking in 1979 and just before the pottery closed down completely in 1991.

Now a beautiful relic from one of America's most beloved restaurant ware makers, this plate features lovely springtime shades of peach, sea green, gold, and bright white. A delicately designed peach orchid flower takes center stage on the plate with a green ribbon-like swirl that blends into stripes. A gorgeous example of Shenango's artistic design flair and impeccable craftsmanship, the plate is enhanced with a wide peach shoulder and two sets of gold stripes.

While it is uncertain as to which restaurant or hotel collection this charmer might have belonged to, it's easy to imagine its ideal setting. A garden cafe, a tropical hotel, an Asian restaurant... those are just a few ideas. But this pattern, with its elegant style and feminine color palette, would have been beautiful in all sorts of other settings too, from country clubs to garden clubs, city hotels to seaside spas, department store dining rooms to women’s civic associations. The symbolism and graceful nature of an orchid fits in well with many types of surroundings.

That's the fun of collecting restaurant ware. They are serviceable dishes and a story, or at least the possibility of one, all wrapped up into one pretty little package from history. We will continue to research this pattern to see if we can find a specific hotel or restaurant match, but in the meantime let your imagination carry you away to its possible place in time.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Floral and stripe design 
• Colors include peach, sea green, raspberry, pale lemon, gold, and bright white
• Stamped on back with maker's mark and date code

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, this plate looks practically brand new. There are no chips, cracks, spots, or stains. The gold trim contains no areas of wear or rub marks. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 10.25" inches in diameter and weighs 1.12 lbs. 

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

Find more vintage restaurant ware in the shop here.