The Enduring Charm Of Blue Ridge China Patterns

Blue Ridge China is a style of dishware with a unique American story. The story begins in the early 1900s when a railroad company sold a large parcel of land in Erwin, Tennessee, to a group of investors. With rich deposits of kaolinite and feldspar nearby, the area was perfect for a pottery business. In 1916, Clinchfield Potteries opened, manufacturing the typical china style of the times, which were described as gold-trimmed, decal-decorated dishes. In the 1920s, the business was sold and became known as Southern Potteries. The new owner introduced a hand-painted, underglaze technique, with bold, new patterns painted by local women and stamped with the Blue Ridge label. Young ladies were trained as painters, while men were taught to mould shapes and do the firing. Some of these young ladies were so talented that they were allowed to paint what are called Artist Signed Plates, which are now rare and wonderful to own. Bright colours and big designs are hallmarks of Blue Ridge patterns, with over 4000 different patterns designed before Southern Potteries closed its doors in 1957.

Blue Ridge Southern Pottery

In the 1920s, the business was sold and became known as Southern Potteries. The new owner introduced a hand-painted, underglaze technique to set his china apart from competitors. The bold, new patterns were painted by local women and stamped with the Blue Ridge label during the 1930s. Young ladies, some as young as fifteen, were trained as painters, while men were taught to mould shapes and fire the pottery. Some of the women were so talented that they were allowed to paint Artist Signed Plates, which are now rare and wonderful to own.

Blue Ridge patterns are known for their bright colours and big designs, with flowers being a common motif. Southern Potteries produced over 4000 patterns, including Stanhome Ivy, which was made in 1947 for Stanley Home Products, and given as gifts to hostesses. Other companies, such as Avon and Quaker Oats, also gave away Blue Ridge china to salespeople and consumers to boost sales.

Southern Potteries closed its doors in 1957 due to the increased competition from cheaper china imports and the emergence of plastic dinnerware. Today, Blue Ridge china is highly collectible, with enthusiasts seeking out the thousands of different patterns produced over the years.

Blue Ridge China Patterns

Blue Ridge China, also known as Blue Ridge Southern Potteries Inc., is a style of dishware with a unique American story. The pottery company was established in the early 1900s in Erwin, Tennessee, after a railroad company sold a large parcel of land along their railroad line to a group of investors. The area had rich deposits of kaolinite and feldspar, the perfect ingredients for a pottery business.

In 1916, Clinchfield Potteries opened, manufacturing the typical china style of the times, described as "gold-trimmed, decal-decorated dishes". In the 1920s, the business was sold and became known as Southern Potteries. The new owner introduced a hand-painted, underglaze technique to set his china apart from competitors. The bold, new patterns, painted by local women, were stamped with the Blue Ridge label during the 1930s.

Young women were trained as painters, while men were taught to mould shapes and fire the pottery. Some talented artists were allowed to paint "Artists Signed Plates", which are now rare and highly sought-after. Other women worked as part of a team, each painting a different part of a design. Bright colours and big, bold flower designs became hallmarks of Blue Ridge patterns.

Southern Potteries designed over 4,000 patterns and their business boomed during World War II due to a shortage of imports. However, after the war, cheaper china imports and plastic dinnerware entered the market, leading to increased competition. Southern Potteries closed its doors in 1957.

Today, Blue Ridge China is highly collectable, with patterns including Foxgrape, Ring O Roses, Cherry Bounce, and Anemone, as well as Stanhome Ivy, and Colonial Faience with a fruit motif.

Blue Ridge Dinnerware

To set itself apart from competitors, Southern Potteries introduced a hand-painted, underglaze technique in the 1930s, with bold, new patterns painted by local women, stamped with the new label, Blue Ridge. Young ladies were trained as painters, while men were taught to mould shapes and fire the pottery. Some women were so talented that they were allowed to paint Artist Signed Plates, which are now rare and highly sought-after.

Blue Ridge china patterns are characterised by bright colours and big, bold designs, particularly flowers. One of the most popular patterns is Stanhome Ivy, made in 1947 for Stanley Home Products and given as gifts to hostesses. Other companies such as Avon and Quaker Oats also gave away Blue Ridge china to salespeople and consumers to boost sales.

Southern Potteries designed over 4000 patterns before closing its doors in 1957 due to competition from cheaper imports and the rise of plastic dinnerware. Today, Blue Ridge china is highly collectable, with thousands of patterns to discover.

Blue Ridge Pottery Patterns

Blue Ridge pottery is highly collectible and features quaint patterns with a unique style. The pottery was produced in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee, with the business operating from the 1910s until 1957.

Blue Ridge pottery was first manufactured by Clinchfield Potteries, which opened in 1916. They produced typical china styles of the time, including "gold-trimmed, decal-decorated dishes". In the 1920s, the business was sold and became known as Southern Potteries. The new owner introduced a hand-painted, underglaze technique, and the pottery was stamped with the Blue Ridge label during the 1930s. Young women were trained as painters, creating bold, new patterns, while men were taught to mould shapes and fire the pottery. Some talented female artists were allowed to paint Artist Signed Plates, which are now rare and wonderful to own.

Southern Potteries produced thousands of different patterns, with bright colours and big designs being hallmarks of Blue Ridge patterns. Some of the more common patterns include:

• Foxgrape
• Ring O Roses
• Crab Apple
• Cherry Bounce
• Anemone
• Stanhome Ivy
• Colonial Faience USA with an ornamental pattern and fruit motif
• Prairie Rose
• BRP34
• BRP37
• BRP118
• BRP149

Southern Potteries also designed china for companies such as Stanley Home Products, Avon, and Quaker Oats, which were given as gifts to salespeople and consumers to boost sales.

Blue Ridge China History

Blue Ridge China was produced by Southern Potteries in Erwin, Tennessee, from 1938 through 1957. The company was established in the early 1900s when a railroad company sold a large parcel of land along their railroad line to a group of investors. The area was rich in kaolinite and feldspar, making it ideal for the manufacture of ceramics. Initially known as Clinchfield Potteries, the company was incorporated as Southern Potteries, Incorporated, in 1920.

In the 1930s, Southern Potteries began producing hand-painted dinnerware under the name Blue Ridge China. The new owner introduced a unique hand-painted, underglaze technique that set his china apart from competitors, who mostly used dull, decal-decorated dishes. The bold, colourful patterns were painted by local women, some as young as fifteen, who were trained in basic folk painting strokes. The technique gave the dishes a cheerful, informal appearance that was very popular with customers.

During World War II, when imports were restricted, Blue Ridge China flourished. By the late 1940s, the company employed over 1,000 workers and produced 324,000 hand-painted pieces per week, making it the largest hand-painted china producer in the United States. The dishes were sold in major markets across the country, including New York's Fifth Avenue, and were offered as incentives by companies such as Quaker Oats and Avon.

However, the company struggled to compete when cheaper imports returned to the American market after the war, and plastic dinnerware became popular. Southern Potteries closed its doors in 1957, bringing an end to the production of Blue Ridge China. Today, Blue Ridge China is a popular collectible item, with thousands of people around the world collecting these vintage pieces.

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