Take the short walk from South Station to Mitchell Woodbury Company... the house that is known by the customers it keeps. (from a 1918 newspaper advertisement)

{HISTORY}

Beautiful from every direction, this rare pair of antique restaurant ware bowls was made by Mayer China sometime between the late 1800s-1920s. Featuring their King-Pin pattern of white leaves against a blue background, this pattern was later renamed Arbor in the mid-20th century and came in a number of different color combinations including red, green, black, and pink. Of these color choices, red is the most common color to find in this pattern on the market today, and blue, one of the hardest. 

A large majority of restaurant ware comes with fun and fascinating stories as to dining establishments, hotels, or hospitality venues where they were once in service. These bowls cannot be connected definitely to one particular such place, but there is a rumor that this pattern was made for a psychiatric hospital. We searched for days to substantiate this story, as it's always our mission to find the exact name and place where restaurant ware pieces began. Alas, no concrete restaurant details have emerged about these two yet. 

One thing we do know though is that these two bowls were sold via the Mitchell Woodbury Company in Boston, MA. Mitchell Woodbury was one of the oldest china and glassware distributors in America, importing dishware from England and Europe as well as representing American potteries state-side. Operating out of a big storefront in Boston (see a 1914 photo of MWC included here) from the 1800s through the early part of the 1930s, they offered customers a selection of some of the finest dishware made in the world. 

Like all restaurant ware, these bowls are heavy, thick-walled, and substantial, made to stand up to a busy restaurant environment and a hustle-bustle atmosphere. One of the prettiest sets we have welcomed into the shop, they are rare beauties of both craftsmanship and history.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Matching set of two

- Rare pattern 

- Stamped on bottom with the Mitchell Woodbury and Mayer China mark

{CONDITION}

In remarkably great shape, these bowls are in beautiful antique condition. There are no chips or cracks. The glaze is shiny and bright and the pattern crisp and clear. Both pieces contain some light utensil marks in the bottom interior of each bowl as well as a light splattering of stain spots around the rims as expected with age and use. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each bowl measures 5.75" inches (diameter) x 2.5" inches (height) and weighs between 1.4lbs-1.5lbs for a combined weight of 2.10lbs

{FOR COLLECTORS}

For lovers of specific color aesthetics, these bowls look beautiful with fellow antique and vintage mismatched blue and white dishware found here. For story lovers, find more vintage restaurant ware pieces here.