Manufacturers: Black Knight, Hutschenreuther China; Scammell China; and Syracuse China
User: Shoreham Hotel – Washington D.C.
Distributor for Black Knight: Walter M. Ballard Company
Date of examples: circa 1930 – 1980s
Notes: The nine-story, 800-room Shoreham Hotel opened October 30, 1930. It is located on Connecticut Avenue at 2500 Calvert Street, NW in Washington, D.C. The main dining room was 92' by 40', the Grill was 76' by 46', and the Main Ballroom was 98' by 64'. These three rooms were on the lobby floor. In 1935, a 153-room addition was built. A 100-room, five-story motor inn was added in 1958. In 1984, Omni Hotels took over and changed the name to Omni Shoreham. In 2022, it continued to operate, with 832 guest rooms.
A china service produced by Black Knight, Scammell, and Syracuse features a stylized bird with branches, flowers, and butterflies. These overglaze decals are of various size ornaments that could be used on different size and shape pieces. A coin gold line is at the rim.
Syracuse shows this pattern as "691701 O. G." in its pattern sample book dated November 4, 1937. It was 'controlled' in the Washington, Baltimore and Richmond area, but was available to potential customers elsewhere.
The Black Knight brand of Hutschenreuther China has white flowers in places that Scammell used red flowers. It was supplied by Walter M. Ballard Company and dated "1930."
Scammell made this pattern on their Lamberton China base. A 1938, newspaper photograph shows the china in use.
For additional info:
Shoreham Hotel by Hutschenreuther China
Shoreham Hotel 2 by Bauscher China
Shoreham Hotel 4 by Scammell China
Shoreham Hotel 5 by Bauscher China
Contributor:
Author and photos: Larry Paul