Sunflowers

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Liberty Blue


 A few weeks ago, one of my readers asked about the 
blue dishes that show up in my blog photos from time to time.
(Thank you for asking!  Your questions give me ideas for posts!)



Liberty Blue was ironstone dinnerware made in Staffordshire, England
and shipped to the USA to celebrate America's Bicentennial.  
1776-1976.
(Oh, the irony in that.)

It was originally designed as an incentive for savings and loan customers
and then later as promotion-ware at grocery stores. 
Pieces cost next to nothing.


A band of wildflowers surrounds the historic colonial scenes:
Independence Hall,   Betsy Ross with the nations first flag,
 Washington leaving  Christ Church, Monticello, etc...
There are many other pieces that I do not have.  Yet.



Backstamps are of an American Eagle.




I love the way Liberty Blue goes with almost any season of the year,
and mixes so nicely with the other blue pieces I own.

Do any of you collect Liberty Blue too?  I'd love to learn more from you!


* * * * *
More information:
Pictures of old newspaper ads for LB can be found at Robin's Nest.
Liberty Blue dinnerware ,  book by Debbie and Randy Coe,  2006.

 * * * * * *
I've noted that this has become a popular post.
Please leave a comment so I'll know you were here.
And I'd love to have you follow my blog.


34 comments:

  1. I'm going to head into the depths of my kitchen cupboard, where I'm sure there's a piece of this china. We lived just outside of Valley Forge in 1976 and attended many of the festivities around the bicentennial. I'll let you know if I find a piece!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know that I've ever seen any of this before, but I will certainly be looking. I love blue and white dishes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. My pattern is very similar. I just turned it over and it is English Village by Stratford. You are right the pattern goes with anything...smiles...Renee

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a treasure. How fancy to have a piece of pie off of one of those dishes : )

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for teaching me something today! They are beautiful dishes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sigh, it was everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. Love the different photos. Thanks.

    I found one more plate! Now I have to go find that book. You sure do keep me hopping.

    Umm, that teapot you have there...

    ReplyDelete
  7. No - I don't have any of those (are you surprised?) and have never even seen any that I know of - but I'll be watching now for sure. They are very very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love them, I have the dishes my mom purchased from the grocery store. I drove her when I got my drivers license. I have several pieces and do see them at Antique shops at a pretty good price. I intend to save them for my daughter. HUGS MARY

    ReplyDelete
  9. these are so beautiful.....have a wonderful Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A heavenly shade of blue - and all the different historical designs make for instant table conversation!

    Thank you for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such joy..love all this blue of yours today...I have some of my Grandma's blue willow...love it! Stay cozy xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful set of dishes! Thanks for the information about them, I found it really interesting :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. When I saw this post, I was thinking that it was the set that my mom collected from the National-T grocery store when I was a kid, but that would have been before 1976. Anyway, I didn't get her set when she passed.

    xx, Carol

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes, Liberty Blue, has been residing with me since it first appeared on the market! It is one of my favorite patterns...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have a few treasured pieces and alway keep my eye out for it. I had it on display when we had our house, but now in an RV it is packed away. Think I'll get it out for my 4th of July Decorations this year.
    I didn't know too much of the history. Thanks for sharing that and your collection.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This blue is a secial shade and lovely. Like a summer heaven.
    Best greetings, Johanna

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your dishes. I am not familiar with these so this was very interesting to me! Now, I will be on the lookout for them and will think of you when I see them!
    I also notice your wee little sheep beside your dishes. My blog friend KathyB at Spot On Cedar Pond makes these from the wool from her own sheep. So cute!
    Thanks so much for your visit/comment. Hope you have an enjoyable week.

    ReplyDelete
  18. p.s. I forgot to say that I was born in 1957 and that is my Easter pic on the blog post!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't think there would be much here in Oz for me to collect. It is very pretty and reminds me of sets that I have seen with Dutch scenes.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have 5 of the dinner plates but I would love to have more!
    Such a nice post, inspires me to look for more of this wonderful china!

    ReplyDelete
  21. If I ever saw them, I probably skipped over them thinking they were blue willow. I don't think anyone in my family collected those.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have a few pieces of Liberty Blue...I collect blue and white ironstone pieces. So they find their way into my collection that way.

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a pretty collection you have.

    xo,
    Danielle

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your pattern here brings me happy memories of childhood! xoox

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love all the blue dishes. Your camera takes wonderful pictures. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog, I appreciate that so much.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love Liberty Blue. I use Blue Willow primarily but have a few pieces of this pattern that I use. I do occasionally sell it in my antique shop. Lots of folks seem to like to collect it.
    The Blue Willow that I mostly use is something I got from Shop and Save grocery stores up in Maine back in the 80s.
    There is another blue and white set that was given away in grocery stores though I don't know the date... it is called Shakespeare country.
    That china manufacturer must have made a fortune selling all the china to grocery stores over the years.
    Blue and White always seems to be very popular and the nice thing is, it is easy to mix and match.
    Maybe I will do a blog entry on the other blue and white types.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I adore these blue dishes and have collected a few of them around the house.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I think there is a piece of this in my dad's plate collection (well, it was my mum's but he inherited it). We lived in the States from 1973 - 1976 so it makes sense! I shall check the plate when I go to visit him next - thanks so much for giving us the information.

    ReplyDelete
  29. And now I've found this post about your Liberty Blue! When I first started collecting, it was inexpensive and easier to find. Now . . . it's a challenge. The luncheon plates are the most difficult to find, but of course, the ones I want the most!

    You have a lovely collection!

    ReplyDelete
  30. My great grandmother had many pieces for this collection. They passed to my mother and will someday pass to me. We are trying to slowly complete the set but today I stumbled upon many, many pieces in a consignment shop and brought home several of them! It blew my mind to see so many pieces in one place. I'm still giddy from it!

    ReplyDelete

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