Mystery of grandmother's plate finally solved
Q. Enclosed is a photo of a plate decorated with a scene of “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” I inherited it from my grandmother Julia, who died in 1963 at the age of 99. She loved this plate, and I know nothing about it or where it came from. The border that surrounds the scene is cobalt blue, and the scalloped edge is trimmed with gold. Marked on the back is a crown above a wreath with the words “Empire China.” Also, below that is the number “4061.”
Any information you can provide will be appreciated.
A. “Empire China” was made by Steubenville Pottery in Steubenville, Ohio. They were in business from 1879 to 1959. The number “4061” is a design number.
Your plate was made in the early 1900s and would probably be worth $45 to $50.
Q. This mark is on the bottom of an ironstone jug that I have. It was given to my mother by a neighbor. It stands about 7 inches tall and is decorated with blue and yellow flowers with green leaves against a cream background. Even though it has a handle, it is not a pitcher. It is in mint condition. I am interested in it because my ancestors came from Czechoslovakia.
A. In 1918, the Czechs and the Slovaks separated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and formed one country: Czechoslovakia. It consisted of several provinces that included parts of Bavaria, Moravia, Bohemia and Silesia. Czechoslovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. It was under Soviet Russia control from 1948 to 1989. After the “Velvet Revolution,” when the two parts decided to separate in 1993, it peacefully became two sovereign countries again. They are now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Many pottery, porcelain and glass factories sprung up from 1918, and the pieces are now collectible.
Your early 20th-century jug would probably be worth $50 to $75.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
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