It's function. That's what I was always attracted to... Viktor Schreckengost, 2006

{HISTORY}

Designed by influential 20th-century American industrial artist, Viktor Schreckengost (1906-2008), this vintage platter was made in Sebring, Ohio by American Limoges sometime between the 1930s-1940s.

Featuring a delicate apple blossom pattern in the Triumph shape, this platter features a spring green stripe and a wide ribbed shoulder that adds a visual aesthetic that is so unique among platters, especially when combined with this hard-to-find apple blossom pattern.

Viktor began designing dinnerware for American Limoges in the 1930s. His style combined traditional themes with artistic shapes, textures, and modern designs. The unique way in which he looked at the world inspired all sorts of other artists and design choices across many fields, including toys, transportation, kitchenware, and fine art. So influential was Viktor in the design world that he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2006.

As for American Limoges... inspired by the delicate porcelain of Limoges, France, this U.S.-based pottery was founded in 1900 in Sebring, Ohio, and was originally known as the Limoges China Company.  They specialized in thin-walled china for the American market with a belief that American porcelain-style dishware could be just as attractive as the French equivalent. 

But when a fire broke out and destroyed everything the pottery had built, including formulas and designs, they changed gears and started making more durable earthenware dishes with similar delicate designs often found in porcelain patterns. Again, the Limoges China Company had something to prove.

This time, it was that American earthenware was just as superior as esteemed English earthenware.  Beautifully designed and successful in distribution, the Limoges Company (of America) was bustling by the 1930s. Creating not only artistic designs full of elegant patterns and beautiful color palettes, they were also at the forefront of innovation when it came to manufacturing processes within the pottery plant.  

After the French Limoge pottery in France caught wind of the great success of the designs and the similar name, The Limoges China Company had to change its name in order to avoid a lawsuit. Again, they evolved and became the American Limoges Company - a name change sufficient enough to calm everyone down in the industry. By the 1950s, unfortunately, this evolution was not as successful as the last. The American Limoges Company went bankrupt and closed its doors in 1955. 

This platter reflects Viktor's unique design eye and beautifully captures the romantic color palette of spring, so much so that we photographed it with a real-life clipping of a crab apple tree branch in bloom to highlight the similarity in the details and the soft shading. So pretty!

Photos of Viktor and his work courtesy of the Archives of American Art.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Colors include spring green, sage, pale grey, blush, pale pink, butter, lavender, amethyst, and dove grey.
• Hard to find pattern
• Stamped on back with American Limoges mark and shape name

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. There are no chips, cracks, spots, or staining with the exception of a 1/.8th inch stain and a slight surface chip on the rim, most likely caused by a plate hanger. The larger flower branch contains two tiny areas of rub marks in the transferware leaves. Given the overall beauty of the platter, these two marks are insignificant and barely noticeable. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 13.5" inches (length) x 10.5" inches (width) and weighs 7 oz. and weighs just a smidge over 2 lbs. 

{FOR THE LOVE OF VIKTOR}

Find more pieces designed by Viktor in the shop here.