Perhaps the most talked about, and the best of Charleston's restaurants is Perdita's on Exchange Street, a comfortable place with candlelight, exposed brick walls and a feeling of age, although it is said to be relatively new. Craig Claiborne, 1967

{HISTORY}

Voted one of the best restaurants in the country by Holiday Magazine in the 1950s, Perdita's of Charleston, SC and Macon, GA was known for it's elegant French-inspired fare highlighting local seafood and steak.  Named after actress Mary Robinson (1758-1800) who once visited the city, and subsequently became involved in a local romantic scandal forever made a mark on Charleston's colorful history.

Nicknamed Perdita after Mary's most famous role as the character Perdita in Shakespeare's, A Winter's Tale, it is her likeness in side profile that is captured in the restaurant's logo and on this plate.  As it turns out, the romantic scandal that made Perdita, famous in this southern city was the death of a man who dueled over her and lost, ultimately dying and earning Perdita the reputation of being the only woman in the state's history who sparked a dual in which a man actually died for her. 

Perdita's enchanting effect on men combined with the history of the building's promiscuous past as a bordello during the Revolutionary War, added just the right amount of quirky appeal and interest. Opened in Charleston in 1953, Perdita's quickly became known as the town's most exquisite restaurant and won all sorts of distinguished awards.  A second location opened in Macon, GA in 1960. 

Operating through the 1980s, Perdita's eventually closed, and another restaurant, Carolina's opened in its place. As an homage to the space's culinary past, Carolina's served some of the menu items that were once featured at Perdita's alongside their own innovative fare until Carolina's closed in 2014 thus ending the reign of two renowned restaurants in the city.

This vintage restaurant ware plate was made by Mayer China in March 1960. It features a mustard and burgundy color palette with a handpainted rim and a profile of Perdita herself (aka Mary Robinson). Now a hard-to-find piece of restaurant memorabilia and Charleston history, pieces of Perdita dishware are rare these days making this discovery all the more exciting. Like Perdita herself, it's an engaging conversation piece for any collector. 

Image of Purdita's Restaurant building located at 10 Exchange Street, Charleston SC by Charles Bayless. Courtesy of the Library of Congress. 

Mrs. Mary Robinson portrait painting by Thomas Gainsborough circa 1781

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Hard to find pattern 

- Unique restaurant provenanvce

- Handpainted rim

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition. There are no chips, cracks, spots or stains on this plate. The glaze is shiny and the logo crisp and clear. As with all vintage restaurant ware, there are some very light utensil marks and general wear. These marks can only be seen when holding the plate at an angle towards a light source. 

{SIZE}

Measures 10.5" inches in diameter and weighs 2 lbs.

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

We just adore restaurant ware and all the stories that they bring to light. Find more vintage restaurant and hotelware in the shop here.