{HISTORY}

Made in England starting in the 1930s, the Johnson Brothers Dorchester pattern became a popular favorite that was produced all the way through the mid-1960s. Featuring dark raspberry pink tulips, double-petaled blue blossoms, and yellow wax flowers, this vibrant bouquet was hand-decorated in shades of lime green, blueberry, mustard and berry. 

Complete with an embossed edge that is scalloped in shape, this Johnson Bros dish style was called Shell, but sometimes was also referred to as piecrust, in reference to the simple baking technique where you press tines of a fork against the edge of pie dough to seal in the top and bottom crust before baking. 

Hand-colored, this set of four square salad plates all contain the marks of the decorators who personally painted the florals on the front side of each dish. A lovely nod to handcrafted dishware, these marks and this hand-painted technique means that no two plates are ever exactly alike. Each one carries the skill, style and spirit of the artisan who daubbed the florals with colorful paint - a unique work of art all unto itself.

Although the pattern was made from the 1930s-1960s, these salad plates represent the earlier years of manufacture, most likely made between the 1930s-1940s.  

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Matching set of four plates

- Hand-decorated

- Each plate is stamped on bottom with maker's mark and pattern name

{CONDITION}

In lovely almost-antique condition. these plates contain no chips, cracks or staining. There is lots of lovely light crazing marks on the back and front of each plate adding a unique layer of age and aesthetic to each dish. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each plate measures 8" inches x 8" inches and weighs 9 oz.

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

Find more pieces in this pattern here.