Inspired by the beautiful pink rosa rugosa flower, Franciscan's Desert Rose dinnerware line was a beloved, highly successful china pattern from 1941 to 2004. Though no longer in production, it remains one of the most popular china patterns in American history and is still highly sought after by collectors.
What's the story behind the iconic Desert Rose pattern?
Desert Rose was first introduced in 1941 by Gladding, McBean & Company, which was known for producing casual dinnerware in the style of Mexican folk pottery. It was created by contract designer Annette Honeywell (1902-1959) of Los Angeles in a style considered to be typical of Asian- inspired Southern California décor of the early 20th Century.
With hand-painted clusters of vibrant pink flowers, olive green stems on a cream background, and brown branches gracefully forming the trim of each piece, Desert Rose has a definitively rustic California aesthetic.
Interestingly, the rosa rugosa, the recognizable flower that's central to Desert Rose's design, is native to the Midwest and northern sections of the United States. The pattern was named Desert Rose, however, after a flower native to California to give it the West Coast cachet that was so coveted at the time.
How did Desert Rose dinnerware become popular?
Desert Rose china became popular for its unique design. The bright pink and green hues of the pattern gave it a vintage charm that was unlike any other dinnerware patterns in circulation at the time.
Franciscan’s pattern got a significant boost in popularity thanks to widescale advertising campaigns throughout the 1940s and 1950s that featured Hollywood celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Greer Garson and Dorothy Lamour. In 1964, the sixty millionth piece was produced and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy chose Franciscan Desert Rose for use in the White House.
Desert Rose is considered to be durable and resistant to chipping (though this is not always true in our experience!). Collectors believe that these attributes contribute to the pattern’s staying power, especially among those who used it for everyday dining.
Production of Desert Rose china from 1984 to 2000
Desert Rose china stopped being produced by Franciscan in the 1980s due to increasing costs of raw materials and production. In 1984, Franciscan Ceramics was sold to Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd. Following the sale, production of Desert Rose was moved to England. In 2000, production again moved—this time, to China (the country, that is!).
Several unfortunate changes were made to the pattern after production left the United States. Most noticeably, some of the finer details like the scalloped edges and pronounced reliefs of the flowers, leaves, and branches faded away.
You can easily spot some of the differences in this picture comparing 3 dinner plates from the three countries where Desert Rose was produced. Photo credit to blogger Jerry Garrett.
If you’re looking to add to your collection or gift something to a lover of Desert Rose, we recommend that you look for backstamps indicating that the piece was made in the U.S.A.
Is Franciscan Desert Rose china still popular today?
The rise of eBay in the 2000s hurt sales of Desert Rose china by flooding the market with low-cost, low-quality knockoffs of the pattern. This caused many people to be wary of purchasing Desert Rose china and damaged the reputation of the original pattern. The demand for the pattern also began to decline as tastes in dinnerware patterns changed with the times.
After decades of popularity, Franciscan Desert Rose was discontinued in 2013. Despite this, Franciscan Desert Rose china is still popular today. The pattern has become a classic, and many people are still drawn to its unique design and vintage charm.
Many of our customers seek out and request our handcrafted designs made from Desert Rose patterns.
The enduring popularity of Franciscan Desert Rose China is a testament to its timeless design and superior craftsmanship. It still holds a special place in the hearts and memories of many and will forever be remembered as a beloved mainstay in American households circa mid-to-late 20th century (and beyond!).
We'd love to hear whether Desert Rose lives on in your home. Do you use it? How? If not, why? Leave a note in the comments below.
We can't wait to tell you about how one of of our customers upcycled her family's set into pieces she and her family use and enjoy... sign up for our mailing list below to get updated when our next post comes out!
Resources consulted:
- www.gmcb.com/franciscan
- https://tutuhut.com/how-much-is-franciscan-desert-rose-china-worth/
- https://www.gr8ampottery.com/desert-rose.html
- https://jerrygarrett.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/el-rancho-the-surprising-origins-of-desert-rose-dinnerware/
Comments
Very informative article. I inherited a large set of Desert Rose from my grandmother and I love it! I use it for holidays but I’m thinking I’ll start using more often.
Hello there, Angie! That sounds absolutely wonderful. Thank you for sharing! ❤️
Thank you for sharing, Karina! We know what you mean – the Desert Rose is very lovely indeed. ❤️
Hello there, loice! Thank you for writing. Unfortunately, we do not provide the service you need as we are not pattern experts – you can try and check out replacements.com to see if they can provide more information about your china set.
My beautiful set was passed down to me by my mother which was passed on to her by her Grandmother. So my great grandmother purchased her set in the 1940’s. We only use on special occasions. It is in great shape. I will then pass it down to my son.
Inherited set of originals made in California & have added to over the years. Use occasionally but not on daily basis. Wouldn’t necessarily call it “my style” but drawn to the flowers that reminded me of Cherokee Rose.
Desert Rose is a beloved china pattern beecause the design and colors are beautiful with lovely swirls of green and soft pink on a lovely vanilla background. When one starts the day with Desert Rose, it brightens the day. The lovely rosebud tops on the creamer and coffee and tea pot add a touch of whimsy and cannot but brighten one’s day. A table set with desert rose is an enchanting way to start the morning or to celebrate the Spring. It goess well with pink or pale yellow napkins or a lovely embroidered tablecloth in the desert Rose pattern. Green, pink, or yellow placemets enhance the beauty of the pattern and cannot help but spread joy. The pattern always pleases and never disappoints. From its role as White House china to a setting for a humble patio brunch at a cafe table, Desert Rose never disappoints. It brightens the table like a sunny day with its pink blossoms, tendrils of green and soft pink rosebuds suggesting the promise of Spring, even on a gray Winter day.
I have an 8pc. set of desert Rose , from 1964 , there stamped but no country , how would I know identify where there from please, thank you