Advertising Miniatures

Although diminutive in size, advertising butter pats continue to command top dollars

by Mary Dessoie

If you are searching for an interesting little collectible that is easy to care for and fun to display, why not consider advertising butter pats? Top marked pats are an exciting aspect of our advertising and culinary history. Many butter pat afficionados enjoy seeking the durable commercial tableware pats as part of their collection. There are hundreds – even thousands – of completely different pieces with logos. With so many different categories to choose from, some collectors focus on one segment such as vintage diner pats. What is Restaurant Ware?

Noted authority and author on the subject of restaurant china, Barbara J. Conroy, addresses this question in Restaurant China, Volume 1. Ms. Conroy wrote: "Generally referred to as hotel ware or commercial china in the food service industry, this sturdy china includes some of the finest quality ware ever produced. In addition to restaurants, it was used on board airplanes, ships, and trains, as well as in the dining areas of hotels, railroad stations, airports, government offices, military facilities, corporations, schools, hospitals, churches, clubs and the like. Collectors seem to enjoy particularly the nostalgia that ware before 1960 provides. Reminiscent of days gone by, a piece of café or railroad china brings to mind pre-freeway cross-country vacations by car or rail.

"There was a time when most (perhaps many) diners and small restaurants regularly ordered custom china. But today the chance of finding a piece top-marked with the name of one of the old diners continues to dim." What a Difference a Logo Makes

Antiquers and flea market mavens are familiar with the ubiquitous white pats with one or two green pinstripes. These items are readily available at shows and malls around the country and they generally sell for one or two dollars. At the beginning of the 1900's these durable pats were sold to restaurants, diners and boarding houses for 17 cents per dozen!

But you would not believe the prices these tiny treasures command when a logo and words are added. Custom-made pieces are in great demand by collectors and these pats realize top prices. You will find these heavy-gauge white ceramic pats with one or two green pinstripes that were used in the dining rooms for educational and service institutions, hospitals, fraternal organizations, corporate entities and private clubs. Of course, these diminutive marked pieces were also featured in hotels, restaurants and diners.

China companies would use butter pats as advertising pieces to be given out as sales incentives. Sometimes the name of the sales rep with his address and telephone number would appear on the reverse of the pat – a unique business card, indeed! Some interesting promotional pieces to look for that are part of American china manufacturing history are those made by the potterers Knowles, Taylor & Knowles; D.E. McNicol Pottery Company; Jackson China; Wallace China Company; Salem China; Syracuse China; Buffalo China and Shenango. Sadly, many of these fine producers of restaurant ware china are no longer in business. Cont'd Part 2