

Vintage Dancing Couple Dinner Plates by Sabin - Set of Two circa 1940s
{HISTORY}
Often referred to as the dancing couple, the courting couple, the colonial couple, and sometimes even Martha and George, there's no doubt that these two love birds were the king and queen of the kitchen when it came to dinnerware designs in the 1940s.
Part of the dish pattern inventory of at least half a dozen potteries around the US, this guy and gal design took on many different embellishments and adorned all sorts of ceramics from plates to tea cups to vases to salt and pepper shakers. Most often they came enhanced with gold filigree or embossing that made them shimmer and sparkle on tabletops across the country.
Homer Laughlin, Royal, WS George, Cannonsburg, and Sabin all had their variations of this design. Some potteries differentiated themselves in the dish shape, others in the designs of the gold filigree, and others in a more plain style with a simple gold stripe or none at all.
These two dinner plates were produced by Sabin, not a manufacturer, but instead a decorator, that was located in Pennsylvania. Sabin bought blank dishes, added imagery and then sold them. Operating a decorating business instead of a manufacturing business really allowed them to focus on the artistry of a plate and as a result, they made some really spectacular patterns that combined interesting shapes with unique designs. In addition to the scene of the dancing couple at center, these two also feature a scalloped shape and swirls of gold floral filigree rimmed with 22K gold, another design hallmark that Sabin was known for.
From the 1930s through the 1960s Sabin worked from their Pennsylvania studios until they were purchased by Chase Enterprises in the mid-1960s. Sadly, in 1979, Sabin burned down marking the end of an artistic era for a popular 20th-century decorating team.
Nowadays, all those small differences in the details surrounding the dancing couple and its various forms of interpretation make for a creative collecting experience. Especially if you re interested in building a unique mismatched set. Take a little bit of Homer Laughlin's pattern, a little bit of Canonsburg, and a little bit of Royal, and watch the dancing couple come to life in new and vibrant ways in your kitchen.
{SPECIAL FEATURES}
- Matching set of two dinner plates
- Colors include ivory, gold, rust, pale blue, sky blue, [one green, peach, butter, olive black, white, evergreen and grey
- Stamped on back with the decorator's mark
{CONDITION}
In lovely vintage condition, these two plates contain no chips or cracks. The gold filigree is bright, crisp, and shimmery on each. There is a small utensil mark across the chest of the dancing lady on one plate, which is not very noticeable. Lovely light crazing adds an aged aesthetic. Please see photos.
{SIZE}
Each plate measures 10.5" inches (diameter) and weighs 1.2lbs






