Manufacturers: Jackson, Sterling, Walker, Bailey-Walker, Greenwood, Warwick
Distributors: James M. Shaw & Co., Cook's Hotel Restaurant Supply Co., York Kitchen Equipment Co.
Pattern name: Delph
Date of examples:
Jackson: (with Cook's backstamp) circa 1920s-1970s
Jackson: (pink) 1974
Jackson: (green) (with Cook's backstamp) circa 1920s-1970s
Sterling: (with York backstamp) circa 1930s-1970s
Sterling: 1963
Walker: 1949
Bailey-Walker: circa 1923-1936
James M. Shaw, unmarked as to manufacturer: circa 1907-1936
Greenwood (with Cook's backstamp) circa 1920s-1933
Warwick: 1948
Notes: Delph is a monotone pattern, reminiscent of the Onion pattern and even mistaken for Blue Willow, that is commonly associated with use by Chinese restaurants but has certainly been used by other venues as well. It is most often found in deep cobalt blue, followed by red or pink versions, and even brown and green versions are documented above.
In line with its association with Asian cuisine, it is frequently seen in shapes associated with Chinese serving dishes, such as straight-sided chow mein and chop suey bowls (even though chop suey was an American invention). See catalog photos above.
As noted, the pattern was made by numerous American manufacturers. James M. Shaw & Co. was a common distributor, sometimes with, sometimes without the addition of a manufacturer. Shaw was in business from circa 1907-1936. York seems to have operated circa 1930s-1970s, and Cook's circa 1900-1970s.
Stylized flowers and vines with crosshatched border pattern. Depending on the shape, the addition of a center-of-the-well motif of the border pattern encircling a basket of flowers.
Sources:
Restaurant China, Vol. 2
Jackson China, by James Strano
Sterling China catalog, 1930s
Photo contributors:
Katherine Stolz Barber
Gary Fowler
Marybeth Ripley Johnson
Paul Matais
Susan Phillips
Jesse James Schroeder