Manufacturers: Mayer China, Sterling China
User: Holland House Taverne
Date of plate: Mayer: circa early 1940s, Sterling: 1959
Notes: According to an advertisement in the Daily News dated April 11, 1940, shown above, the Holland House Taverne opened on that day at 10 Rockefeller Plaza at 48 Street in New York City.
The same ad states: "Step into Holland today, visit New York's newest, notable restaurant, the Holland House Taverne. Set in a glass-walled corner of Rockefeller Center amid old Dutch tiled fireplaces and modern hospitality, the Holland House Taverne is a rendezvous for epicures, a center for gourmets. Enjoy the cocktail hour 'round the wooden carved figurines of the crescent bar. Eat delectable Dutch and continental dishes in spacious rooms under towering ceilings. Relax and enjoy the service of the colorfully costumed Dutch maidens in a restaurant that is as truly romantic as it is beautiful."
The restaurant, known for its oak interiors, Delft tile fireplaces, and a menu featuring Dutch, American, and Indonesian food, operated from 1940 until the mid-1960s when it became Charley O's. The last newspaper mention of the Holland House Taverne was June 1964.
Mayer: Tan – Mayan Ware – plate with the entire front side covered in a sponge brushed blue (resembling finger painting) except for the center top rim which has an almond-shaped oval outlined in royal blue. Within the tan almond are three Old English letters "H H T," also in royal blue. Sterling's version is the same, but the plate has a white body.
For more info:
Holland House Taverne, by Sterling China
Source:
Daily News – April 11, 1940 – advertisement about the opening
Contributors:
Robin Wheeler Carnill: ID
Annaliese Whipple: plate photos
Ed Phillips: author
