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 19th-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
The Patter 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.
