Antique Dresden Pottery Plate - Green Roses with Lustreware Rim
Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation. Plato
To tell the history of this one antique plate is to tell a century-old story that involves immigration, a family business, workers' rights, and the biggest pottery town in America.
Inspiration for the eventual realization of the Dresden Pottery Company took shape in the mind of William Brunt, an immigrant from England who came to the States in the 1840s to open a tavern in East Liverpool, OH. Successful at his entrepreneurial endeavor, he noticed the abundance of white clay in his Ohio landscape and the success of the local potteries in producing beautiful dishware made from local resources.
Familiar with the trade back in England, Brunt called upon the help of his sons and started his own company manufacturing doorknobs. Soon after that led to tableware. By 1875, members of the Brunt family were making ironstone dishware in their own pottery on the banks of Ohio River alongside their contemporaries. As the largest hub of dishware manufacturing in the United States, East Liverpool was continuously recognized for its manufacture of outstanding tableware. The Brunts were no exception. As their contributions to the industry grew into award-winning recognition, they too became known for their high-quality dishware and beautiful designs.
But the rise of worker's rights in East Liverpool in the 1880s, fueled by the Knights of Labor, forced big changes for the pottery industry in Ohio. Ultimately, the Brunt's dropped their independent effort, and joined forces with other local businesses to establish a pottery cooperative for the fair practice of pottery workers. For several years, the Brunts operated within this cooperative before William Brunt Jr went into business with several partners and opened the Dresden Pottery in the late 1880s. An exact timeline of Dresden Pottery history is a bit sketchy as it stopped, started, and re-established itself several times over the coming years, but ultimately it ceased production in 1927.
Dresden Pottery pieces are now hard to locate, which makes this plate a remarkable piece of pottery history. Most likely made around the turn of the 20th century, it features green lustreware, an embossed, scalloped edge, and a rose and fern bouquet. Aged to perfection over time it is a wonderful example of early American manufacturing, entrepreneurialism, and dedication.
- Hard to find Dresden Pottery piece
- Colors include chartreuse, melon, coral, spring green, buttercup, sage, grey, and lemon yellow
- Stamped on back with maker's mark
In gorgeous aged condition. This plate contains no chips or cracks. There is lots of lovely, delicate crazing and staining marks which give it a unique and interesting visual style that is one of a kind.
Measures 10.5" inches (diameter) and weighs just a little under 2lbs.
Accent plates like this one, that contain so much visual character, always look outstanding with antique ironstone or a collection of mismatched plain white dishes for interesting tablescapes, cabinet display or kitchen shelf decor.