9 Pc Blue Willow Ware Royal China Homer Laughlin Ridgways Dinnerware

Description

Set of 9 pieces of Blue Willow dinnerware by assorted makers. Includes: 1 Dinner Plate (unmarked); 5 Salad Plates by Homer Laughlin, number L50 N6; 1 Willow Ware Salad Plate by Royal China; and 1 Teacup & Saucer by W. Ridgway & Co.

"Homer Laughlin (March 23, 1843 – January 10, 1913) was an American businessman and potter who, with his brother Shakespeare, formed the Laughlin Pottery Company in 1871 in Newell, West Virginia. Homer Laughlin was born in Little Beaver Creek, Columbiana, Ohio on March 23, 1843. e did Civil War service from 1862 to 1865. After he was mustered out of the army, he worked in retail in Pittsburgh for a while, and later he worked in petroleum development in Pennsylvania for a year, boring twelve oil wells. He then became a travelling salesman of Rockingham style crockery throughout the Midwest. Homer then moved to New York where he worked with his brother Shakespeare Moore Laughlin as an importer of English earthenware. In 1873, they built a pottery in East Liverpool, Ohio, which they ran as Laughlin Brothers until 1879, when Homer bought out Shakespeare. Their crockery became so popular that the company was accused of counterfeiting English trademarks by British manufacturers. In response to this accusation, Laughlin devised an anti-English trademark of a lion supine mounted by a rampant eagle standing on the lion's belly. The company became the largest manufacturer of crockery in the country. Laughlin Pottery then became the Homer Laughlin China Company. In 1889, William Edwin Wells joined Homer Laughlin, and seven years later the two incorporated the company. Laughlin sold his interest to Wells shortly thereafter. The company moved operations across the Ohio River to West Virginia land purchased from the Newell family. Laughlin moved to Los Angeles in 1897, where he developed the Homer Laughlin Building on Broadway. The Homer Laughlin China Co. moved all operations to Newell, West Virginia, in 1907. Operations continue in that location today. Homer Laughlin died of pneumonia on January 10, 1913, after an operation for appendicitis." (Source: Wikipedia)

Condition

Good Overall - Gentle wear; some crazing/discoloration

Dimensions

Dinner Plate - 9.75" / Teacup - 3.75" x 2.25" (Diameter x Height)