A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor — such is my idea of happiness. Leo Tolstoy

{HISTORY}

Goodrest. That's the name of this pretty dish pattern created by Homer Laughlin in the 1930s. Almost as if they were inspired by Tolstoy's quote above, this vintage server is a  symbol of sharing good food with good people,  just like the country life Leo himself imagined as pure bliss.

Made in 1936 in H.L.'s  Newell, West Virginia plant the Goodrest pattern name instantly brings to mind comfort and relaxation. It illustrates thoughts of lovely lengthy dinners, of slow-cooked roasts, of rosy-cheeked dinner mates and a table set full of color and candlelight and all the good cheer one could muster. Homer Laughlin had quite a way of delighting diners. 

Started by two brothers in East Liverpool, Ohio in the 1870s, Homer Laughlin has remained one of the most iconic dish makers in American history. Producers of a zillion different patterns from plain to decadent, it is probably safe to say that they have made at least one dish pattern to suit each and every person's particular taste over the past 150 years. A marvel in and of itself! As a company that manufactured both timeless and trendy designs, decade by decade, they had the ability to navigate through three centuries while still remaining relevant and sought after in the marketplace.

 In the 1930s, Homer Laughlin introduced their Nautilus dishware shape which featured a unique decorative rim that contained embossed detailing in the form of swirls and fan shapes. Made to complement a variety of different patterns, this Nautilus shape was a stylish choice. It offered not only a unique design unto itself, but also provided a bevy of creative inspiration when it came to pairing it with other china patterns. 

True to its original intentions, and completely lovely for holiday gatherings, this Goodrest platter in its Nautilus shape combines a traditional red and gold Christmas palette with country cottage florals in blue and pink and yellow. It's a winning color combination that can effortlessly harmonize with many other dish designs for continuously creative tablescapes of mix-and-match aesthetics. 

A very hard-to-find pattern these days, it's a marvel to think that this platter is just thirteen years away from celebrating its 100th birthday. Imagine all that is has served over the course of a century. Still so bright and colorful, we like to think it has been the star of the show each year at the Christmas table from 1936 all the way to today. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Very hard-to-find Homer Laughlin pattern

- Nautilus design

- 22 Karet gold rim and edge

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

- Colors include tomato red, butter, mustard, blueberry, raspberry, sage and gold

{CONDITION}

In lovely almost-antique condition. Clear, bright and crisp imagery.  There are no chips or cracks except for one tiny chip that is 1/8th inch in size on the embossed edge. This chip is so hard to see it is practically invisible.  There is some minor rubbing of the gold on the embossed edges and a little rubbing on the pattern near the handles - both of these wear marks are difficult to see unless viewed very closely. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 11.75" inches (length) x 9.25" inches (width) and weighs 1.10lbs

{TWO FOR THE JOY}

This vintage platter also comes in a larger size - 15.5" inches ideal for turkeys, roasts and larger portions.