Tuesday, April 27, 2010

THE REDNESDAY DINER IS OPEN!


Welcome to another wonderful Rednesday! (To see more of the above vintage metal art, click on the picture.) One of my favorite collections is vintage red restaurant ware. Never heard of restaurant ware? It's the heavy dishes and mugs that you see in restaurants and diners, especially from the past. I don't have a huge collection, but pick them up here and there.

Some of the popular brands were Syracuse, Buffalo, Caribe, Shenango, Homer Laughlin, Victor, Sterling, even Fire King! Have you seen the remake movie of Bewitched? In this scene in Samantha's kitchen, you can see the mugs on the shelf above the microwave.
(Photo courtesy of Hooked on Houses blog)

Here is my collection in the kitchen:
The left plate is Buffalo, the right is Sterling, the cup/saucer is Syracuse 'Roxbury'. On the shelf, back row: left is not restaurant ware, made in England, but matches!, middle is Syracuse 'Strawberry Hill', right Syracuse. Middle row: left Syracuse, middle Cathay, right Syracuse. Bottom row: left is Sterling, right bottom is Caribe, right cup in the Caribe is unknown.

A close-up of the serving bowl, which is Caribe.

The napkin peeking out from under the shelf:

These two plates are in my pantry, on the shelf above my computer. They are Syracuse 'Dresden' pattern - hard to find, unfortunately!

Some of the Syracuse floral patterns are so very similar that it's sometimes hard to tell them apart. It seems that Syracuse has the most variety in patterns that I've seen so far.


29 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Hi Sue,
I loooove the red napkin! Happy REDS~

★Carol★ said...

I love restaurant ware! I remember eating on alot of Buffalo China at restaurants when I was little. My Mom was always tipping the cups and plates over to look at the brand, and has collected some over the years. You have a gorgeous collection, and it looks so nice sitting on that white cabinet!
Happy REDnesday!
Carol

Lynn said...

Love the restaurant ware, I don't see it too often. Very pretty!

Ann said...

Hi Sue~ How exciting, another Rednesday, by far my favorite blogland party!
I just love that Caribe serving bowl. I 've never seen the pattern before. Thanks for sharing the history and information about restaurant...another thing to hunt!
Also, love the red dinner napkin print. : )

Ann
@
The Tattered Tassel

Sarah said...

Your red restaurant ware is terrific. What a great collection you have. I'm glad to know about this. It's new to me. Just discovered your blog and hope to join in the fun sometime. Thanks. ~ Sarah

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love restaurant ware and I have some in Pink and green, not sure about Red! Guess something to look for!!!

maryelizabethroche said...

My first car was red...I wish I could find a picture of it!
I do enjoy your blog!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Hi Sue,
I love all your reds. That last dish is especially pretty! Happy Rednesday and thanks for hosting.
xo
Robin

Annesphamily said...

Your reds are really wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

Gwendolen Elaine said...

Love the Dresden dish,Sue...I'm a sucker for floral bouquets on plates.I've been known to push my big sister out of the way to get a better look! I love your new banner,too, btw:)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Sue, I love it all! I don't have much of it, but I love Restaurantwear. You have some great examples, and I love the Rednesday sign. Your banner is so cute too. love the vintage napkin. I enjoyed my visit here today. laurie

Dawn said...

Hi Sue, these are wonderful. They remind me of red transferware. I really like the floral with all the color too. Sometimes that red's got to be cooled down a bit. I love mixing it with lots of colors.
Hugs,
Dawn

Susan Freeman said...

I laughed so hard when I saw the title of today's post because I had already planned to post the Red Plate Special. We are obviously on the same red wave length today! Anyway, I love those red restaurant dishes! The are great. And I really like the Syracuse floral ones too. Don't breathe a word of this to my hubby, he already thinks we have too many plates. I'll have to start sneaking them in.

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

A 2 Z said...

Hi Sue,

Love that post with all the beautiful pictures. I will be participating for the first time. I will do my best. Love your blog!

Anne-Marie

Cindy said...

I adore your red and white dishes! The napkin, too; it's awesome!

Grannys Attic said...

I love the RED dishes. You need to make a copy of my Woolworth RED menu to go with the dishes. LOL
Thanks for hosting another REDnesday! Blessings, Vicky

Angela said...

You know what? I've visited everyone and almost forgot to visit you. Silly me! lol

You have my dream plates girl. I call mine red transfer. I wonder if there is a difference? All I know is I have one plate, one cup and one saucer to my collection. LOL.

I'm getting there,,slllllllowly but surely!!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Sue,
I love the dishes and everything for that fact that you have shared with us today!
Yes, my Tea/coffee pot is a Holt Howard!
Debbie

Charlotte said...

I have collected some 'heavy' resturant coffee mugs, but they are not this pretty. They are just plain white. The previous post on Big Top glassware - I never knew that is what these actually were. My mother has some that she always used for pudding. Now, to convince her that she no longer needs them! :) Happy Rednesday!

Junkie Junkeldorf said...

I really like your transferware. I have some that I also like but yours is more my style.

craftyles said...

Sue,
I love that napkin, it looks so cute tucked under the plate rack. I also love restaurant plates. You have a nice collection going on.Thanks for hosting. I've enjoyed being part of this fun group.

Unknown said...

Sue, This is such a wonderful post! I recently went into the Sunrise Cafe where the entire walls were filled with diner mugs. I could barely eat for looking at them! Thanks for hosting the much anticipated Rednesday! Elizabeth

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

Oh Sue! You have a BEAUTIFUL collection of red and white restaurantware! I have a few pieces but, not nearly as much as I would love to have.

Each one of these are just so pretty! And I love the napkin they are all displayed on.

Happy Rednesday!

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Oh! I am coveting your serving bowl! :)

Happy Rednesday!

Sally

Judy said...

I have a large collection of Syracuse China. Sadly Syracuse China is no longer in business. I used to go to their outlet store quite a bit looking for that one dish that would match my other dishes. A friend just gave some pieces that he did not want. Whenever I go to a restaurant if the plate looks like Syracuse China I turn it over to look. I was in a little restaurant in Cape Cod eating breakfast. I said to my husband these look like Syracuse China dishes. I turned them over and was delighted to find that they were.

Sarah said...

Beautiful dishes and I love your display. :-)

helenabelle said...

Hi Sue~ Just to let you know, I'm praying for Ben and his family.
Ann
@
The Tattered Tassel

Unknown said...

Hi Sue,
It is so nice to be back in blogland! I am goign to have some fun things to share next week! :) I missed you! :)