Posted 8 years ago
Jrzed
(1 item)
Found this plate at a tag sale. Seller had no idea about the history of the plate. I would appreciate any feedback on this item.
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to me this plate is east european,maybe china is the decoration name?
O.P.Co. = Onondaga Pottery Company located in Syracuse N.Y.
Syracuse China was their line of restaurant ware. The design looks very Art Deco to me, celebrating flight and speed. Probably from the 1930's.
I wonder if this is a design by R. Guy Cowan ???
Is there a stamped letter and number on the back of the plate?
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Guide-to-Date-Codes-and-Backstamps-for-Syracuse-China-/10000000000132854/g.html
This might well help you on your research:
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=O4DcYxsoKjwC&pg=PA114&lpg=PA114&dq=econo-rim+syracuse+china&source=bl&ots=X1Li1FmRV7&sig=YU5Q8Mi9FAfqvJZ_brvvJzhsSJk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbyqfZv9LKAhWhLKYKHRe6CRIQ6AEIWzAR#v=onepage&q=econo-rim%20syracuse%20china&f=false
The border decoration looks to be a US version of what is called 'SPRITZDEKOR".
Strikingly Different !!!!!
Spritzdekor. A spray ("spritz") design on ceramics produced in Germany, Czechoslovakia and Belgium during the 1930's.
The English term is probably 'airbrush' technique.
"Late in the 1920’s, the Onondaga Pottery introduced an airbrush process they called “syratone” that consisted of spraying solid colored bands and overall solid decorations to the face of flatware (plates and dishes) and the outer surfaces of hollow ware (bowls, platters, etc.). "
http://www.arttalk.com/arttalkantiques_collectibles.htm
So the term used is SYRATONE !!
I have seen a reference to 'Syratone' as having been developed in 1933 here (p. 46):
http://www.restaurantwarecollectors.com/datecodes/syr-75years.pdf
It seems there were two airbrush techniques used at OP Co:
"Syratone" (c. 1933) and "Shadowtone" (1937".
Both are collectible.
If I'm reading that date code correctly ( I-11), then this plate dates to November 1928, earlier than the dates given above for the introduction of airbrush techniques.
Another thought, I wonder if this design was inspired by Charles Lindbergh's trans-Atlantic solo flight in April 1927 ?
You're correct RJKINKENT .... I-11 would be Nov. 1928 according to this list
http://www.restaurantwarecollectors.com/forums/misc.php?do=page&template=syracuse
I - 11 also suggests manufacture at the Fayetteville plant.
"1920 TO 1960:
Date codes stamped in ink. Date codes are a number(dash)letter code. The number is the month and the letter code is the year. If the letter is followed by a number then the item was made at the Fayette Street plant. If the number is followed by the letter, the item was made at the Court Street plant.
Please note that the table is set up with the Court Street format, in which numbers preceded letters. However, the Court Street plant didn't exist in 1920 and the Court Street date codes didn't appear until January of 1923 (ref. "Syracuse China" by Reed and Skoczen, page 103). Therefore, years 1920-1922 go by the Fayette Street date codes."
I think I remember seeing so where that Syratone was introduced earlier round 1928.
There is mention of its use in the late twenties her:
http://www.airbrushtalk.com/abtv9n1.htm
"Late in the 1920’s, the Onondaga Pottery introduced an airbrush process they called “syratone” that consisted of spraying solid colored bands and overall solid decorations to the face of flatware (plates and dishes) and the outer surfaces of hollow ware (bowls, platters, etc.). (The Onondaga Pottery was established in 1871; in 1966 it became Syracuse China Corporation; and today it’s known as the Syracuse China Co., established in 1993)
Three major china companies used airbrushing extensively. The Syracuse China Company began a stenciling airbrush technique called “shadowtone” in 1937. Other manufacturers followed, producing commercial china that is now highly prized among collectors."
I agree with RJKINKENT about the flight/ aircraft connection. Something like this would take some time to create and pitching the date to 1927 / 1928 is realistic.
It's five years later, but here's the ID for this plate, used at the Hotel Jefferson in St. Louis: https://rwcn-idwiki-2.restaurantwarecollectors.com/content/jefferson-hotel-st-louis-mo-2-2/