Vintage Sterling China Restaurantware, Green and Black Banded

A restaurantware grouping bringing together oval dishes and small butter pats attributed to Sterling China, alongside an antique wooden butter mold. A black band runs along the outer edge of each piece, paired with a green line closer to the center, the two colors tracing elongated ovals on the dishes and concentric circles on the butter pats. The restrained graphic pairing is the look most associated with traditional American diners and cafés.

Sterling China was established in 1917 in Wellsville, Ohio, in a region with a long pottery tradition, and specialized specifically in hotel and restaurant china. By the 1950s it had become one of the leading American manufacturers in that category.

Twelve pieces, one wooden mold, two colors: a small cross-section of what a mid-century diner counter actually looked like, built to survive the wash and never meant to be looked at twice — until now.