SOLD Southern Pacific RR china "Prairie Mountain Wildflowers" RRBS cup with underplate (cup has RR backmark)

Collectibles : Railroadiana : Dining Car Items : China : Southern Pacific

 

Here are a railroad backmarked coffee cup and 5-1/2" underplate in the beloved floral Prairie Mountain Wildflowers pattern used by the Southern Pacific RR for many years.

Both pieces are in excellent condition. There are 2 insignificant bottom rim flakes on the cup (which disappear when displayed) but otherwise there are absolutely no cracks, flakes, repairs, spiders or any damage other than very light utensil scratches expected from use (these do not show unless you tilt the piece in bright light). The glaze and colors are beautiful, strong and shiny.

The cup is the very heavy "squatty" style, bottom marked PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN WILDFLOWERS MADE FOR SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES BY ONONDAGA POTTERY CO. SYRACUSE, N.Y. The plate is backstamped Syracuse China Econo-Rim Trade Mark Patented 3-CC (date code for March 1948).

IMPORTANT: Many variations of bottom markings exist on "PMWF" pieces. Some include the names of each of the flowers depicted, while some are backmarked with only the railroad's name, as is this cup. Others (such as this plate) carry only a Syracuse China mark with no railroad markings, which is correct because "PMWF" was an "exclusive" pattern -- Syracuse China contracted to produce and sell the design only to the Southern Pacific and no one else. (Therefore,non-railroad marked china is documented and absolutely authentic.)

Technically the plate is a bread and butter plate - but because saucers in this pattern are very difficult to find, bread-and-butters are popular as underplates and serve very nicely until an elusive saucer comes along -- please click on the closeup photos to see how well both pieces display together.

Very nice addition to any collection of railroad china or dining car items, especially for a SP railfan, or any collection of vintage restaurantware or hotel china.

Item ID: 2007-65