In the 1940s, Salem China Company based in Salem, Ohio, produced a series of dishware featuring vintage illustrations from Godey's Lady's Book. Published each month between the 1830s and 1870s, Godey's was a very popular women's magazine that featured poetry, articles, short stories, and fashion plates. As the voice of women in pre-Civil War America, the magazine championed women's causes and supported women's rights especially when it came to education.

Color illustrations and fashion plates were expensive for the magazine to produce but they were one of the most beloved aspects of Godey's Lady's Book. When Salem China Co. reproduced the Godey series, they were faithful to the finely detailed drawings and color processes that had made the magazine famous the century before. That dedication resulted in dishware reproductions that were quite exquisite pieces of art.

This hard-to-find Godey chop plate measures  13.5" inches from handle to handle and features two colorfully dressed ladies, (perhaps sisters!) chatting in a park-like setting.  Originally designed for carrying large quantities of food, or bulkier items like steak or roasts, this plate's large size makes it suitable as both an artistic wall hanging and a piece of functional tableware.  The bright purple and green colors of the ladies' gowns and setting are just gorgeous, especially in contrast to the natural tea-colored staining that has occurred over time. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Highly detailed illustration

- Colors include mint green, pink, raspberry, purple, eggplant, tangerine, peach, grey and butter

- Stamped on back with maker's mark

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. This plate contains no cracks. There is a lot of delicate crazing and a smattering of lovely tea-colored staining on both the front and back. There is one small chip near the handle on the back that measures 1/4" inch in diameter. Please see photo. 

{SIZE}

This plate measures 13.5" inches in diameter and weighs 2.4lbs

{STYLE IDEA}

Because of this plate's antique character, it looks especially great with other 20th century dishware like these pieces...