Vintage Gold Filigree Royal Charm Berry Bowls with Cottage Flowers - Set of Three circa 1940s
{HISTORY}
A popular choice among dishware manufacturers from the 1930s-1950s, this combination of lacy gold filigree and floral transferware was a popular pair on dishware manufactured by a few different potteries. Elegant and colorful, these feminine patterns represented cheerful table decorations that could easily entertain everyday meals and fancier parties without ever looking out of place.
Upon first glance, you might assume all gold filigree on a vintage cup, plate or bowl is the same, but if you look closely at two different patterns, you'd notice tiny differences in the details that give each one its own unique style and personality. Like lace, some filigree contains dots and dashes, some contain flower outlines and some contain swirls and steams. leaves and snowflakes, stars and paisleys, or all of the above.
Since many dishware manufacturers "borrowed" between themselves the same filigree patterns and the same floral transferware imagery, it can be difficult to pinpoint the manufacturer of dishes, like this set that is unmarked. Thanks to the help of a collector who had similar pieces marked with the Royal backstamp, we can accurately identify this trio as the Royal China Company's Royal Charm pattern.
In the mid-1940s, this pattern was part of gift giveaways and incentive programs for local movie theaters. Ladies who showed up to see their favorite film stars like Ginger Rogers in Tales of Manhattan or Carole Lombard in To Be or Not to Be or Lucille Ball in Big Street were gifted complimentary pieces of Royal Charm dinnerware as a thank-you for supporting the theater. A fun incentive program for a fun occasion, Royal Charm and Hollywood movie magic combined two creative art forms that inspired women of the 1940s long after the weekly movie ended and the daily meals were prepared.
Containing a range of bright colors, these three berry bowls offer great potential in the complimentary mix-and-match department when it comes to setting a table with other vintage dishware. Fill them up with ice cream, summer fruits, yogurt, berry crumbles, cucumber salads, homemade pickles, fresh melon, etc. and you have a lovely arrangement that shimmers in the sunshine. A veritable feast for the eyes and the belly!
{SPECIAL FEATURES}
- Matching set of three
- Colors include gold, tangerine, spring green, pale pumpkin, butter, raspberry, cornflower blue, lavender, pale pink, tomato red, coral, mint, sage and spring green.
- Unmarked
{CONDITION}
In lovely vintage condition. These bowls contain no chips, cracks or crazing. There is a little bit of very minor rubbing around the gold filigree towards the center of the flower bouquet on one bowl otherwise all of the gold filigree is shiny and bright on all bowls.
{SIZE}
Each bowl measures 5.25" inches (diameter) and weighs 4oz.