Mrs. Bones Research Library
"Preserving the history behind the treasures we discover."
Welcome to the Mrs. Bones Research Library, where we document the history, provenance, identification, and collector information behind the vintage and antique treasures we discover. Each guide is independently researched using historical references, manufacturer information, collector resources, and archival materials whenever available.
Paden City Pottery American Rose (PCP88)
Research File No. MBRL-0001
Last Updated: July 2026
A Research & Provenance Guide
One of the most enjoyable parts of collecting vintage and antique items is uncovering the story behind them. Sometimes a piece reveals its history immediately. Other times, it takes hours of research through historical archives, collector references, museum resources, and period advertisements before the puzzle begins to come together.
This page documents the research conducted by Mrs. Bones Curio Cupboard on a matching set of four vintage fruit/dessert bowls manufactured by The Paden City Pottery Company of Paden City, West Virginia.
Our goal is not simply to identify an item, but to preserve the historical information we uncover so that collectors, researchers, and future owners can enjoy the story behind these beautiful pieces.
Research Summary
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | The Paden City Pottery Company |
| Location | Paden City, West Virginia, USA |
| Pattern | American Rose (Collector Reference: PCP88) |
| Production Date | April 1951 (Factory Code: D-51) |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Decoration | Genuine 22-Karat Gold Filigree |
| Piece | Fruit / Dessert Bowl |
| Quantity Researched | Matching Set of Four |
About Paden City Pottery
The Paden City Pottery Company was founded in 1911 in Paden City, West Virginia, and became one of America's respected producers of decorative dinnerware and fine china. During the mid-twentieth century, the company produced a wide variety of floral patterns, elegant gold-trimmed dinnerware, and giftware that remain popular with collectors today.
Following the company's closure in 1957, many of its molds and production assets were acquired by Salem China, preserving part of Paden City's manufacturing legacy.
Identifying the Pattern
Our bowls feature:
- A large central pink cabbage rose
- Smaller yellow, white, and black stylized accent flowers
- Green and autumn-toned foliage
- An ivory-colored china body
- Decorative gold filigree surrounding the center design
- Gold rim decoration
After comparing our bowls with multiple collector references and replacement databases, we believe this pattern is Rose or American Rose, commonly cataloged by collectors as PCP88.
Dating the Bowls
Each bowl carries the following factory mark:
The Paden City Pottery Co.
Made in U.S.A.
D-51
Historical research indicates that Paden City Pottery used alphabetic month codes followed by the final two digits of the production year.
Based on this system, the factory code D-51 is interpreted as April 1951.
While factory documentation is limited, this conclusion is supported by multiple historical references describing Paden City's production coding system.
Understanding the Gold Decoration
These bowls feature 22-karat gold filigree decoration.
Unlike gold plating, the decoration consists of genuine gold applied as an extremely thin decorative layer and permanently fired into the glaze during manufacture.
Because the decoration contains real gold, collectors generally recommend:
- Hand washing only
- Avoiding abrasive cleaners
- Never using microwave ovens
- Avoiding repeated dishwasher use to preserve the gilding
The excellent condition of the gold decoration on this matching set was one of the characteristics that first attracted our attention.
Collector Interest
While individual replacement pieces can often be found, complete matching groups in excellent condition are becoming increasingly desirable.
Collectors often seek:
- Replacement pieces for inherited sets
- Matching table settings
- Mid-century American pottery
- West Virginia pottery
- Gold-decorated vintage china
Condition, completeness, and remaining gold decoration all contribute significantly to collector appeal.
Research Sources
The following resources were consulted while researching this pattern.
Laurel Hollow Park
Historical advertisements, company history, and archival material relating to Paden City Pottery.
WorthPoint Pottery Dictionary
Historical overview of Paden City Pottery together with links to additional collector resources.
Replacements, Ltd.
Pattern identification and measurements used for comparison.
Historical Newspaper & Museum References
Factory history and production coding information for Paden City Pottery.
Our Research Notes
One of the most interesting parts of this project involved determining the meaning of the factory code D-51.
Our initial theory was that the number represented a shape designation. As additional historical references were located, evidence suggested that Paden City Pottery encoded production dates using an alphabetic month followed by the final two digits of the production year. Based on that research, we believe these bowls were produced in April 1951.
Research into vintage pottery continues to evolve as new catalogs, advertisements, and factory records become available. If additional verified documentation regarding this pattern is discovered, this page will be updated accordingly.
Market values shown in referenced sources reflect specific examples at specific points in time. Actual values depend on condition, completeness, rarity, provenance, and the marketplace in which an item is sold.
Research Confidence
🟢 High
This guide is based upon manufacturer marks, collector references, historical publications, museum resources, replacement databases and period documentation.
About the Mrs. Bones Research Library
The Mrs. Bones Research Library is an ongoing project dedicated to documenting the history of vintage, antique, and collectible items acquired by Mrs. Bones Curio Cupboard.
Rather than simply listing an item for sale, we believe each piece deserves its story to be preserved. Whenever possible, our research is based on manufacturer documentation, museum collections, historical publications, collector references, and other reputable sources.
Know something we don't?
The Mrs. Bones Research Library is an ongoing historical project. If you own original catalogs, advertisements, factory literature or additional documentation relating to this pattern, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Explore more historical research and collector guides in the Mrs. Bones Research Library.