Tam
O'Shanter - The Pattern
Vernon
introduced the first plaid patterns around 1937, a group called Organdie. The first
plaids were executed mostly on the Montecito shape and designed by artist Gale
Turnbull. Vernon advertisements of the late 1930's described the Organdie plaids as
available in 16 different colors. Vernon sold six plaids during the 1940s and 1950s: Organdie,
Homespun, Gingham, Calico, Tam O'Shanter, and Tweed.
Tam O'Shanter was introduced in 1949 and carried through until
1958, when Vernon Kilns closed their doors. The Tam O'Shanter 16-piece starter set sold
for $10.45 in 1953 and included 4 luncheon plates, four cup and saucer sets, a 2-quart
streamline pitcher, regular salt and pepper and a the coffee server. This pattern was
rust, chartreuse, and green stripes with a green rim.
Catalog of Known Tam O'Shanter Shapes
Bowl, Butter,
Candleholder, Casserole,
Coaster, Coffee, Creamer, Cups, Egg Cup, Flower Pots,
Lemon Server, Mug, Pepper Mill, Pitchers,
Plates, Platters, Sauce Boat, Shakers,
Spoon Holder, Sugar,
Teapot, Tidbits,
Trio-buffet, Tumbler.
Shape |
Description & Image |
1952 Price |
|
|
|
Bowls |
|
1 pint, round |
$1.15 |
|
5.5" fruit |
$0.65 |
|
5.5" salad |
|
6" lug chowder |
$1.00 |
|
8.5" rim soup |
|
7.5" serving |
|
8.5" serving |
|
10" divided serving
|
|
10.5" salad, round |
|
Mixing, 5-piece set
5", 6", 7", 8", 9" |
Butter Pat, |
2.5" |
Butter Tray |
covered, oblong, knob finial |
$2.95 |
Candleholder |
|
|
chamberstick style |
|
teacup style |
Casseroles |
|
two-handled, covered, round |
$5.75 |
|
4" individual, covered |
$1.95 |
|
4" chicken pie, stick handle,
covered NB: lids interchange with individual casserole listed above. |
$2.25 |
|
hot, black metal stand, candle warmer |
|
round-up, metal stand, warmer |
Coaster |
3.75", ridged |
$0.65 |
Coffee Pot |
2-cup after dinner - I have not been
able to confirm that the after dinner coffee pot was made in Tam O'Shanter. |
Coffee Server |
carafe and stopper, 10-cup |
$5.00 |
Coffee Hot |
black metal stand, candle warmer |
Creamers |
|
covered with ice-lip
NB: this creamer doubles as an individual teapot and the lid is interchangeable with the sugar bowl.
-It is believed that there are two differently shaped spouts available
for the covered creamer. |
$1.85 |
|
open, round, no ice-lip |
|
Cups |
custard, 3" |
$0.95 |
Cups & Saucers |
|
demitasse 2 7/8" |
|
|
teacup 4", saucer 6.5" |
$1.55 |
|
jumbo 4.25" (12 oz), saucer
6.75" |
$2.40 |
|
colossal 9 3/8", 1gal., saucer
15" |
Egg cup, |
straight sides |
$1.35 |
Flower Pot/Saucer |
|
3", 4", 5" |
$1.50, $1.75, $2.00 |
Lemon Server |
6.5" |
|
Mug |
3.5" straight side |
$1.35 |
Pepper Mill, |
metal fitting |
$8.15 |
Pitchers |
|
jug, 1 pt, bulb bottom |
|
jug, 1 qt, bulb bottom |
|
syrup, drip-cut top |
|
Streamlined (San Marino Shape) |
|
1/4 pint, 4" |
|
1/2 pint, 5" |
|
1 pint, 6" |
$2.00 |
|
1 quart, 8.5" |
$3.15 |
|
2 quart, 11" |
$5.25 |
Plates |
|
lapel with pin 2.5" |
$1.00 |
|
bread/butter, 6.5" |
$0.65 |
|
salad, 7.5" |
$0.80 |
|
luncheon, 9.5"-packaged with the
Starter Set and therefore more common than the true dinner plate. |
$1.05 |
|
dinner, 10.5" there are
apparently two styles of 10.5" plate and one is sometimes called a chop plate. |
$1.30 |
|
Chop |
|
12, 14
There may be two styles of chop plates-
one with a raised rim and one with a flat rim. This is currently unconfirmed. |
Platters (oval) |
|
10.5", 12", 14"
Two styles of the 12" platter have been confirmed. One has a flat rim and one a
raised rim. This may be true of the other size platters as well, but is yet
unconfirmed. |
Sauce boat |
|
|
round - low profile, came first |
|
streamline (San Marino Shape) |
Shakers |
|
salt & pepper, regular |
|
salt & pepper, large |
Spoon Holder |
|
Sugar |
regular, covered |
Teapot |
round - there are two spout styles,
streamline and ice-lip. The "ice-lip style came first, originating in 1937 with Early
California. |
Tidbit Server |
|
two-tier, wooden or brass fixtures
NB: other fixtures may be do-it-yourself pieces. |
|
three-tier wooden or brass fixtures
NB: other fixtures may be do-it-yourself pieces. |
Trio-Buffet |
Made in late 1957(?) and into 1958 this shape is only known for Tam O'Shanter and Organdie plaids, but is known for other
late Vernon patterns. |
Tumbler |
#5, straight sides (San Marino Shape) |
Pattern Notes: The streamline redesigns and other
changes like the elimination of the innermost ring on plates and bowls happened around
1948. Perhaps the big fire forced them to make new molds. In any case, the elimination of
one ring made molds less expensive to make.
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