Dinner Plate, Royal China, Colonial Homestead, Gray, Vintage

• Pattern:  Vintage Plate, Colonial Homestead by Royal China, Gray / Brown (Discontinued)
• Made in Sebring, Ohio, USA 
• Vintage: 1950's
• Details:  This is a wonderful dinner plate from Royal China, (USA pottery 1934- 1986).  The pattern is very old, and the design even older, it features a colonial "kitchen" which was really the home's fireplace.  There are pots hanging by the fire and others waiting their turn.  Of course the rifle is very close by, a few plates and pitchers which were not decorative but for daily use, and notice the oven door just above the fire.  The border on the plate is made to look like nailed wood planks.  There are always variations in color on these older china pieces, the official color on this is "gray", however, ours is more gray-brown.  The backstamp reads: "Colonial Homestead by Royal, Underglaze circa 1950, Patented N53". This is not an easy pattern to find, and finding a complete set is even harder, so if you're trying to replace a broken dinner plate, we hope this is a happy find.  Otherwise, this makes a great decorative wall plate, a great addition to your Fall / Winter or even Thanksgiving decor.   
• Materials:  Ceramic
• Dimension:  10.0 inches in Diameter 
• Condition:  Vintage - Used.  Good Condition considering its age.  There are surface scratches, some discoloration and lots of crazing both front and back.  A manufacturer's defect, a small hole, in the back.  Please review all pictures and make sure you love this item before purchasing, we can't accept returns.  All Sales Final.  Please remember these are VINTAGE and ANTIQUE items, they are NOT new, every effort has been made to show any scratches, wear and tear and imperfections.     

The Royal China Company started in 1934 in Sebring, Ohio.  It was founded by Beatrice L. Miller, William H. Habenstreit and John Bert Briggs.  They started with very little money, with workers agreeing to work without pay until business started to grow.  At first, they made mostly inexpensive dishware and sold them at dime stores or gave them away as premiums in grocery stores and gas stations. Their wares gained popularity quickly, in their first year of operation, Royal China produced 7,800,000 pieces of pottery . Their most popular pattern during this time was “Blue Willow”.  In 1943, the plant was converted to produce china and porcelain.  In the 1940's Royal China was the world's largest manufacturer in Willow Ware.  In 1949-1950, they introduced a new line called “Currier & Ives” which became even more popular than Blue Willow.  The company grew and started purchasing other pottery companies.  By 1965, Royal was the largest in the U.S., with $6,000,000 in sales. Mr. Miller retired in 1969 and sold the plant to the Jeannette Glass Co., of Pennsylvania.  In the 1970's after having to rebuild due to a fire, they became the largest dinnerware plant in Sebring, and the third largest in the United States. Jeannette Glass/Royal was purchased by Coca Cola Bottling Co, and then was sold to an investors group, The J Corporation, by 1986 all operations had ended. An interesting fact about this company, when Miss Miller went to the bank with the proposal to purchase the building, she was turned away because in those days a woman in manufacturing was practically unheard of, so Mr. Habenstreit has to go back to the same bank, he was approved for the loan.