Tulips were a tray of jewels. E.M  Forster 

{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, both bowls contain the mark of the decorator 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 bowls are ever exactly alike. Each one carries the skill, style and spirit of the artisan who daubbed the florals with colorful paint rendering each one a completely unique work of art all unto itself.

Although the pattern was made from the 1930s-1960s, these bowls represent the earlier years of manufacture, most likely made between the 1930s-1940s.  Reflecting a period in history that was difficult for everyone to navigate (dishes included), the Great Depression and WWII left their mark in a variety of ways. Now hard to find pieces in the Dorchester pattern, these berry bowls have traveled the past ninety years beautifully but do contain a couple of small scars. Please see the condition section.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Matching set of two

- Hand-decorated

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

{CONDITION}

In lovely almost-antique condition, these berry bowls have traveled the past nine decades beautifully. The glaze on each is shiny and bright. The imagery is crisp and clear. There is one small chip on the back of one berry bowl at the rim's edge which measures less than 1/8th' inch in size and cannot be seen from the front. The second berry bowl also features one small chip along the rim on the back that is less than 1/8th" inch in size and also cannot be seen from the front. That bowl also contains a series of small flakes  in the glazing on the backside of the bowl. This does not affect the bowl's ability to sit flat and secure against a countertop nor does it impact the front side of the bowl in anyway. These are just authentic wear marks of 90-year-old dishes and do not affect the use of the bowl in any way. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each bowl measures 5.25" inches in diameter and weighs 8 oz.

{FOR THE COLLECTOR}

Find more pieces in this pattern here.