The Story
This scarcely found set of dinner plates by William Adams and Sons (Adams) of Stoke-on-Trent is a quintessential piece of Mid-Century British design. Featuring a subtle grey crosshatch printed background, each plate is centered with a bold, hand-painted red apple and green pear. The pattern perfectly captures the playful yet refined aesthetic of the late 1940s and early 1950s, a time when British ceramics began to embrace more graphic and modernist styles.
The Details
The Set: Four large dinner plates.
Dimensions: 25cm (10") diameter.
Maker: Adams (William Adams and Sons), England (marked to base).
Era: Circa 1940s–1950s.
Pattern: Apple and Pear (Grey Crosshatch).
Condition: Very good vintage condition. Free of chips, cracks, or significant utensil marks. All plates have age-related crazing to the glaze; one plate has some mottled darker discoloration due to this crazing. Some "stray paint smudges" on the reverse are common for hand-painted ceramics of this era.
Good to Know Roof + Roost has more of this design available, including matching teacups, saucers, and side plates, allowing for a fully coordinated vintage table setting - please enquire for details.
Why It’s Special
Adams is one of the oldest names in Staffordshire pottery, and their mid-century patterns like this one are increasingly sought after by collectors of "Modernist" tableware. The hand-painted fruit gives each plate a unique character, while the grey crosshatch provides a graphic, contemporary feel that makes them very easy to mix with modern white or grey dinner sets.
Styling Tips
Retro Dining: Lean into the 1950s look by pairing these with colorful "atomic" style glassware and wooden-handled cutlery.
Mix and Match: These plates work beautifully as "accent" plates. Layer them on top of larger, plain dark grey charger plates to highlight the crosshatch pattern and the central fruit design.
Open Kitchen Shelving: Their graphic, illustrative quality makes them excellent for display. Group them together on a shelf to create a bold, repetitive visual statement.
Sustainable Shipping
100% plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging.
U.K. Delivery: Sent via FREE Royal Mail Tracked 48 service.
The Story
This scarcely found set of dinner plates by William Adams and Sons (Adams) of Stoke-on-Trent is a quintessential piece of Mid-Century British design. Featuring a subtle grey crosshatch printed background, each plate is centered with a bold, hand-painted red apple and green pear. The pattern perfectly captures the playful yet refined aesthetic of the late 1940s and early 1950s, a time when British ceramics began to embrace more graphic and modernist styles.
The Details
The Set: Four large dinner plates.
Dimensions: 25cm (10") diameter.
Maker: Adams (William Adams and Sons), England (marked to base).
Era: Circa 1940s–1950s.
Pattern: Apple and Pear (Grey Crosshatch).
Condition: Very good vintage condition. Free of chips, cracks, or significant utensil marks. All plates have age-related crazing to the glaze; one plate has some mottled darker discoloration due to this crazing. Some "stray paint smudges" on the reverse are common for hand-painted ceramics of this era.
Good to Know Roof + Roost has more of this design available, including matching teacups, saucers, and side plates, allowing for a fully coordinated vintage table setting - please enquire for details.
Why It’s Special
Adams is one of the oldest names in Staffordshire pottery, and their mid-century patterns like this one are increasingly sought after by collectors of "Modernist" tableware. The hand-painted fruit gives each plate a unique character, while the grey crosshatch provides a graphic, contemporary feel that makes them very easy to mix with modern white or grey dinner sets.
Styling Tips
Retro Dining: Lean into the 1950s look by pairing these with colorful "atomic" style glassware and wooden-handled cutlery.
Mix and Match: These plates work beautifully as "accent" plates. Layer them on top of larger, plain dark grey charger plates to highlight the crosshatch pattern and the central fruit design.
Open Kitchen Shelving: Their graphic, illustrative quality makes them excellent for display. Group them together on a shelf to create a bold, repetitive visual statement.
Sustainable Shipping
100% plastic-free, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging.
U.K. Delivery: Sent via FREE Royal Mail Tracked 48 service.
