Dear Helaine and Joe:My wife, who is now in her 80s, has had these plates for I do not know how long. She does not know anything about them. I think they are attractive and would like to know their monetary value. Sincerely, A. S., Bergenfield, N. J.
Dear A. S.:The mark that has been drawn on the back of the photograph can be very misleading. The largest word is "Triumph" and that appears above a kind of crest with American Limoges Made in U. S. A." inside. Below that is "China D'Or," "IT-284," and "Warranted 22K Gold."
The term "Limoges" used in this mark is a little tricky to say the very least because that is a name that is usually associated with a French city where fine quality porcelain has been manufactured for more than 200 years. The company that made these plates, however, was founded in Sebring, Ohio in 1901 by the Sebring family and they began making fine porcelain dinnerware in this facility in late 1902 or early 1903.
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Initially, the company was called the "Sterling China Company," but it was soon discovered that American made fine porcelain china did not sell well. By mid to late 1904, the porcelain dinnerware had been discontinued in favor of making less expensive semi-porcelain products and the company name was changed to the "Limoges China Company."
We have always felt that this name was chosen to try and suggest to the American consumer that this dinnerware was somehow associated with the more famous "Limoges" companies. This was probably a shrewd marketing move because American consumers preferred European china, and "Limoges" was the name that appeared on the back of much of the fine dinnerware being bought in this country at the time.
The word "Triumph" that appears as an important part of the mark refers to the "Triumph" shape that Limoges China introduced in 1937. This shape with its horizontal fluting was designed by Victor Schreckengost, who is considered to be one of the most important ceramists of his day.
The pattern name for these plates is "China D'Or," and the style number is "IT-284." This design features an elaborate gold filigree border with a decal decoration in the center that features a lute player entertaining two ladies in a garden. This particular decal was not unique to the Limoges China Company but was used by other firms on their wares as well.
To date A. S.'s plates with any accuracy, it is necessary to know that the makers of French Limoges sued the Limoges China Company around 1949 and the Ohio company had to change its name to "American Limoges." The company went out of business in 1955 and this suggests that the plates in today's question were made sometime between 1949 and 1955 and are far from being "antique."
Dinner plates are essentially $15 each, while a salad plate is $9, and a bread and butter plate is $6. A cup and saucer is $17 and a covered round vegetable bowl is $75.
