Brittany by Homer Laughlin
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The Brittany shape was developed in November 1935 and introduced in 1936. It was designed as a plain round rim shape so it could be decorated with silk screen patterns. Such patterns were applied to bisque ware and then were given a clear glaze. The silk screen patterns were either monochromatic or in two-color combinations. The same screen could be used with different colors to produce multiple patterns. For example, Constellation, a.k.a. North Star, was made in five different colors: red (often called pink), blue, green, black, and gray. A few of the initial Brittany patterns also used gold stamps, namely Empire.
Any given silk screen pattern had to be drawn out for each and every item in the assortment. Shown are just a few of the original drawings used to create the underglaze patterns. Courtesy: The Fiesta® Tableware Company.
By 1938, new patterns on Brittany were made with underglaze silk screen borders in conjunction with decals and gold trim. Majestic (W-538 in red and W-638 in blue) is the most popular of these silk screen/decal patterns. It was made for F. W. Woolworth five and dime stores for many years starting in 1938. Dozens of similar patterns were made by Homer Laughlin using different combinations of screens, colors, and decals. Some of these are shown towards the bottom of the page.
Within the first three years of its introduction, Brittany's hollowware was redesigned. The original sugar and creamer bodies were rather small with "top-heavy" in appearance. They were changed with larger bodies which resulted in wider bases. The first sugar lid had an open finial. The replacement sugar was given a knob finial. When the sugar lid was changed, so was the lid on the covered nappy.
Brittany covered sugars and creamers, first style with smaller bodies and open finials |
Treatment B-1015: Dutch Girl |
Treatment B-1231: Empire (in blue) |
Brittany covered sugars and creamers, second style with wider bodies and knob finials |
Treatment B-1437: Sugar Pine |
Treatment B-1315, for J. J. Newberry |
Covered nappy with open finial, B-1310 |
Covered nappy with knob finial, W-538 "Majestic" |
There were two sauceboats. The first was a round gravy with an under plate. It was made for just a few years until it was replaced by the more conventional, oval sauceboat.
Round sauceboat and liner, B-1309, Minerva |
Regular sauceboat, B-1369, Dancing Wheat |
Brittany was often mixed in with other Homer Laughlin shapes. The flatware was paired with Charm House hollowware in the Applique lines. There are several decal lines from the 1950s that mix Brittany flatware with Cavalier hollowware. The Brittany rim soup, demitasse cup, and demitasse saucer were picked up and used as needed in solid color Rhythm dinnerware. In the late 1950s, the Brittany teapot and sauceboat were often used with Studio hollowware in later Dura-Print patterns. During the 1960s, Brittany flatware was used with Orbit hollowware to create several patterns.
Regardless of its use, Brittany was almost always marked with the general backstamp and date code.
One of the more unusual Brittany lines was treatment number W-352 or "Tea Magnolia" for Woolworth's in 1952. The handles on the creamer and sauceboat were simplified, and the handles on the sugar base were removed completely. This was the only use of the modified hollowware.
Brittany rim soup, modified sugar and creamer, W-352 |
See also:
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Trade ad from April 1936 |
Trade ad from June 1936 |
Trade ad from Spetember 1936 |
Trade ad from November 1936 |
W-538, "Majestic" on the first style sugar and creamer |
W-538, "Majestic" on the cream soup cup |
Demitasse cup and saucer, W-538, Majestic in red |
Demitasse cup and saucer, W-638, Majestic in blue |
Brittany teacup and saucer, "Hemlock" in blue |
Treatment W-141, "Grapes" for Woolworth's |
Brittany sauceboat, treatment HLS-9 |
Brittany creamer, B-2173, Blue Leaf Band |
Brittany sauceboat, treatment B-1334 |
Brittany creamer and pickle, red dots |
Sugar with Echo treatment, creamer with Strawberries |
Sauceboat with W-638, Majestic in blue |
Sugar (B-1406: Bermuda) and creamer (B-1399: Sylvian) |
Sugar (B-1432: Florence) and creamer (W-141: Grapes) |
The Brittany teapot was added to the assortment in 1952.
B-2001: Hemlock |
B-1399: Sylvian |
B-1381: Roses and Leaves |
B-1406: Bermuda |
B-1411: Stratford |
B-1432: Florence |
B-1373: Green Ivy |
B-1403: Lily of the Valley |
B-1440: Gaitey |
B-1436: Gray Daisies |
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Brittany 11 ½" chop plate, B-1273 Narrow Plaid |
Brittany 13" chop plate, CAC-161 for C. A. Coulter Premiums |
Pattern B-1205, black and yellow plaid |
Pattern B-1173, blue laurel |
Rosebud print in black and red |
B-1403, Lily of the Valley in green (The maroon version is B-1402) |
Platter with B-1211, Constellation |
Platter with Hemlock in green |
Platter with B-2112, red trees (B-2111 is green, B-2113 is blue) |
Brittany 36s bowl |
Pattern B-1357 |
Pattern B-1347 (The blue version is B-1326) |
Pattern B-1052, Blue Scroll (the green version is B-1055) |
Montgomery Ward sold B-1055 as Green Shamrock |
Sears' advertisement for B-1316, Clive on Brittany |
Assortment for W-538. Majestic on Brittany |
Cavalier flatware with Brittany teacups, early 1980s |
W-538, Majestic |
B-1309, Minerva |
B-1318, Queen Elizabeth |
B-1315, for J. J. Newberry |
B-1317, Lady Alice |
B-1354 |
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W-638, Majestic |
B-1316, Clive |
B-1314, Persian Princess |
B-1335, Lady Winifred |
B-1346, Royal Spendor |
B-1358 |
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Assortment of Items:
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- 13" chop plate
- 11 ½" chop plate
- 10" plate
- 9" plate
- 8" plate
- 7" plate
- 6" plate
- Teacup
- Saucer
- AD cup
- AD saucer
- pickle
- 11 1/2" platter
- 13" platter
- 15" platter
- Cable eggcup
- Teapot
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- Covered Sugar, first version
- Covered Sugar, second version
- Creamer, first version
- Creamer, second version
- 8" nappy
- 9" nappy
- Nappy lid, first version
- Nappy lid, second version
- Round sauceboat
- Round sauceboat liner
- Oval sauceboat
- Fruit cup
- 36s bowl
- Oatmeal
- Rim soup
- Cream soup cup
- Cream soup liner
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