When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Mary D. Shoppe - Confectionery / Candy Shop or Tea Room - 1932 - Very Rare - Alliance Vitrified China Co. - Side Logo - Hotel China - Heavyweight Restaurant Ware - China Mustard Pot
Offered for your consideration is an extremely rare 1932 side logo 3 1/4" tall by 2 5/8" wide (across the top) china mustard pot made for the Mary D. Shoppe, which was either a candy shop / confectionery or tea room located in Westminster, Massachusetts, or Leominster, Massachusetts, at the same time.
The Mary D. Shoppe was not very large and there was never much china ordered to begin with for what limited dining / confectionery service they offered.
If you collect vintage high-end restaurant ware, hotel china / lunch room china / tea room china, or vintage AVCO China Co. pieces of heavyweight restaurant china, you might want to consider this rarity for your collection.
Historically, information on the Mary D. Shoppe - Alice Mary Shoppe is limited at best. Sometime circa 1916, Alice Fuller Twombley, along with her sister (whom I believe was either Helen Twombley or Eliza Twombley) the Mary Tea Room on Cambridge Street in downtown Westminster. Some time later, she opened the Mistress Mary Shoppe at the corner of Waterfield Road and Thompson Street.
There was also some connection to the Mary Alice Shoppe, which was a confectionery - candy shop (at 6 Main Street in nearby Leominster and was advertised - see the image of the box of candies from there) "Alice Mary Shoppe Fine Candies 6 Main Street Leominster, MassDeep Fascinations Delicious Chocolates Has Small Ad (Buy US Savings Bonds)". Also see that the exact same style of font on the candy box compared to the same style of font on the side of this mustard pot being offered.
Alice had been a nurse for several years in the community, but had left the profession to start her new career in the tea room and confectionery. Sadly, and only at the age of 53, she died on October 22, 1929 (just one week after her father, William A. Twombley had passed). Itappears that the shopps did continue to operate for a few years thereafter. I believe that this mustard pot was made in 1932.
The mustard pot was made by the very rare restaurant ware manufacture of theAlliance Vitrifiedchina company that was located in Alliance, Ohio.The Alliance vitrified china company” was in business from about 1910 era to circa 1933-1934 era (closed as a result of the effects of the then ongoing Great Depression). The company marked their ware with a diamond shaped backstamp that reads "AVCO - Vitrified China - Alliance, Ohio" and sometimes had the date represented with two digits (such as 32 for 1932 on this set).
Alliance produced some of the heaviest and hardest restaurant ware through their intense “vitrification” process, which is a firing process that made wares less porous. They did not produce much restaurant ware - hotel china, but what they did produced, is highly sought after by collectors to this day. Not only was their china very heavyweight and durable, but some of the restaurantware patterns were also beautiful, such as, in the case with this set.
Alliance appears to have been sold to theGeorge H. Bowman Company of Cleveland in 1919. Bowman's company produced fine cut glass, china ware, toys, and novelty items. Bowman also operated plants in Salem, Ohio, and in Carrollton, Ohio. Bowman also controlled thenearby Summit China Co. in Akron, Ohio. Bowman was a Cleveland resident and businessman that ran both of the china companies, along with, serving on other boards and fraternal organizations during the 1920's.
This mustard pot set is the heavyweight type steamship, restaurant, and railroad china. This set would have been used for ladies afternoon tea, hot espresso, or other tea, coffee, or other hot beverages to be served in the most elegant fashion from. On the side is restuarant's wonderful looking wording that reads "Mary D. Shoppe".
The set would have been used connection with the Tea Tavern's restaurant silver soldered - silver plate and glassware for actual table service. It has no cracks, no chips, and only very light usage. This piece is almost 100 years old and is quite the rarity; especially, in relation to vintage heavyweight restaurant ware.
An amazing addition to your restaurant ware, historic Leominster, vintage Alliance China, or confectionery - candy collection.
You may wish to consider adding this lovely piece of historyto your hotel silver, silver soldered, heavyweight type steamship, hotel silver, or restaurant ware collection.
