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The Pirate's Lair is the ONLY single worldwide leading authority and resource offering the most complete selection of unique beautifully crafted VERY RARE WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam-era vintage U.S. Navy-issued "Personal China" by Naval Officer Rank:
The perfect gift idea for that special sailor be it a military Navy retirement gift for Naval Officer, military Navy promotion gift for a Navy Officer, or even as a Graduation Gift for a Midshipman about to start his or her Naval Career as a Junior Grade Officer. Appropriate as a fathers day or mothers day present, for a brother or sister in the Navy, husband or wife who wants to give a unique and personalized present as a "Welcome Home Gift". Where nowadays and at any cost can you even find hand glazed and hand stenciled fine nautical china tableware?
The Pirate's Lair has an extensive inventory of available U.S. Navy military surplus nautical dinnerware which can even be purchased online via our shopping cart, or you can email or call us at 540-659-6209!
The below Information and Ordering Table provides a complete list of available U.S. Navy Rank Specific plates, dishes, bowls, cups and saucers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
From the late 1800's to the early 1960's this durable hand glazed and hand stenciled personal dinnerware was issued by the U.S. Navy for its Chief Petty Officers, Junior Grade and Senior Grade Flag Officers, as well as for the Department of the Navy through leading manufacturers such as Homer Laughlin China Co , Tepco**, Walker*, Caribe, Jackson*, Oneida China Co, Buffalo*, Sterling*, Syracuse*, Mayer*, and Shenango* which offered a complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner personal tableware collection of plates, dishes, bowls, mugs, cups, saucers and fine dining accessory pieces.
Of Special Note: This 60+ year old vintage Navy china tableware was hand crafted, hand glazed, hand dipped, hand stenciled, and they just don't make it like they used to! The perfect nautical gift idea for women
While rare, some pottery workers even etched personal affectations and notes onto the chinaware! Inscribed on the bottom of some plates and dishes we have found a V for Victory, VE for Victory Europe, VJ for Victory Japan, and "prayers to you" notes to the sailors who would be eating from these china pieces while at sea! Along with the geographic location of where the clay was mined, consistency of the clay slip, the type of kiln and pottery firing techniques used at the time, all result in slight character defects and flaws make this type of chinaware even more valuable and sought after than what can be found in the mass-produced markets of today.
Naval chinaware is a handsome industrial-grade antique china dinnerware durable enough to be used as everyday dinnerware yet elegant enough for formal military Navy dining-in occasions! It has a beautiful snow white finish, almost a transluscent glaze, highlighted with rich dark blue stripes and Naval insignia (or "top marks"), such as the traditional Navy fouled anchor, Captain's pennant, Admiral's flag with stars, and the nautical theme square-knot.
From the late 1800's through mid 1900's the United States Navy commissioned various makers of fine china such as Homer Laughlin, Tepco, Buffalo, Sterling, Mayer, Jackson, Walker, Syracuse, and Shenango to produce complete "soup to nuts" tableware for the U.S. Navy's Officer Corps. This "Navy China" was used extensively during WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam in officer wardrooms, galleys and mess halls aboard all sizes and class of ship, submarine, and shore facility.
The U.S. Navy has traditionally taken good care of its Officer Corps! For sailing the high seas at any time can be a hard and treacherous undertaking as the ocean can be cruel and unforgiving, leaving little margin for error. However going to war aboard a ship, whether large or small, can be a particularly hazardous venture. In recognition of their service, the US Navy provided a certain level of comfort for its sailors, while also preserving traditional military decorum and separation of rank.
This fine Navy China was also used as the official and formal dinnerware of Captains, Admirals, Department and Secretary of the Navy civilian leadership. Most of the Naval China currently available was produced during WW1 and WW2 for use aboard our aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines and large support vessels. When these various Navy warships were sent into decommission at the end of WW1 and WW2 many of the officers took home with them the very plates, bowls, cups and dishes which they themselves used while aboard their warship. This Naval China "memorabilia" ultimately found its way into attics and cellars safely stored away in boxes and chests until they were re-found, typically in an estate sale. Imagine having a piece of this valuable American history which in all likelihood saw combat action somewhere on the seven seas, and now to be used and celebrated in your home!
Historically, most of the major providers of fine china produced exclusive lines of dinnerware for transcontinental railroads, airlines, passenger ships, major corporations, famous restaurants and hotels, as well as for the United States Navy. This type of fine yet durable china was known in the trade as "restaurantware". Restaurantware in and of itself can be highly collectible as antique china, especially if the producer no longer exists! However Naval China used in the galleys aboard ships by our sailors during times of war is part of our national heritage which makes this type of restaurantware most highly prized. Additionally, restaurantware in general, and certainly Naval China in particular, was made to last for many years, able withstand heavy and harsh industrial use which would normally destroy the glaze and dull the luster of lesser quality and much lighter china that was typically sold to the general public.
Naval China was made to be used by sailors and cooks working in rough and rolling seas in all types of weather. This Naval dinnerware needed to be heavy and durable to withstand the harsh cleansers and environment they were to be used in. This makes them perfect for long and continued home, recreational or industrial use!
