OCR NAPKIN RING and KING'S RANSOM by ROYAL ALBERT (update)

After searching ebay, Etsy, and Pinterest for the perfect napkin rings for my Old Country Roses table setting, I concluded that I would have to make them because anything that came close to my vision was overpriced, and not exactly what I wanted.  The burgundy napkins make a nice backdrop for the napkin rings and are reminiscent of a bridal bouquet.

In my previous post about my collection of Royal Albert's Old Country Roses, I wrote that the 1921 RA pattern, King's Ransom, was Harold Holdcroft's inspiration for OCR, and how I was on a quest to find a King's Ransom teacup and saucer.   I found them on ebay and put in a bid.   The item had three more days of auction, and I was outbid the day before the auction ended which was scheduled for 7:00 am the next morning, so rather than immediately rebid, only to be outbid and jack up the price, I set the alarm for 6:30 am so I could make a last-minute bid.   If the other bidder was online and outbid me, I'd let it go, but not everyone is a nut job like me.  Lo' and behold, my strategy worked!  I made my blerrie-eyed bid after the alarm so rudely woke me up and won the cup and saucer!  They're miiiiiine.  Now I have another piece of the Old Country Rose Story.

Royal Albert, King's Ransom

True Confessions: Royal Albert, Old Country Roses

It started innocently back in 1990 around Christmas time.  I was shopping and stopped to admire a pair of pretty Christmas mugs on display, Old Country Roses Christmas Magic by Royal Albert when I was approached by a salesman.   He asked me if I would like to take them home, and I said, "Yes, can I buy just one?" I was a single mom at the time.  

He looked at me and asked, "Why don't you buy the pair?  You never know what the future brings." 

So I bought the pair.

Five years later I remarried and have since enjoyed sipping coffee, tea, or sometimes hot cocoa from the mugs every Christmas season with my wonderful husband, and I reminisce what that salesman said to me every time we use them.

Then it began.  A year ago I thought, wouldn't it be nice to have two dessert plates that match the mugs? We could have a sweet nosh on them with our coffee.  The rest is history.   I now have four, five-piece place settings in the lovely Royal Albert, Old Country Roses pattern.  I bought them piece by piece on ebay, and all were made in England.  The dinner and bread plates (or pie plates as they are sometimes referred to) were manufactured from 1962 to 1973 and are considered the most valuable.  The teacups, saucers, and salad plates were manufactured between 1993 and 2002 and are also desirable.  These dates are determined by the back stamp or maker's mark.* When I touch these pieces I can feel their history.

The pattern was launched in 1962 and was designed by Royal Albert's Art Director, Harold Holdcroft. His inspiration for Old Country Roses was based on the 1921 Royal Albert pattern, King's Ransom.*  I found a teacup and saucer in the King's Ransom pattern to round out my collection.  King's Ransom is the true beginning of  Old Country Roses' sixty-year journey.

The Inspiration: Royal Albert, King's Ransom

The original factory was founded by Thomas Wild in 1896 in Longton, one of six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent.  A family business, Thomas's sons subsequently ran the pottery.  In 1928, Thomas Wild's son, Thomas C (Clark) Wild retired from active management of the business and was appointed Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. Thomas C's sons, Thomas E. and Frederick J. were appointed joint managing directors in 1932. The Company underwent many changes after World War II, and the Wild family involvement ended in 1969.  In 1970, Allied English Potteries changed the name to Royal Albert, Ltd.  The factory in England closed around 2003 and all production thereafter was transferred to Indonesia and China.**

Enamel Kilns at Royal Albert Works, 1913***

Old Country Roses are manufactured today in Indonesia and China, and a new five-piece place setting sells retail for $100 to $145****  It would cost over $600.00 (before taxes and shipping) for four, five-piece place settings, cookie jar, teapot, creamer, and sugar.  In the resale market, the pieces made in England are the most desirable and valuable. I spent hours, days, weeks searching for the best deals...a labor of love.   The total cost (with taxes and shipping) of my collection which also includes a cookie jar (the only piece made in China), teapot, creamer, and open sugar, was $445.37.

Royal Albert, Old Country Roses

CREDITS

*Royal Albert (royalalbertpatterns.com)

**Thomas C Wild & Sons (thepotteries.org)

***Royal Albert History (royalalbertpatterns.com)

****Wayfair.com, Replacements.com, and ebay

VALENTINE'S...LET'S EAT CAKE!

2022 Valentine's table in dark reds and pinks with candles and fluffy feathers!

Plates:  Signature, Sorrento, Ruby; Haviland, Petit Point; Homer Laughlin

Flatware:  Yourex, Lady Washington, ca. 1920

And here's the cake

Click on this link for the recipe: 

 Almond Ricotta Cake | Italian Dessert - This Delicious House

FEBRUARY...AND BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

💕 BE MY VALENTINE 💕

Such a lovely sentiment...showing our love for one another...and the memories!  Thinking back to grammar school when we would make red heart envelopes out of construction paper and pin them up on the bulletin board, then bring in those little valentines for our classmates and secretly place them in the handmade pouches. Look at the old telephone on this Valentine!    

The Candy!  I still love Red Hots, message hearts, and Hershey Kisses.  I buy them every year.  Well, not so sure about the R-rated messages, and who knew red hots were "fat free" (and who cares?)

                          

That being the traditional side of me, the unconventional side no longer wants the bright red colors.  I prefer the burgundy/maroon reds with pinks as in my Homer Laughlin bread plates:

 Feathers belong in the setting as well.  They are soft, fluffy, and romantic and look gorgeous in my Grandmother's vase which celebrates the same palette.

My table is almost ready except for the napkins which have been shipped and should arrive in a couple days.  They're cotton April Cornell with a soft cranberry-toned floral print of mums.  I also have a few goodies coming from Hobby Lobby and a heart bundt pan from Amazon.  I'm absolutely incorrigible.

Next post, my Valentine's table.