Femme 1 asked last week what kind of dinnerware I used. And the answer is: Blue Heaven (pictured at the bottom.)
To be honest, I don’t know much about it, only that it was made in the 60s. I found a whole bunch at an estate sale about two years ago, and after my kitchen was renovated, pulled it out and started using it. We like the atomic graphics a lot, it’s got a nice weight, and it’s not too chippy. And, we have found other pieces around here, quite easily and affordably. I recently bought 8 cool matching glasses, about 8 ounce size, for $12.
That said, Femme 1 also sent me her favorites. And I love those, too — especially the Salem Biscayne in the top photo. This is wonderful! Here’s some of what Femme 1 had to say, starting out in response to my note that I also have a lot of Stangl:
“I adore Stangl! The pattern I picked out for my (ahem) first marriage (in the 70s.) was that blue spongeware stuff. I sold most of that on E-bay a few years back. I love Golden Harvest, but I have just a few pieces; I’d like to have more, but I had to restrain myself because I collect about five different patterns of dinnerware already: Biscayne by Salem (from the 50s through the early 60s) is my everyday stuff. It must have been a really popular item because now it’s incredibly cheap and I find it everywhere in thrift shops… Eva Zeisel’s Hallcraft Fantasy; Harlequin (the cheaper younger brother of Fiesta); Ben Seibel’s Harvest Time by Iroquois…and good ole Franciscan Starburst.
Plus I have tons of odd and ends of stuff I just really love (like Bauer bowls and Redwing Golden Viking).”
Thanks, Femme 1 — keep the comments, thoughts and ideas coming!
And readers: What are your “everyday” dinnerware favorites? Send me your jpegs, and I’ll feature them, in the new year. Send to: Pam@RetroRenovation.com
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Thanks so much, Pam, for featuring my Salem Biscayne dinnerware. One of the reasons I like it so much, besides it being plentiful and cheap, is that the yellow in the leaf and the cream color of the plate matches my kitchen checkerboard wall tiles. We found several boxes of these yellow tiles when we moved into our first house (not a 50s ranch) in Indiana. I saved them, of course, and used them when we moved into our ranch.
I’ve done a little research on your Blue Heaven dishes. They were made by the Royal China Company of Sebring, Ohio. Ohio was the home of many famous potteries that made many of the mid-century modern china patterns that we love. According to OhioRiverPottery.com, Blue Heaven started into production in the mid-60s and had approximate 25 different items available.
Thanks, Femme 1. I have to say, I really love your Salem Biscayne, too, probably even better than my Blue Heaven! I love the little coral-colored dot in the flower and of course, the aqua leaf. Thanks for the info on my dinnerware. Since it found me — it was destiny, I guess.