(pronunciation: as spelled)
The first noticeable pattern of china by Salem is the plates with Godey fashions, from the Godey Book of Prints from the late 1800s. These are found on plates with a plain rim, a banded rim and a embossed/decorated rim (service plates). There is a set of plates with the leaders of World War II, surrounded by flags, and several sets of china where the central motif is a historical building or site, within a embossed or decorated rim. These include an English Village, Philadelphia, Washington DC, North Carolina and Virginia.
Salem made several festive Christmas china patterns, including “Christmas Eve,” which has a decorated Christmas tree with a village and train set up beneath it. This pattern was designed by Viktor Shreckengost, a famous designer of china shapes and decorative patterns that started working at Salem between World War I and II.
Much of Salem’s production has a modern feel, with single large motifs placed off-center on an otherwise undecorated plate, and the company has several lines of modern shapes, which were popular when produced. Since the company is out of the china business, all Salem china will be on the secondary market.
My opinion: I like the modern shapes and patterns, It might be fun to select one piece from each of the lines of modern shapes and try to get all the decorative patterns that come in that shape, like a cup and saucer or salad plate.
Product lines:
Some of the usual, European-derived floral patterns, some with decorated and/or embossed rims, which might signify older patterns.
Modern chintz patterns, which are not mistakable for the old versions.
Standard India Tree patterns.
Modern patterns on modern shapes, including Aquaria, Carrousel, Hop Scotch, Jack Straw, North Star, and, my favorite, Primitiv, among others.
Prices:
Quite reasonable for out of production china. The problem will be finding the pieces you want in the pattern you want. Watch for Salem china on eBay and other online sites. You should also keep an eye on resale shops and thrift stores, and a lot of the modern stuff is “thrown out” instead of traded in with antique stores, etc.
Collector’s Society: None.
The official company site is: None.
History
The Salem China Company was established in 1898 in Salem, Ohio, and only ceased production in 1967, when it changed to a distributor, and finally closed in 1981. The first products were earthenware, kitchen necessities and semi-porcelain, until the company finally began production of fine porcelain wares. The company employed modern industrial designers in the 1930′s and 1940′s, including Viktor Schreckengost, and their china production flourished with the modern shapes and decorative designs from that period through the 1950′s.
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Read more about porcelain collectibles in the Porcelain Collectibles Guide.