{HISTORY}

Cheers to the extra servers that make entertaining a breeze. 

Made by Noritake in the 1920s, this dish features the Thelma Bassett pattern with a repetitive swag of roses trailing their way between sets of stylized flourishes. The colors of this pattern are bright yet neutral, making it a great choice for mix-and-match table decor.

Raspberry, spring green, pale pink, dove grey, pale yellow, blueberry and black make up the complete color palette set against bright white porcelain that has been rimmed and striped in gold. 

We searched high and low for some insight or a snippet of a story lead regarding the name of this pattern but couldn't find one bit of info. Was Thelma Bassett a famous actress of the 1910s and 1920s? A worker at the Noritake pottery? A muse for one of the dish decorators? Any and all of these are possible, but it seems, for now at least, that Thelma is a veritable mystery woman, except when it comes to dishes.

When you need a dish that's not too big and not too small, relish dishes are the adaptable worker when it comes to serving olives, nuts, cranberry sauce, pickles, onion slices, lemon wedges...you name it. All the little extras that would normally slide and slip around a plate are at home here in this narrow oval-shaped bowl with high sides on each end. 

As maker's of delightful dining experiences for over a century, it's always fun to trace the history of vintage and antique Noritake because their backstamps and pottery marks have changed so much over the course of two centuries as the company evolved into a worldwide brand. This relish dish features the laurel wreath mark with the M in the middle which stands for the Morimura Brothers who originally started the pottery in 1889. Back then, it was simply known as Nippon - the name of the region where the dishes were made. 

Since those early days, artisans for Nippon (and then Noritake) have always focused on fine craftsmanship, gorgeous color arrangements, and exquisite designs. That attention to detail and level of commitment led Noritake to become one of the most celebrated and sought-after dishware brands in the world, and are still to this day, internationally recognized for quality and luxury. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Petite size
• Porcelain
• Stamped on back with maker's mark and pattern name

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition, this dish contains no chips, cracks, spots, or staining. The gold inner stripe is wearing lightly in some spots. The colors are bright and vibrant. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 8.25" inches (length) x 4.5" inches (width) x 1.75" inches (height) and weighs 7 oz.  

{FOR THE LOVE OF THELMA}

Find more antique pieces in the Thelma Bassett pattern in the shop here.