The Friendly Village: Enduring Charm and Lasting Traditions

As fall approaches with the holiday season on its heels, many of us look back with nostalgia at memoires from falls past.  That nostalgia is the very inspiration for Johnson Brothers’ classic pattern, The Friendly Village.  With its idyllic scenes of a quaint little town, alternately blanketed in fluffy snow or festooned with pastel blossoms, it’s easy to see why the pattern has remained among the brand's most beloved patterns.

•    The Friendly Village was introduced in 1953.  The period of prosperity following WWII meant many Americans were able to purchase matching sets of quality everyday dinnerware.  
•    The beautiful vignettes of simple village life tugged at the heartstrings and appealed to anyone longing for those idealized days gone by.
•    Each scene in the series is titled, with names like Autumn Mists, The Hayfield, The Old Mill, and more.  Often, you can find these names listed in the piece’s backstamp.
•    The soft earthtone palette of mossy green, faded red, faint blue and butter yellow lend well to any season or setting.  Despite its elaborate decoration, The Friendly Village is relatively neutral and evergreen.
•    The production life of Friendly Village – from 1953 to 2003 for the English backstamp - allowed generations to find connection and forge memories of this highly collectible range.

Is The Friendly Village a lifelong favorite of yours?  Share your stories of this pattern or another favorite with us.  We'd love to hear from you.