Before the advent of the Happy Meal, before you could Super-Size, even before the first drive-thru window (there was a time before the drive-thru?), there was a deal to be had at the local eatery and it was called the “Blue Plate Special.”
From 1920-1950 the local diner was the gathering place for the common man looking for a fast, affordable meal. Diners across America offered what was referred to as “a meat and 3,” meaning a meat dish and three vegetables all for 25 cents. This meal, the components of which changed daily, was served on a divided plate which was most commonly made of blue and white china and hence it became known as the Blue Plate Special.
So why a blue plate? First let me clarify that the plates were not a solid blue, but rather a blue and white pseudo-Chinese design generically known as Willow. This china, which is a lesser grade take-off on fine English Blue Willow, will most commonly have a pagoda, three willows trees, and a fence with three people walking on it and two flying birds.
There are varying theories on how these blue plates became so widely used, but the most commonly accepted explanation is that by serving a hot meal on a plate that replicated fine china, even those of modest means could enjoy a little luxury at an affordable price. A less romantic and probably more accurate explanation would be that Willow ware was one of the most prolific patterns of the period and the bulk of it was cheaply mass-produced.
By definition a grill plate is a plate divided in half with the top half divided in half again, reducing it’s proportions to 1/4 of the overall plate. The popularity of the grill plate grew in popularity, appearing in stark white stoneware as well as a rainbow of colors and patterns during the Great Depression. This design would be revisited in 1953 when C. A. Swanson & Sons introduced the TV dinner.
In 2018 we have seen a revival in collecting these nostalgic plates. Examples from factories such as Anchor Hocking, Hazel Atlas and Federal Glass Company are a common find at most local antique malls in varying price ranges. Depression Glass plates will fall to the low end of the value chart, usually found in the $5-15- range. Restaurant ware plates from Hall and The Buffalo China Company run just slightly more. Fire King Jadiete plates are very popular in the current market and are bringing as much as $35-$45 each.
If your taste runs to the classic blue and white Willow pattern, names to watch for include Spode and Staffordshire from England and The Moriyama China Company in Japan. Note that Moriyama grill plates are found with two markings: “Moriyama Made in Occupied Japan” and “Moriyama Made in Japan,” which is the older of the two marks.
A word of caution to the novice. When inspecting a plate for purchase carefully check for rim chips, discoloration and scuffs and stress marks on the body of the plate. The bulk of the grill plates produced were used for commercial purposes and have, in many cases seen years of hard wear. Finding examples in excellent condition will take some time, but can very much worth the effort. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com