Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Dixie Dogwood


Isn't this a pretty pattern?
It's called "Dixie Dogwood" (Joni)
It's kinda like Blue Ridge pottery...... but it's different.  


Sometimes it's hard to tell what's what.   If I understand things correctly, some of the designers/artists from the Southern Pottery Inc (Tennessee) who created all the "Blue Ridge" designs, left and went to other potteries in the area, like Stetson.    Once at their new jobs, they continued to handpaint the same type of patterns with just slight differences.  Later, Erwin Pottery reproduced some of the Blue Ridge designs.   To complicate things further, the various potteries marked some of their pieces, but not all.   So, confusion ensued, and today people have trouble telling who made what and which one is which.


  Look at these pictures and see how easy it might be to get the two mixed up. 
(especially if you are not looking at the two side by side.) 



One of these is "Dixie Dogwood" (Joni), Stetson.  
And the other is  "Southern Dogwood", Blue Ridge, Southern Potteries Inc.

My serving bowl is the Dixie Dogwood (Joni).  I believe it was made in the mid 50's.


The backstamp is hard to read, but it says:
"The legend of the Dogwood dates back to the crucifixion.
Early lore likens the Dogwood petals,
 shaped like a cross and stained with red,
to the Cross of Calvary."

If any of you are collectors and have more (or better) information on this, I'd love to hear from you.  


Connecting to:
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33 comments:

  1. What unusual dishes. I think they are very pretty and perfect for summer!

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  2. I noticed the difference in the flowers and also the leaves are a bit different, too. They are very pretty.

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  3. What is it about dishes that keeps drawing me in?! I love 'em!!

    Thanks for sharing about the giveaway!

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  4. What pretty dishes!!! I collect pine cone dishes and pieces by several different makers and artists - I just mix them all together and enjoy. Half the fun is in finding new pieces to add. I love the dogwood - and the idea of people hand painting on dishes.

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  5. My mother had plates like this, I will have to see if she has any left and check out just which one it is..interesting bit of history, thanks.

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  6. This was a fun era for dishes. I love china almost as much as I love vintage linens, but not quite! I enjoyed perusing your lovely blog!

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  7. That's a really pretty set of dishes! Dogwood is the provincial flower of B.C. - love them. Have a lovely day!

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  8. They are very pretty dishes and I would be hard pressed to tell the difference if they weren't side by side.
    Lovely vintage find.
    Maggie

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  9. Hi Gayle,

    I remember when Bill, from Affordable Accoutrements did a post about this subject. He's very knowledgeable about so many dish patterns, I bet he could help.

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  10. Hello,
    thank you for your visit and the nice comment. I came to visit you too and loved my stay. This dogwood pattern is really charming. I also remember Bills post about such dishes but I think the pattern was different.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  11. I didn't know that...I've seen the Blue Ridge before..they both are nice.
    LOVE your tea nakpkins:) I'm looking for some for a bridal shower that I'm having in a couple of weeks.
    Deb

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  12. Dishes and their stories always amaze me. These are lovely and you certainly would have a hard time telling the difference. I love the description on the back about the Dogwood... Boy! You sure wouldn't see that now-a-days! Thanks for sharing your expertise.

    ~Liz

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  13. Very pretty - and I'll bet you know that the provincial flower of BC is the dogwood.

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  14. Your pattern is lovely. The colors are so pretty too. I've always admired this pottery. My MIL has a few pieces she's collected. She has them displayed throughout her home. Thanks for sharing your collection.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  15. That pattern sure is beautiful. Love the colors too and it looks quite rare cause I have never seen that pattern before....Christine

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  16. I have a few pieces of Blue Ridge from my mother. They could go with these dishes, I think. Your header is so cute!

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  17. Isn't it interesting to find local pottery! In NZ our local pottery was from Crown Lynn and here in Australia Winton is very widely known and loved.

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  18. I'm visiting from Arkansas this morning! Love the dogwood pattern and the information, so interesting! I have many dishes that were my grandmother's, so proud to use them. Love your vintage finds! Come over to Granny Mountain for a visit... joycee

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  19. I would have a hard time distinguishing the two from one another... but then again I think they look great together so I probably wouldn't care! You are so knowledgeable and I love seeing your collections.

    Blessings, Debbie

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  20. That is an amazing story. How can they do that. I thought copywrite laws might be involved. I love that pattern. Don't have any though. Thanks for stopping by.
    QMM

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  21. I like seeing dogwood in any form. Being from East Texas around Easter, they were always so pretty. The dishes look nice with that pattern.

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  22. This looks very much like the dishes we had when I was a girl! I haven't thought of this design in years...now I'm off down memory lane! ♥

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  23. Your dishes are so pretty. Love the Dogwood flowers.
    Hugs
    donna

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  24. Learning about vintage dinnerware is addictive. Great post. I've never seen two so close before!

    Nice to meet you at VTT!

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  25. Well of course, anything named "Dixie"... I'm all for that! Love the dogwoods... I'm actually from Tennessee originally and I've never seen this. Thanks so much for sharing!

    and thanks for stopping by French Lique earlier today... Blessings.. Dixie

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  26. I have some blue ridge pottery that I found at a garage sale and I love it!
    I would love to purchase more, I know they have a lot on E-Bay.
    I love yours'!
    Cindy

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  27. I just love dishes. A woman can never have enough dishes. I’m going to peek around your blog if you don’t mind.

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  28. Such great information! I really enjoyed it!

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  29. I remember seeing this pattern when I was growing up. Interesting story about the different potteries.

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  30. My grandmother worked for Southern Pottery, in Erwin Tennessee from around 1940 until 1957 when it closed. For Christmas, they would give them full sets of the pottery as their gift. My grandma has full sets of the various patterns, still packed in the boxes. Found some information, if anyone collects the unmarked pieces...


    Dixie Dogwood by Joni was made by Stetson, as was American Heritage Dinnerware. It is frequently seen for sale advertised as Blue Ridge. It is very similar to Blue Ridge Dogwood patterns, one main difference between the lime green dogwood patterns is that the center of the flower on Southern pieces have brown centers; whereas Stetson has darker lime green centers. Stetson creamers are elongated and their sugar bowl tops are an elaborate spiral shape. The items most frequently misidentified as Southern Potteries items were made by Stetson China Company. Stetson China located in Lincoln, Illinois took over Illinois China Company on February 1, 1946 and changed the name to Stetson China Company. Some of their registration copy rights go back to 1933. They stopped manufacturing in 1966, a year after changing their name to Lincoln China Company. In 1955, Stetson claimed to be the largest manufacturer of hand painted ceramics in the United States, and, since Southern Potteries was about to reach its time of closing; this statement may have been a very true claim.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nick, for your very informative follow up comment to my post. I love learning more about my pottery pieces.

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  31. I agree with all of the other posts, these dishes are a special design. We recently bought a small set and like them very much.However, our dinner plates have a light brown stained look on the undersides.
    Do you have any recommendations for how to restore them to a nice white finish?
    I just found your site today. Nice read!

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    1. I hope you are enjoying your Dixie Dogwood pieces! No, I am completely clueless on how to restore china and pottery. I looked online and found some suggestions on cleaning china. Perhaps you will find an idea there that will work for you. (Note warnings) http://www.whiteironstonechina.com/careandcleaning.htm

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THANK YOU for your thoughtful comments. Replies to your questions will be posted here, so be sure to check back soon. Have a wonderful day! - Gayle, Garden Of Daisies