Product Description

Desert Rose the largest selling pattern in the history of American dinnerware, made its debut in later 1941. It has enjoyed the world's longest period of popularity of any dinnerware pattern produced by a single company. The Rose Rugosa, rugged wild rose of poem and song was a natural design selection. The character of the bloom with its simple delicate petals made it adaptable to hand painting. This beautiful handpainted pattern is still one of America's favorite casual tableware patterns. In 1964 the sixty millionth piece had been produced and Desert Rose is now on display in the historical Smithsonian Museum. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy chose Franciscan Desert Rose for use in the White House. In Desert Rose, the irregularly scalloped edge of thorny vines creates a believable frame for the fully opened pink roses with their golden centers and soft green leaves. The softness of the deisgn is further enhanced by its cream colored background. The twenty piece set includes four of each, 10.5 inch dinner plate, 7.75 inch salad plate, 6 inch soup/cereal, teacup and saucer. All pieces are microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. Accessories are also available.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117740 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Franciscan
• Model: 5-26001-0408
• Dimensions: 11.80" h x 12.10" w x 13.00" l, 15.00 pounds

Features

• Best Selling dinnerware pattern in American History
• Rich in heritage, offering a one-of-a-kind allure and charm for the collector
• Durable for everyday use, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe
• Casual hand-painted style with vibrant colors
• Dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe

Amazon.com Review
Part of the bestselling dinnerware pattern in American history, this table service for four exemplifies the informal grace of Southwestern hospitality. First made in California and now produced in various countries, Franciscan dinnerware achieved immediate popularity when it appeared in the late 1930s and ranks as a prized collectible, particularly the American-made pieces (pre-1984). Apple (1940) and Desert Rose (1941) are the only continuously produced Franciscan patterns.

Today's Franciscan dinnerware (the name honors colonial California's mission-founding priests) fulfills contemporary expectations, going safely into the dishwasher, microwave, and freezer. The pattern's subtly sculpted pink desert roses and green leaves are set against a pale sand background. Each of the four place settings in this set consists of an 11-inch dinner plate, an 8-inch salad plate, a 6-inch soup bowl, and an 8-ounce cup with saucer. The plates have indented centers and darker, slightly scalloped rims depicting rose vines. The cups' handles are also sculpted and colored like vines. --Fred Brack

What’s in the Box
4 place settings. Each place setting consists of: 11-inch dinner plate; 8-inch salad plate; 6-inch soup bowl; 8-ounce cup; saucer. 20 pieces total.

Customer Reviews

Not your Granny's Desert Rose
You get what you pay for, I guess. This setting is "Made in China" (not England), and is, literally, a pale imitation of my grandmother's Desert Rose dinnerware. The colors seem a lot less vibrant. Granted, it's been 40 years since I last ate off those plates; however, my recollection is that the blooms and vines on the plates and cups were rendered in high relief and boldly painted. On these, the relief is very subtle and the pattern appears to have been printed.

Dinnerware
The dinnerset is of a decent quality however it does not match the dishes we already have. The shape and pattern are noticable different from our original peices.

Cheerful pattern but prone to chipping & cracking. 3.5 stars
I still remember going to my grandmother's house in the 1960s and eating off the Franciscan desert rose dishes. I've always loved the bright, cheerful pattern, which would be a great way of starting off one's day at breakfast time. They would also be perfect for a tea party.

I knew that when I grew up, I would have the same dishes as my grandmother. When I moved into my first apartment, my grandmother offered to buy me my first set of dishes. I was torn between the Franciscan desert rose and the Franciscan apple pattern which I liked (and still like) equally. She suggested that since I grew up eating off the desert rose dishes, I may as well get the apple dishes. That made sense, so I chose the apple pattern, which are the same Franciscan dishes painted differently.

Unfortunately, 20 years later, my Franciscan dishes are not as nice looking as when I first received them, as about a quarter of them have cracked and chipped over time. Several have developed "crinkles" in the paint. This doesn't come from dropping or mishandling the dishes in any way, just from normal wear and tear. The coloring of the dishes has never faded.

Basically, Franciscanware dishes are a trade off. You have to love the pattern enough to not mind the cracking and chipping that occurs over the years. These dishes have been popular for decades and remain popular, so it's easy to find replacements both new and in thrift stores.