The Piece

A refined 1930s–1940s Pope-Gosser saucer, crafted in a soft ivory glaze and finished with a clean band of real gold along the outer rim. Minimalist yet undeniably elegant, this piece reflects the restrained beauty of Depression-era American china—simple forms elevated by subtle touches of luxury.

The surface carries fine period-appropriate crazing and light utensil wear, creating that soft, timeworn texture collectors love. The wide, smooth center well and gently sloping sides show off classic pre-war American design: functional, modest, and quietly formal. It feels like something lifted from a 1930s dining room or a wartime-era table setting—polished silverware, linen napkins, soft yellow lamplight, and china that balanced practicality with grace.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style

A minimalist Depression-era silhouette:

• Shallow profile

• Wide center well

• Clean, unornamented fields of ivory glaze

• A single gold rim for understated luxury

This blend of simplicity and refinement is characteristic of 1930s American china, where elegance was achieved through proportion rather than pattern.

→ Materials

• Semi-porcelain / ironstone blend typical of Pope-Gosser

• Ivory glaze with visible age crazing

• Hand-applied gold rim

• Backstamp: Pope-Gosser China, Made in U.S.A., F-8

• Smooth glaze surface with modest wear from 80–90 years of use

The piece has a grounded, sturdy feel—durable tableware meant to endure decades of real life.

→ Functionality

Originally a teacup saucer, now perfect as:

• jewelry dish

• smudge stick or incense holder

• bedside catchall

• bar cart accent

• minimalist kitchen décor

Its clean lines make it a natural styling piece.

History & Provenance

Pope-Gosser China Co. (1902–1958) was known for producing romantic floral china earlier in the century, but during the 1930s–40s they shifted toward simpler, more affordable tableware suited for the Depression and wartime years.

This saucer represents that era of design austerity—where elegance persisted but ornamentation was scaled back. The use of a gold rim reflects the period’s desire to hold onto small luxuries despite economic limits.

Pieces from this era have become popular with stylists for their quiet beauty, soft aging, and cinematic presence in dark or moody interiors.

Condition

Beautifully aged with:

• fine allover crazing

• intact gold rim with light rubbing

• subtle surface wear

• no cracks or structural damage

• smooth glaze with expected age character

It’s exactly the kind of honest patina that gives antique china soul.

Product Details

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This saucer’s beauty is its restraint—quiet, minimal, and timeless. The gold rim adds just enough warmth to glow on a dark shelf or stone countertop. Whether used functionally or simply styled as an accent, it carries that cinematic, nostalgic quality your brand curates so well.

It is a small object with an unmistakable sense of history and presence.