Handpainted dinnerware is the newest and smartest thing for today's homes... (from a 1955 newspaper advertisement for Stetson dinnerware) 

{HISTORY}

What does joy look like on a plate? 

When it comes to vintage dinnerware patterns made by Stetson, joy looks like pink petaled flowers dancing among spring green leaves. Handpainted in 1955 for Stetson's American Heritage series, this Joy pattern was produced in-house by hundreds of ceramic artists painting dish after dish, flower after flower.  That large team of decorators ensured not only that each piece was artistically painted by hand but also reflected each artist's unique mastery of the paintbrush so that no two flowers, no two dishes looked exactly the same. 

With an airy and creative bohemian spirit,  this Joy pattern features shades of raspberry, spring green, pine green, black, and pale celadon. It was one of many patterns that featured handpainted florals and stripes by Stetson, a dishware manufacturer based in Lincoln, Illinois that once touted itself as being the largest and most modern of American potteries. They were also king of creative marketing, advertising many of their dishware patterns in companion sale giveaways along with GE dishwashers and tucked inside boxes of FAB washing detergent. 

These two dinner plates retain all the hallmarks of authentic Stetson dinnerware. One plate is slightly more pastel in color and features an errant dot of black paint. Both plates are stamped on back with the Stetson mark, manufacturing location, and date code. These two also bear some signs of kitchen adventures, so please see the condition section for details. 

So pretty for wall display as much as table use, these plates definitely carry the spirit of their pattern namesake offering a bright, bold splash of color  and joy to kitchens and tabletops. 

Vintage Stetson advertisement featuring the Joy pattern courtesy of Rapid City Journal, March 14, 1955

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Marching set of two dinnerplates
• Hard to find Joy pattern 
• Handpainted
• Stamped on back with maker's mark

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition, these plates are bright, crisp and clear in imagery with beautiful light crazing lines. There are two minor flaws - one on each plate but neither is hardly noticeable. One is a very very light hairline crack that measures about 1" inch in length i the top right corner of the plate. The other is a small rust colored stain on the rim of the other plate measures 1/2" inch in length.

We don't usually offer vintage dishware with cracks in the shop but given the fact that these two are hard to find in both pattern and piece and reflect such a cheerful design we wanted to keep them afloat in the vintage dishware world. The pricing reflects these slight imperfections but by no means are these dishes not useful still today. It would be a shame to cast them aside for such slight condition issues. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Each plate measures 9.5" inches (diameter) and weighs 1 lb.