{HISTORY}

We always love a good mystery around here, especially when it comes to obscure pottery marks. Tucked inside a green laurel wreath, this gorgeous antique platter is marked C.P.Co on the back with the word Dixie underneath.  

There are a lot of differing opinions online when it comes to determining what these C.P.Co initials stand for.  Some think it was for a pottery in England, called Clyde. Others speculate it stood for a number of different American potteries, including Carthage Pottery in Carthage, Ohio, Chester Pottery in Phoenixville, PA or Crown Potteries in Evansville, Indiana.

If we had to guess we would venture to say that this platter was made in America based on its design, detailing, and Dixie shape name that accompanies the C. P.Co mark on back.  If it was made by either Carthage, Chester, or Crown, those potteries all operated during the late 1880s to the early 1900s, and that time period lines up with this platter's aesthetic. Unfortunately, there is not enough specific information on this maker's laurel wreath mark to attribute it to any one particular pottery. 

All that manufacturing confusion aside, we do know one thing for certain... this platter is lovely. It features purple and yellow pansies around the shoulder, hand-painted gold swirls on the handle areas, and a scalloped edge highlighted with embossed dots. Fairly deep as far as platters go, this one is smaller in size, making it a great fit for small tables and petite kitchens. 

Measuring 13.75" inches in length x 10.5" inches in width,  it comfortably fits a whole roasted chicken or five to six big baked potatoes, but is also ideally sized for use as a pretty serving tray for drinks or tea time too. Some antique platters have a little curve to them in the center of the plate, but not this one. It is completely flat straight across,  making it a level surface ideal for carrying drinkware from here to there without worrying about the glasses wobbling around in tumble-down fashion. That's an especially handy feature if you like to serve breakfast in bed or pass drinks around a party or carry snacks and refreshments from indoors to outdoors.

In the language of flowers, pansies represent thoughtfulness, remembrance, and admiration and in the Victorian era,  they were subtle messengers of love and secret desires. Since we cannot determine which maker made this beauty, maybe its all very fitting for it to have a bit of a secretive past, considering its subject matter. A little antique intrigue makes life interesting, regardless. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

•  Small size
• Colors include plum, lavender, pale lemon, gold and celadon against bright white
• Stamped on back with maker's mark and shape name

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition, this platter contains no cracks, chips, spots, or staining.  The glaze is shiny and the floral colors are vibrant. The gold detailing is wearing in some spots around the rim's edge and handle areas. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measuring 13.75" inches in length x 10.5" inches in width x 1.5" inches (height) and weighs 2.3 lbs