Empress Dresden Flowers by Schumann
Charlemont by Waterford Crystal
Meadow Rose Sterling by Watson Silver

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The stunning Empress Dresden Flowers pattern by Schumann/Bavaria was produced from 1945 to 1981. This gorgeous porcelain pattern features dazzling gold trim, and is adorned with embossed elements and an ornate floral design rendered in brilliant colors. Schumann/Bavaria was founded in 1881 by Heinrich Schumann in the town of Arzberg, in what is now Germany. The design of “Empress Dresden Flowers” was greatly influenced by the "Rococo" style of early eighteenth-century France. During the reign of King Louis XV, Rococo emerged in response to the heavier, highly ornate art of the late Baroque period. The Rococo style comprised elaborate designs with playful swirls, scrolls, and decoration. Schumann produced high-quality porcelain for more than 130 years, until the company closed its doors in 1994. Schumann/Bavaria pieces remain highly sought-after by collectors.

Many of the crystal patterns made by Waterford reflect Irish spirit and history. Charlemont celebrates the history of a village and family in northern Ireland in Armagh County. In 1602, Sir Toby (Charles) Caulfeild, serving under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, established a bridge, and a fort to protect it, at a location on the Blackwater river. The site became known as Charlemont, and for this and other services to the Queen, Caulfeild was awarded a large grant of land, and was eventually named Baron of Charlemont under James I. Gorgeous on any table, Charlemont crystal is a popular Waterford pattern. The company dates back to the Flint Glass Works, founded in 1783 on the quay in the port town of Waterford. When a Waterford crystal service was presented to the wife of King George III, she was so proud of it that she had it displayed in Cheltenham castle. Today “Waterford” is synonymous with fine crystal, and is found in households around the world.

Meadow Rose by Watson Silver features a blocked design in a rose motif, with ornate scrolling along the edge, a cameo/frame design with a rose at the tip, and a glossy finish. Watson literature from 1942 describes Meadow Rose as “made by silversmiths who have spent 68 years recreating museum masterpieces for connoisseurs of fine silver... so superbly designed and faultlessly executed that you will find it unexcelled anywhere else today.” The Watson Company was established in 1874, and primarily produced jewelry in its early years. Later, the company shifted focus to manufacturing souvenir spoons before expanding its production lines to include silverplate flatware, hollowware, and novelties. As the company further streamlined in the twentieth century, production was confined to sterling flatware and hollowware. The Meadow Rose pattern was first produced in 1907, and other popular patterns followed, including John Alden (1911), Lotus (1935), Windsor Rose (1940), and Foxhall (1942). In 1956, Watson Company was purchased by Wallace and Sons Mfg. Co. (now Wallace Silver). Meadow Rose remains an enduring example of the exquisite, finely-crafted sterling products produced by Watson Company during its prime.

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