Ridgway Potteries Ltd ‘Homemaker’ Design Salad Plate (8″) (Ridgway 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 word ‘HOMEMAKER’ surrounded by small utensils and a houseplant. This motif is encircled by the words ‘RIDGWAY POTTERIES LTD MADE IN STAFFORDSHIRE ENGLAND’. Beneath this, it reads ‘ALL COLOURS GUARANTEED 1 UNDERGLAZE 63 AND DETERGENT PROOF’. This illustrative backstamp was introduced in 1962, and the number ’63’ indicates that the plate was produced in 1963.

‘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 a blue-white body and therefore was manufactured by the Ridgway 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 270g.

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