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How to Collect Western Restaurant Ware

Restaurant ware was made in the United States for years, and is a vitreous china that is almost indestructible. The high-fired porcelain is similar to bathroom lavatories and commodes, and pieces from years ago are still available. Much western restaurant ware was American-made, since this was western Americana appealing primarily to the American public. Till Goodan designs for Wallace China are probably the best known collectible western restaurant ware today. Collecting these items is collecting historical Americana, adding education as well as value to your life.

Instructions

- 1
  Collect western restaurant ware with knowledge. Learn the names of the most collectible patterns and the names of the most desired manufacturers. Syracuse and TEPCO made popular western designs. Homer Laughlin made restaurant ware for House of Beef that had a saddle picture. Buffalo China Iroquois Hotel had an Indian motif. Caribe made Bunk House. California pottery maker Wallace produced Westward Ho and El Rancho. Wellsville made a cowboy and Indian design that was rust on ecru, and Jackson China made Prairie Trails. Jo Cunningham has a chapter on western ware in "The Best of Collectible Dinnerware" with photographs and information about the companies that made western designs with hotel and restaurant names as well as those without.
- 2
  Collect western restaurant ware with no damage. Although restaurant ware is almost indestructible, pieces with utensil marks and wear to the design are not as valuable as pieces with little or no wear. Hold a flat piece of western restaurant ware at eye level and look across the flat to check for knife marks or dullness of the finish.
- 3
  Collect restaurant ware by maker, or attempt to complete a set of dinnerware. Much of the western vitreous china is no longer available in sets, but once you find a maker and design you like, collecting additional pieces is a challenge. Some dinnerware sets have different designs on small pieces and larger ones, adding to the collecting challenge.
- 4
  Branch out with other makers of restaurant ware. Mayer, McNicol, Sterling, Walker, Scammell and Shenango also made restaurant ware, and some of these patterns, like McNicol's multi-colored stripe in shades of brown on white vitreous, look great with western designs.
- 5
  Collect restaurant ware online at marketplace stores or auction sites, or shop in your favorite antiques and collectibles shops and malls. Flea markets often have restaurant ware "sleepers" that sellers think have no value since they have the name of a hotel on the front. This is the least expensive way to buy restaurant ware, since there are no shipping costs.
- 6
  Connect with other restaurant ware collectors, and trade information and perhaps extras. A good place to start is the Restaurant Ware Collectors Network.

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