It has made me better loving you... It has made me wiser, easier and brighter. Henry James, 

{HISTORY}

Pretty designs and feminine style were a part of the Royal China aesthetic right from the very beginning, so it's no wonder that this vintage Royal cake plate boasts a menagerie of interesting flowers and colors.

This pattern is called Romance and features red, yellow and white striped tulips, a big blousy blue blossom and a unique mix of pastel leaves and grasses accented by dainty yellow and blue flowers. Colorful, bright and unique it contains a joyful vibe, circus-like color combinations and artistic arrangement. 

First established in 1930 in Sebring, Ohio, Royal quickly became trendsetters in the industry. Not only did they invent a revolutionary stamping machine, but they also boasted a female founder, a true rarity in the dishware manufacturing industry. 

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. 

Although undated, we suspect that this Romance pattern debuted in the 1940s, when red and blue were a popular patriotic combination during the WWII years. Bearing the National Brotherhood of Operative Potters stamp as well (a 20th-century pottery union) we can date this plate to pre-1951 when the union changed its name to the International Brotherhood of Cooperative Potters.

This time period makes this cake plate a fun alternative to traditional stars and stripes dishware enjoyed on the 4th of July. It also offers a lot of year-round mix-and-match possibilities when combined with other vintage and modern pieces thanks to its array of colors. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Colors include tomato red, lemon, celery green, pale pink, beige, lavender, grey blueberry, and grape against an ivory background

- Stamped on back with maker's mark and pattern name

- Rare, hard-to-find pattern

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There are no chips, cracks or crazing. The gold rim is slightly rubbed in some places.  There are two small, insignificant marks on the front that look to be imperfections that occurred during the manufacturing process. One is a small linear impression in the clay near the bottom of the blue flower and the other a small dot like a piece of sand near the right handle. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Measures 11" inches (length - handle to handle) x  9.75" inches (width) and weighs 1.6lbs