Manufacturer: Shenango China
User: Moran's La Louisiane
Date of cup and saucer: 1950s

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Notes: Restaurant website: www.lalouisiane.com/history.html The La Louisiane building was constructed in 1837 at 725 Iberville St., New Orleans, as a private home. It was leased in 1881 by Louis and Ann Bézaudun to be the site of their restaurant.

According to the restaurant website, the period from 1890 to 1920 was known as the Alciatore Era when the Bézauduns hired Ann's nephew Fernand Jules Alciatore. "He acquired a reputation as a master host and transformed its French-Creole menu into the city's best." He began the famous "Golden Book," the guest registry crammed with signatures of the most prominent figures at the time. And in 1920, Alciatore bought the restaurant.

Ownership changed hands during the first half of the 20th century with a couple of closures during that period due to deaths of owners.

In 1954, "Diamond Jim" Moran took over ownership of La Louisiane and renamed it Moran's La Louisiane. An over-the-top lover of glitz and bling, Moran added a Flamingo Crystal Room and a Diamond Room to the restaurant. According to the website, "The core clientele were 'Diamond Jim's' friends, a ring of politicians, judges, racing aficionados and local celebrities. The restaurant was so much a part of 'Diamond Jim' that once or twice, customers actually discovered diamonds nestled inside their meatballs."

Moran had a heart attack and died at the restaurant in 1958, but his sons served as proprietors for 20 years. The restaurant continued to change hands several times since, and after being closed from 1996 to 2003, was reopened in 2004.

The cup and saucer have a wide band in coral, turquoise, gold and black with a geometric Art Deco or Southwest-inspired design. In script are the words in black: Jimmy Moran. The same pattern, though difficult to discern, is also seen on page 2 of the restaurant's menu (detail above).

For more info:
La Louisiane by Bauscher Brothers

ID and photos contributed by kathleen