Antique Johnson Bros. Flow Blue Claremont 16 Oval Serving Platter

  
This item is an antique Johnson Bros. Flow Blue Claremont 16 Oval Serving Platter. Began as a small English pottery firm that grew into a huge exporter of flow blue dinnerware. I'll tell you more about Johnson Bros. But first the platter particulars.

The platter measures 16 1/2" long, 11 1/2" wide, and is 1 3/4 tall at it's highest point. The pattern shows flow blue flowers with an intertwined vine border.

The platter is further embellished with embossed dots around the edges and heavier patterns on the handles. There are some minor utensil marks at various places on the surface. You can also see two small 1/4 long scratches in the glaze put there from utensils. These marks are not very obvious to the casual observer. I've looked hard for scuff marks, but don't see any; there may be a minor scuff but if there is it's small. There are no cracks, chips, crazing or repairs. Overall, this platter is in excellent shape. Please see photo's for details. I believe the platter was used a couple of times and then put away in a china cabinet for many, many moons.

It appears to me after attending this estate sale that this was the first time this platter has seen the light of day in maybe 40 or 50 years. The glaze on this piece is remarkable - it's hard to believe this piece is over a century old! Okay, so now here's a little skinny on the Johnson Bros. Way back in 1883 two brothers, Alfred and Frederik Johnson, re-fired the kilns of a shuttered pottery house.

The firm was called "Charles Street Works", and was located in Stoke-on Trent, Staffordshire, England. The first items the brothers produced from their traditional coal fired "bottle" kilns was called "White Granite". They marked it as'semi-porcelain', and it soon became very popular dinnerware. In 1888 a third brother, Henry, joined the company, as the firm began to expand in size and variety of products offered. Around 1900 the brothers began producing large quantities of transfer ware and flow blue ware for export to the United States. The Johnson brothers dinnerware gave American families something they very much wanted around the turn of the century. That is, high quality dishes that looked like china, were as durable as ironware, and were inexpensive. As business boomed, a fourth brother, Robert, opened an office in New York City to handle the import side of the business. Between 1900 and 1910 over 30 patterns were offered to the receptive American public; this Claremont pattern was among them. In the 1930's the company built a new pottery house that was modernized with efficient electric kilns. The old coal fired "bottle" kilns in the Charles Street Works where the firm began were allowed to cool and the building closed. After World War II, Johnson Bros. Produced the much sought after "Friendly Village" line, as well as annual Christmas plates and souvenir mugs. Unable to compete in the global market, Johnson Bros.

It's quite a history; from small, humble beginnings to providing the dishes millions of Americans ate their meals on! This platter is a lovely example of the work produced by these intrepid brothers. It has been very well preserved with its high glaze and stunning blue ink. This platter would compliment any blue and white collection and would be a centerpiece in many plate collections!

It would also be a great choice for designers looking for that finishing touch. The platter is described as objectively as possible. If an item has a scratch or ding, I will tell you. All pictures are of item to be sent. Please inquire if you have any questions concerning an item.

For more mind-boggling deals on fine porcelain , upscale home accessories , vintage jewelry , and other cool knickknacks from the fine small town of Easton, Maryland! The item "Antique Johnson Bros.

Flow Blue Claremont 16 Oval Serving Platter" is in sale since Sunday, March 12, 2017. This item is in the category "Pottery & Glass\Pottery & China\China & Dinnerware\Johnson Brothers". The seller is "eastonattics" and is located in Easton, Maryland. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Bahamas, Viet nam.

Model: Claremont

Main Color: Flow Blue