Santa Fe "California Poppy" Railroad China Tea Pot

Collectibles : Railroadiana : Dining Car Items : China : Santa Fe

 

This pretty teapot is from the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (a/k/a Santa Fe), made by Syracuse China. It is authentic heavy railroad ordered ware. The pattern is "California Poppy" with two beautiful full blooms on the "right" side and two buds opposite. It is an individual size holding approximately 2 cups, with a molded tab lid that prevents it from falling off the pot when tipped.

This teapot has a correct Syracuse China bottom marking with date code of Z-3 (March 1945). Although it does not have a railroad backstamp, it is definitely an authentic railway piece . While many Syracuse China produced "Poppy" pieces carried a railroad marking, most did not. Please note that this piece is documented authentic, although it is manufacturer marked but has no railroad markings. This is correct because "Poppy" was an "exclusive" pattern -- Syracuse China contracted to produce and sell "California Poppy" heavyweight ware only to the Santa Fe and Fred Harvey,** and no one else.

CONDITION: This teapot looks like it has never been used. It is beautifully bright with good strong glaze and NO cracks, chips, flakes or repairs. NO age browning spots. The spout is perfect with no damage.

There is a manufacturer's defect: a thin surface separation on the handle where the clay shrank slightly during firing (SEE PHOTO) - this is a cosmetic defect and NOT damage since it doesn't affect the structural integrity of the ware. Also, on the outside of the handle are two black surface marks, apparently from something rubbing against the pot -- we have NOT attempted to remove them. There doesn't appear to be any glaze damage but they are "there." (SEE PHOTO)

Tea pots are among the harder to find pieces in any railroad china. This one is a great example !

BACKGROUND: First ordered in 1910 from European china companies, “Poppy” later became the standard pattern used on the AT&SF streamliner trains other than the Super Chief and El Capitan. It was also used by famous restaurant operator Fred Harvey in his eating houses along the railroad lines. When given the contract to produce it, the Syracuse China Company went to extreme lengths to ensure the accuracy of their artwork by actually growing a bed of poppies at their upstate New York factory so their artists would have real flowers to copy.

**IMPORTANT COLLECTOR'S NOTE: The Santa Fe’s exclusive rights to the California Poppy pattern apparently applied only to heavy restaurantware or hotel commercial weight china. The Syracuse China Company also produced lighter weight household china decorated with identical “Poppy”artwork! This "thinware" was never sold to the railroad or used on trains. Instead, it was made for ordinary commercial sales through standard retail outlets. However, although this ware has no value to railroad china collectors, many enjoy using it on the table, while their authentic Santa Fe pieces sit safely on display cabinet shelves.

Item ID: 2009-0093