Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954

Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954

Regular price $21

Royal is the finest quality earthenware with decorations sealed under the glaze... (from a 1950s era Royal China Co advertisement) 

{HISTORY}

Let the baking begin! This vintage two-handled cake plate with its blooming tree pattern and bird in flight imagery was made by Royal China Co. in Sebring, OH in 1954. Riding the wave of one of the pottery industry's biggest success stories, the design style of this plate was enjoying its heyday when it was produced in the 1950s. 

In 1948, Just six years before this plate was made, Royal invented a machine that was able to stamp designs directly onto unglazed pottery pieces, thus eliminating the need for paper transferware applications. This machine revolutionized the entire pottery industry from the 1940s forward, and this underglaze stamping technique, featured here on this cake plate, became a signature style for the company for the next several decades.

First established in 1930, Royal China was always a trendsetter in the industry. In addition to inventing their revolutionary stamping machine, they also had a female founder., a true rarity in the dishware manufacturing industry.  And in the beginning, years, while the Great Depression was challenging businesses across the country, Royal China came up with an inventive plan to hire workers on a delayed payment system so that the pottery could establish a strong foundation without the expense of immediate overhead costs.  This unorthodox practice was intended to give the pottery a leg up in the face of competition and if done right would secure future success and growth for all employees. Luckily, this combination of creative management and faithful employees proved to be a great success.  Eventually, Royal China became the third-largest dishware producer in the country. 

Because of the underglaze stamping system, many Royal China pieces have traveled the years beautifully from one century into the next. Although this pattern is unnamed it features an Asian style theme with is knobby limbed tree, big blooming peony style flowers, and the lovely bird similar in style to the Blue Willow pattern which Royal was also famous for producing. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Stamped on the bottom with the Royal China mark

- Colors include ivory and pine green

- Hard to find pieces in this pattern

{CONDITION}

In good vintage condition. There are no chips, cracks or crazing o the front, but the back does bear a series of small ships on the edge of the handles as well as a few along the edge. None of these small chips (none larger than 1/8th of an inch) are visible from the front and none comprise the plate's integrity in any. This is still a beautiful, fully functional cake plate, ready to show off all your baking talents in the most lovely of ways! Please see photos for details. 

{SIZE}

Measures 11.5" inches (handle to handle) x 10.5" inches and weighs 1.2lbs

Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954
Vintage Royal China Cake Plate - Green Floral Bird Pattern circa 1954