Steubenville Pottery 'Violets' Scalloped Dinner Plate

This is a stack of six vintage dinner plates manufactured by the Steubenville Pottery Company, likely dating from the mid-20th century. Each plate features a creamy white earthenware body with a distinctive scalloped, wave-textured rim accented by a thin blue band at the extreme edge. The central decorative motif consists of several clusters of purple and lavender violets with green leaves and yellow-orange accents positioned around the shoulder of the plate. Physically, the glaze shows significant age-related crazing—a network of fine cracks—spreading across the center and rim of the visible top plate. This crazing is a common condition issue with vintage American pottery of this era. The floral decals appear largely intact but may show minor wear from stacking. The scalloped edges provide a tactile quality and reflect a traditional, folk-inspired American aesthetic. While no backstamp is visible in the image, Steubenville's production often featured their distinctive mark on the underside. The presence of dense crazing indicates these may have been stored in variable temperatures or have simply reached a state where the glaze and body have expanded and contracted at different rates over several decades.

I have examined the digital images of these six Steubenville Pottery dinner plates in the 'Violets' pattern. This mid-20th-century floral design on the characteristic wave-textured, scalloped blank represents classic American semi-vitreous dinnerware. My visual assessment confirms the pieces are authentic period Steubenville, though the absence of a photographed backstamp means I am relying on the distinctive mold shape and decal pattern for identification. The primary factor impacting value here is condition; the visible density of crazing across the glaze is significant. While common for Steubenville, this network of fine cracks can lead to staining and compromises the utility of the plates for modern food service, relegating them to decorative or light display use only. Market demand for mid-century American earthenware fluctuates, with 'Violets' being a charming but relatively common pattern compared to the company's more sought-after 'Russell Wright' lines. Recent sales of similar sets in improved condition typically reach higher price points, but the damage to the glaze on these specific units necessitates a lower valuation. This appraisal assumes no chips or hidden repairs. Please note that a definitive authentication requires a physical inspection to verify the tactile glaze quality and backstamp presence. Scientific testing for lead content would be recommended before any active food use, as pottery from this era often utilized materials that do not meet modern safety standards.