Haviland: The Heart’s Desire

Haviland Butter Pats – Whether Miniature Replicas of the China They Accompanied, Or a Whimsical Design All Their Own – Are Infinitely Collectible

by Mary Dessoie

When searching for an antique that is enduring in beauty and affordable, why not consider Haviland butter pats? Although the larger pieces of Haviland such as tureens, compotes and chocolate sets are rare and prohibitively expensive for most of us, butter pats are plentiful and reasonably priced.

It has been determined that Haviland companies alone designed as many as 60,000 dinnerware patterns – most with matching butter pats. The Haviland factories in Limoges, France manufactured china that was decorated in the French style of pastel floral motifs for the American market. The 1908 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog advertised a 100-piece Theodore Haviland dinner set, including 12 individual butter dishes, for $23.50! The mail order company offered sample butter pats, postpaid, upon receipt of ten cents to allow the customer to see "the beauty of the ware and the delicacy of the decoration." Today the same tiny piece would sell for approximately $25.

Throughout Haviland’s years of production, patterns and colors were carefully designed to enhance the numerous shapes of the blanks. These patterns and colorations ranged from the plain Wedding Band pattern to the aristocratic and elaborate golds, flowers of all genera, classical motifs, Art Deco and all in a multitude of shapes.

These charming miniature plates take minimal space and they can be creatively integrated into your decorating scheme. Butter pats make beautiful wall displays pieces, alone or combined with handsomely framed and mounted artwork. Try grouping an assortment of pastel Haviland butter pats around an Impressionist piece of artwork. The results are stunning! For a special dinner party, utilize pats as votive candle holders at each place setting. Diminutive Haviland pats have been seen on the tables of royalty and presidents, as well as the homes of fine china lovers everywhere. Why not make Haviland butter pats part of your table and home décor.

Mary Dessoie founded the Butter Pat Patter Association in 1997 for beginner and advanced collectors of butter pats from the Victorian through Edwardian eras and 19^th-century to current-day transportation and restaurant ware pats. Butter pats are miniature plates that were introduced during the mid-1800's for individual servings of butter. A subscription to ThePatter newsletter costs $22 and includes a mint-condition Royal Doulton butter pat. Royal Doulton located in the Staffordshire area of England is known throughout the world as one of the leading manufacturers of fine china. In addition, subscribers will receive ten issues of The Patter. Sample copies of The Patter are available by sending $4.00 and a LSSAE (60 cents). For those persons who would like to start their subscriptions immediately and receive their Royal Doulton pat by return mail, please send your check or money order, payable to Mary Dessoie, to Butter Pat Patter Association, 265 Eagle Bend Drive, Bigfork, Montana 59911-6235.