Transferware Youngstown Ohio Collector Plate: Artist Joe C. Sewell, Vernon Kilns

Description

Up for sale is a vintage YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio "red wine/maroon on white" Vernon Kilns decorative collector plate ca. 1940s.
Vernon Kilns (California Pottery, Los Angeles USA) was one of the well known "Big Five" Southern Pottery group. Vernon Kilns made collectors plates for hundreds of cities and states in the United States, some organizations and institutions, and some for foreign cities and countries. The state collector plates were started by them in 1936 with it's first Arkansas Traveler plate. Vernon Kilns closed its doors permanently in the early 1950s. The collectors plates were meant to be displayed and not used for food service.
The front of the plate depicts nine historic buildings and scenes from Youngstown, Ohio including:
Open Hearth Steel Mill at the center of plate
Youngstown College (now Youngstown State University)
Mill Creek Park in the Winter
Mill Creek Park in the Summer
Court House
Butler Art Institute
Public Library
Stambaugh Auditorium
Downtown Central Square
Also located on the front of the plate, signed under glaze (above Butler Art Institute illustration), is the signature of Joe C. Sewell - renowned Vernon Kilns artist.
The back of the plate is inscribed under glaze with an illustration of the old Strouss-Hirschberg's Store Logo and the wording "founded 1875". This suggests to me that this piece may have been originally made to be sold through the Strouss-Hirschberg's Store.
Also on the back of the plate inscribed under glaze are the words;
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
"The Heart of the Steel Area"
One of the most progressive industrial centers in the world. Situated in the beautiful Mahoning Valley.
Plate Designed by Vernon Kilns
U.S.A.
This vintage maroon on white Youngstown Ohio collector plate measures approximately 10.5 inches in diameter. It is referred to as having Vernon Kilns Ultra rim edge form. Excellent shape with only a very small rim nick to the left of the Stambaugh Auditorium illustration.