A contest open to non-professional American artists and designers launched this beautiful pattern line...

{HISTORY}

A beauty in sight and sentiment, this Gardenia pattern platter was made by Homer Laughlin in 1944 for their Nautilus Eggshell series. The winner of a prize contest held by the Vogue Mercantile Institute in New York City in 1943,  this pattern was one of three selected to be featured on Homer Laughlin dishware. 

The lovely thing about this design contest was that it was only open to non-professional artists and designers. It was the hope that by holding such a contest, American Mercantile and Homer Laughlin would be able to find patterns that truly appealed to the American woman of the 1940s - the woman who bravely and beautifully held up the homefront during the WWII years. The ones who decorated, cooked and celebrated day in and day out despite stress and uncertainty.  The ones who strived to set a pretty table, to add visual cheer and a welcoming atmosphere to home spaces regardless of the troubling situations occurring in the world.

Gardenias, in the language of flowers, are often associated with hope, love, and purity as well as protection. This might have offered some meaning behind the design choice of of this flower in this contest.  The gardenia branches featured here contain blushing pink and yellow tones set against soft white petals unfurling from sage and pale evergreen leaves. Pink wax flowers wind their way around the rim. And an embossed design on two sides mirrors a sunrise set between puffy clouds. 

A really fun look into the design and color preferences of women in the 1940s, the only thing that could have been better about this contest was finding out the name of the woman who designed this gardenia pattern. That is a piece of information that still eludes us, but perhaps one day we'll be able to pin name to pattern. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Colors include pastel pink, sage, pale evergreen, celadon, light grey and pale lemon yellow

- Embossed design 

 - Stamped on back with makers mark, dish style and pattern name 

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, this platter contains no chips, cracks, spots or stains. The shimmery gold rim is bright and shiny. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 13.5" inches (diameter) x 10.5" inches (width) and weighs 1.8 lbs.