Vintage Restaurant Ironstone

Fall is in the air here in Chicago, most welcome after a very humid summer. It was so cool the other evening that I started thinking about making chili, and how great it would be topped with melted cheese, sour cream, onions. Real Diner style, from a true chili parlor...and that led me to dig out some restaurant ironstone to share with you.




Now this is a chili bowl...as thick as it is, probably nearly unbreakable! Scratched from being washed and stacked, washed and stacked, hundreds of times over and over, but still no chips.
Old diner tableware has a certain comforting effect. Unpretentious, simple and sturdy, this group is decorated in deep forest green. As you know how I gravitate towards small scale tableware, I was happy to find stacks of these miniature butter pat dishes and this tiny creamer. The cup is dressed up with a floral transferware pattern, like the wonderful Chinese restaurant pieces below.


I keep a stack of basic white ovals, too. They come in a great variety of sizes, and of course I look for ones with interesting imperfections in the glazes.
Monogrammed plates are not as common, and pretty trendy right now. The designs are simple and classic.



This posh burger sits on a piece of old hotel china, with a tiny Lion Crest design. Adding the silver dome cover finished the dining out story.

Paula

On Camera with photographer Laurie Proffitt: Vintage Restaurant Dinnerware