A fun anecdotal note is that when underway aboard a U.S. Navy warship one would find when sitting down to dine that the tablecloth would be slightly damp with sea water! This was a sailor's tradition handed down over the ages from seafarer to seafarer. However as in most traditions at sea it had a practical side as its basis! The "damping of the tablecloth" was to help ensure that the plates, dishes, bowls and cups along with the silverware was kept from "sliding" around the table as the ship pitched and rolled with the waves. The sea salt also helped prevent spilled food and drink from staining the tablecloth! Between the heavy weight of the tableware and the damp tablecloth the seamen could only then be able to eat while underway in moderate to even in heavy seas! This "dampening of the tablecloth" was even practiced at US Navy Shore Installations so as to uphold and continue this unique Naval tradition. Additionally, the U.S. Navy commissioned various makers of fine linens to produce these exquisite and beautifully designed heavy damask tablecloths and napkins that were made to be heavily used while at sea. The Pirate's Lair now has available these wonderful vintage white damask U.S. Navy tablecloths and antique napkins. They are beautifully embroidered and patterned in a nautical theme with white-on-white designs of eagles, fouled anchors, stars and coiled rope! Click HERE to review these wonderful antique tablecloth and napkin complements to your Naval China and Silverware.
Besides the Naval China, during this same period the Department of the Navy also contracted with leading makers of fine silverware and holloware to produce complete and complimentary placesettings of beautifully designed and engraved silverplated forks, knives, spoons, serving bowls and trays, coffee and tea pots, water pitchers and carving utensils. At The Pirate's Lair we have an extensive line Navy Silverware from the late 1800's to mid 1900's for your review and consideration by clicking here for U.S. Navy Silverware and Naval Flatware, which is the perfect complement to your Naval China!
What the various designs found on the Naval china really signify! Staying within the U.S. Navy's strict officer caste system the Department of the Navy had complete sets of fine china made specifically for the mess hall and officer wardrooms of each officer grade level: a fouled anchor with letters USN for Chief Petty Officers a square knot for Junior Officers, letters USN for Warranty Officers, a streaming pennant with 4 stars for Captains, square flag with 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars for Admirals, and the Navy Seal for the Department of the Navy's civilian and military leadership. Each officer grade was then given this special restaurantware "top mark" or design insignia which was imprinted and made part of the glaze on each piece of china dinnerware.
As an interesting side note, the specific insignia (or top mark), used on the Navy China for each Officer Rank was also used on all of the Naval Silverware and Silverplate eating and serving utensils. Imagine having a complete set of fine nautical themed china dinnerware and silverware matching place settings! Or having each place setting at your table as a different Officer Rank which is available at The Pirate's Lair!
Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy discontinued the time honored tradition of issuing this beautiful antique china in the mid-1960's after the manufacturer's supplies ran out, and it was never replaced, which further makes this fine china a great investment! Currently only small quantities of this fine china can be found. The Pirate's Lair scours the world to obtain the best pieces to be found and makes them available to you.
Ironically, today individual ship commanders and officers of the U.S. Navy now purchase this antique Navy china from The Pirate's Lair for use aboard present-day warships! Sailors today can now use and enjoy the same dinnerware and silverware used by their Naval bretheren of long ago!
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The Pirate's Lair is an expert authority on authentic nautical dinnerware US Navy-issued Personal China and Tableware produced for the Ensign, Lieutenant, Commander, Captain and Admiral with special rank insignia for both Naval Enlisted, Junior and Senior Officers, Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of the Navy. Both a chief petty officer and a petty officer would enjoy their own rank and insignia on dinnerware. The Midshipman commissioned as an Ensign or promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade LtJG officer would be appropriate. A Lieutenant LT, Lieutenant Commander LCDR, and Warrant Officer also have their own personal china. The Navy's senior officers such as the Navy Captain, 2 Star Rear Admiral, 3 Star Vice Admiral, 4 Star Fleet or Full Admiral and CNO Chief of Naval Operations also have both personal rank insignia on both China and Silverware. The civilian leadership in the Department of the Navy use the Navy Seal with Eagle clutching a fouled anchor, letters USN, handsome nautical Square Knot as rank insignia or a topmark The flying pennant or burgee with 4 stars is used by a Captain as a Military Welcome Home Gift from Iraq. Flag rank is reserved for a flag officer and typically has 1, 2, 3 or 4 stars on a square flag. The goat locker is used for the CPO Mess! These are all perfectly good and appropriate navy gift ideas and military surplus as a military gift manufactured by homer laughlin, tepco, caribe, sterling, buffalo, jackson, walker, oneida, shenango. Whether it is on the enlisted mess decks, mess hall, galley, goat locker, officers mess, or officers wardroom this personal china is appropriate.
If you are a military welcome home or retirement gift or as a promotion gift needing nautical dinnerware or nautical tableware this distinctive and unique restaurantware is perfect. All Navy chinaware is also known as hotel china with an anchor on a demitasse cup by vitrified china manufacturers such as homer laughlin, tepco, sterling, buffalo, jackson, walker, oneida, and shenango. This are antique china and vintage china makers for the officers mess and officers wardroom