I'm presenting another small dose of my extensive collection of pink Staffordshire souvenir ware. I love these two pieces.
First, a plate "Made exclusively for the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities" according to the backstamp. It features the Old Church Tower in Jamestown, Blair Tomb, Captain John Smith, "The ships that brought the founders of the nation" (can you name those three ships?*) and Pocahontas.
The picture of Pocahontas confused my children for a long time. She doesn't look like the character in the Disney movie. To their minds, the plate was totally wrong. This is one of my lovely pieces of china that my children refer to as "plates with dead people on them." Sigh Nobody appreciates my collection.
Next I have a mug that fascinates and amuses the Civil War buff in me. It has Robert E. Lee's headquarters at Gettysburg on one side, and the Virginia State Memorial at Gettysburg on the other. Why is this so fascinating? General Lee lost the battle of Gettysburg. But who remembers the general on the winning side anyway?**
* According to the plate, the three ships were the Godspeed, the Sarah Constant, and the Discovery. News to me. But I grew up on the West coast, so somehow I missed this particular history lesson.
** The winning general at Gettysburg was George Meade. Raise your hand if you remembered him.
Vintage Thingies Thursday is hosted by Colorado Lady. Please go visit and see the wonderful vintage items everyone is showing.
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23 people stopped folding laundry to write:
I really love the color of those plates. I didn't remember Meade had won the Battle but I do remember who he was...lol...but I have to say if I'd been around back then I'd been rooting for Lee..lol
I have enjoyed looking at your collectors plates.
OH! I love these vintage plates! I think I have the same set of plates, if not extremely similar!
ps I did know Gen. Meade...only because i am a US history buff :)
Ooooo, I love your plates. The color is just beautiful. Happy VTT and have a lovely weekend..
p.s I would have cheered for Lee
Nice stuff. Love the colors and the history lesson..had forgotten about Meade.
I have always loved that color of plate! The history added a lot to today's entry. Virginia has so much of it. I adore the look of your blog. It's so springy and cheerful. Your header is very interesting.
Love it all!
I appreciate your collection! I love seeing the plate and the mug. They're so pretty. I'm with your kids -- Pocahontas does not look like I would expect her to look. And, thanks for the link to the cross stitch bunnies! I love them.
What great items..i love the mug :)
Do you ever sip an ale or a spicy cider from that mug?
Great SouvenirWare!-- brings history right into your living room :) and so pretty too!
Great pieces. Love the comment about the plates with dead people on them. Our children often refer to our home decor as "Early American dead people" as so many things were bought at estate auctions. They will appreciate them one day.
What great pieces and how wonderful to have a history lesson right on the table. The kids will treasure them someday too!
Roberta Anne
Oh dear. I can't stop laughing; plates with dead people. But they are right. Pocahontas surely did not look like that.
Nonetheless, I love your plates!
Fun post! Beautiful collection and I love history but didn't have a clue to the answers but one...Godspeed, I think there was a ship in every port named that, so I would have GUESSED right.
These are great and I got tickled at the term "plates of dead people" that is too funny. These are beautiful pieces, and I especially like the colors. I enjoyed this post today..have a great weekend.
I love transferware especially historical pieces. I adore the mug!
JudyBug
What a fabulous plate, do you know the age of the Staffordshire plate?
It is a lovely piece of history, I
would treasure it. I enjoyed your
history lesson!
How beautiful! Thanks for the learning experience!
I want.....I want......I want!!!
I love VTT posts that include a little history.
I love the colors on the old plates. truly special!
I lvoe these peices. They are gorgeous. i ahve to say I am very jeolous.
I lvoe these peices. They are gorgeous. i ahve to say I am very jeolous.
That's not fair - this is school vacation week - we're not supposed to learn stuff this week! LOL!
Isn't it a shame that kids think the Disney Pocahontas story is the real one.
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