Blue Ridge china was produced from the mid-thirties to the late-fifties. At one time it was the largest market for American dinnerware in the USA. It was sold in fancy stores like Marshall Field’s in Chicago and through catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Wards. It was even given away at theatres, as well as grocery and furniture stores; it was also redeemable with Green Stamps.

How did these dishes become such an American tradition? Why is it collected in all states and even Canada? Why is there an annual show and sale devoted exclusively to this china? Why have more than ten books been published as guides for collectors old and new? How do two Blue Ridge newsletters keep up with the demand by collectors?

All of these questions can be answered in our three books: BLUE RIDGE CHINA TODAY (1997), BLUE RIDGE CHINA TRADITIONS (1999), and BLUE RIDGE CHINA TREASURES (2004) and our BLUE RIDGE CHINA QUARTERLY. A fourth book is in the works that will further explore the Blue Ridge collecting bug that has bitten so many people — young and old, male and female.

This beautiful and lasting china was produced in a small eastern Tennessee town named Erwin. It is still a quaint place to visit, especially in October when the Apple Festival and Blue Ridge Show are in town. Young ladies, some as young as fifteen, came down from the mountains to be trained as painters at the pottery. Men were taught how to mold the shapes and do the firing. Some of the young ladies were so talented that they were allowed to paint what are called Artists Signed Plates. These are rare, but wonderful to own. Others were content being part of a team who sat in hard chairs around a table and painted for many hours each day. One might paint a flower on the bisque plate while another would add a stem and leaves. A third might paint an edge around the plate and so on until the plate was finished and put in the stack to be fired and glazed. The slight differences found in patterns makes collecting Blue Ridge so much fun. Hand-painting is an art to be admired and collected.

This beautiful china is still used in many homes today. Collectors display many pieces, but most of them have a favorite set that they use daily or perhaps a set of Christmas or Turkey plates that they use for the holidays. Children’s pieces are very elusive and usually not in very good condition when found, but collectors vie for them and are proud to own them when they are able to purchase these bowls, plates and mugs, which were sold as sets in the catalogs previously mentioned.

We have found over 4,000 different patterns painted and produced at SOUTHERN POTTERIES, INC so there is something for everyone. Unbelievably, new pieces and patterns are still surfacing. When found, these are shown in our BLUE RIDGE CHINA QUARTERLY, which also keeps collectors up-to-date about current prices both in antique shops and on the Internet.

If you are interested in more information or have a piece of BLUE RIDGE CHINA that you would like identified, please get in touch with us. Many pieces are NOT stamped, but once you have a feel for Blue Ridge, you will know when you have found a piece of this delightful AMERICAN pottery!

Frances Ruffin