In love with some plates

Just a quick blog entry about some plates I’ve bought recently. I’ve been getting bored of the plain Denby we’ve got, I don’t feel it’s got any character.  You probably have no interest in plates, but anyway I’m still going to show you them!

Homemaker dinner plates, by Ridgway Potteries

I really got it in my head lately that I wanted some Homemaker plates, so I ended up buying some from Ebay. Somebody was selling a set of 2 dinner plates and 3 tea plates. I might get some more at some point, but people do seem to bid them up. It would cost a fortune if you wanted to put a whole set together.

Dinner plate & tea plate

The ‘Homemaker’ design was the work of Enid Seeney in 1956-57, for Ridgway Potteries. These plates were originally sold exclusively in Woolworths, and they had a long production run from 1958-1970.  I think the plates I’ve got are probably from later on in the production run.

3 tea plates

Black 'n' white

The plates are a classic 50s design, and they feature images of classic 50s furniture and other household items.

I want all the things on the plate, as well as the plate itself! Especially the kidney table.

In the St. Luke’s Hospice shop on Ecclesall Road, I found this random plate, which was £1.00.

Alfred Meakin plate

It isn’t as big as a dinner plate, but it’s ideal for a sandwich! It’s very chintzy looking with a kind of gold leaf pattern. I’m not sure how old it is, I can’t find out much about it, except it is an Alfred Meakin. It’s quite worn so must have been well used. There are lots of other similar looking plates and bowls online featuring a lady in the yellow dress. Some of them are called ‘Crinoline Lady’, but they don’t seem to be quite the same as this one. I’d like to know how old it is!

The Crinoline Lady?

My favourite and most amazing charity shop find in recent weeks is a set of J&G Meakin ‘Summertime’ plates and bowls. It’s not the full set, but there are 20 pieces. And the weirdest thing is, I’d been keeping an eye out for these plates, hoping to find the odd one or two in charity shops, and then I found a whole set of them! Imagine my excitement as I glanced in the window of the Sue Ryder shop in Filey and saw these on display! I’m sad aren’t I!?

J&G Meakin

These date from around 1962, and I love everything about them. The large flowers are bright yellow, with tiny blue and orange flowers and dark green leaves. The florals have been transferred on top of the background, which is a typical 50s/60s grey crosshatch design.

Closer view

I wonder how many dinners have been eaten from these plates? It’s weird to think about it. They’re in really good condition, with only a few minor chips here and there.

Rectangular plate

I can’t explain to you how happy I am with these and how much I love them!

Plates together

Bowl

When I left the Sue Ryder shop, I said I would be back to collect the plates later when I had the car. Outside, there were two women looking in the shop window, watching one of the assistants who was starting to remove the plates and put them in a box. Then I overheard one woman say to the other “Somebody’s just bought them plates, I think they’re bloody awful!” and they both started laughing!!! hahaha! Cheeky bitches!

Yellow flowers