Ridgway Potteries Ltd ‘Homemaker’ Design Salad Plate (8″) (Meakin Production)

This is a stylish salad plate from the ‘Homemaker’ range, designed by Enid Seeney for Ridgway Potteries Ltd and sold exclusively through Woolworths stores.

The salad plate has a slightly upturned rim and is printed with the ‘Homemaker’ print in black, which features adaptations of iconic fifties furnishing designs.

The reverse of the plate is marked with the words ‘HOMEMAKER MADE IN ENGLAND THESE COLOURS ARE PERMANENT UNDERGLAZE AND DETERGENT PROOF’. This early mark was in use from inception until 1962, when it was changed to an illustrative backstamp.

‘Homemaker’ production was initially solely through Ridgway, but after 1960 demand outstripped production, and so additional fabrication was outsourced to Alfred Meakin (Ltd). The earthenware body used by Ridgway has a blue-white tint, whereas the earthenware used by Meakin has an ivory tint. This means that there is a slight difference in the background colour of the plates from the two factories. This plate has an ivory body and therefore was manufactured by the Meakin pottery. Although this is a minor variation, I mention it for those purists who may wish to keep their collection to one specific pottery or earthenware colour.

The plate has a diameter across the rim of 20.5cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 300g.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there are scratches to the glaze commensurate with age and use.