Question:
I have a plate that belonged to my grandmother who passed away in 1973. It has the Redwing symbol on the back. It measures 10 1/4 by 10 1/4 inch square. The plate is white. The pattern color has green, black, light brown and some patches of rose in a floral pattern. The pattern itself reminds me of oriental or Hawaiian It fills much of the plate and consists of a white flower with 8 dominant petals. At the left of the bottom petals is a black something. Perhaps a leaf? and at the top of the plate is another black leaf. The light brown pieces look like sticks or very thin leaves. I am thinking that as far as a time period, perhaps the 1940′s or 50′? I am just not sure. /Thanks for any info you can give me. Jane

Answer: You have a dinner plate from the Lotus pattern, one of 20 patterns made in the Concord shape. Lotus was introduced in the late 1940s (exact year is uncertain) and was made until 1957. It was a popular pattern with buyers and was the last of the Concord patterns to be discontinued. Lotus remains in plentiful supply today. Flatware (plates, bowls) featured the Lotus flower decoration that you’ve described. Hollowware (pitchers, teapots, casseroles, etc) had a bit of the design on the covers with one of three solid colors on the exterior of the bases: metallic brown, gray or chartreuse. Metallic brown is the color most collectors associate with Lotus. Your Lotus dinner plate is a very common item and thus doesn’t have great value. In excellent undamaged condition it would be worth $10-15.

Larry