Manufacturer: Syracuse China
User/Pattern Name: Hotel Willard; underglaze #83401
Distributor: Dulin & Martin Co.
Date of plate: 1929-1957

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Notes: Located at 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the 12-story, 450-room Hotel Willard opened its doors in 1901. The Beaux-Arts hotel was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also planned the Waldorf-Astoria (New York) and drew the plans for the Plaza. In 1925, a 61-room addition was completed.

The Willard family sold its share of the hotel in 1946 and the hotel closed in July 1968. It remained vacant for the next 16 years, until after an extended legal battle, the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation purchased the property with its partners the Oliver Carr Company and InterContinental Hotels Group. Together, they renovated and expanded the facilities over a period of two years and the hotel reopened on August 20, 1986. The formal hotel opening celebration took place in late September 1986.

This sample plate on an ivory body was the general service china for the Willard. It featured a bird in primarily blue and red with long tail feathers and a yellow topknot, set against an overall floral pattern in green leaves and large red flowers and small blue and red flowers with black branches. An irregular black line sits on the outside of the rim.

A binder of Syracuse underglazed patterns shows #83401 – with the addition of Willard – as including the black vines and irregular rim line plus the smaller leaves and flowers motif, designed by H. G. Aitken and copyrighted Feb. 26, 1930 (shown below).

Below the photos, from the Syracuse archives see the extensive variety of pieces ordered from Syracuse in this pattern – spanning 1929-1957.

For related info:
Willard Hotel
Willard Hotel 3 – Afternoon Tea by Syracuse China

Willard Hotel China – General Service
Underglaze decoration 83401 Regular on Ivory Body as approved (Sample)
Sample #10485
Entered 10/1/29. Last entry 11/7/57.
Distributor: Dulin & Martin Co.
Items:
• 7-1/2 Plate, Empire
• 7 Plate, Empire
• 6 Plate, Empire
• 4 Plate, Empire
• #2 Egg cups, Boston
• Egg cups, Single
• Bouill cups (Sp. Heavy), G.W. [Governor Winthrop]
• Bouill saucers, G.W.
• Cream Soup bowls, Mayf.
• Cream Soup Plates, Mayf.
• Small Ftd. Bowls, Empire
• #4 Salads, Dupont
• #2 Salads, Dupont
• #0 Salads, Dupont
• #3 Celeries, Empire
• #2 Celeries, Empire
• #1 Celeries, Empire
• Tea cups – Sp. Heavy, G.W.
• Tea saucers, G.W.
• A D cups, G.W.
• A D saucers, G.W.
• #4 Comport H/F, Empire
• #2 Comport H/F, Empire
• Egg cups Unhdl., Empire
• 4-1/2 fruits, Empire
• Grape fruits, Empire
• Lunch Plates, Tait
• 7 rim deep, Empire
• Bouillon linings, Field
• Matchstands, Windproof (added 6/24/30)
• Tea cups H/H Saxon (added 9/21/31)
• 4 Plates, RE (added 2/19/32)
• 7-1/2 Plates, RE (added 2/19/32)
• 6 Plates, RE, (added 2/19/32)
• 7 rim deep, RE (added 11/4/33)
• 5 rim deep. RE (added 10/25/34)
• A D Cups H/H, Saxon (added 10/25/34)
• Bouill cups, Detroit (added 2/5/35)
• 4 Fruits, RE (added 2/5/35)
• A D Saucers, RE (added 2/5/35)
• Egg Cups, Double (added 2/5/35)
• Tea saucers, Detroit (added 1/16/36)
• 7 Plates, RE (added 1/16/36)
• #4 Salads, RE (2/15/42)
• Tea Cups, Detroit (added 8/14/42)
• #5 Salads, RE (added 8/14/42)
• Grapefruits, RE (added 7/20/43)

ID and photos contributed by Bill Calnan