Fantastic set of six small hotel ware plates from the Hotel Britannia, Lake of Bays, Muskoka, circa 1950s.
Featuring a classic hotel ware stripe in a vibrant blue with a Canadian goose motif.
Marked on reverse - Bauscher Weiden; Bavaria; Made expressively for Hotel Britannia; Imported by Nerlich & Co.
Made by Bauscher Weiden, a German manufacturer who specialized in hotel porcelain.
Imported by the Toronto based wholesalers Nerlich & Co.
These were custom made for the Britannia Hotel which was once located on the Lake of Bays in Muskoka, Ontario. The Britannia was built in 1908 by architect John Wilson who is best known for designing the famous Bigwin Inn—also located on the Lake of Bays. The Britannia could accommodate 350 guests at its peak and featured tennis courts, a bowling green, a golf course, dance pavilion and its own farm. In 1954 after the original owner Thomas J. White passed, he left the Hotel to his son Paul, who undertook extensive renovations. Venturing to turn Britannia into an all-season resort, he added a ski hill, cross-country trails through the woods, an indoor curling rink, clubhouse and even regularly chartered flights to Florida. It's quite likely that the custom plates were ordered during this time, however it's possible they were from earlier. After Paul's retirement the hotel changed hands a couple times before falling into disrepair and was ultimately demolished. Read the full story on substack!
Perfect for lovers of Canadiana, cottage country and Muskoka!
Condition: In quite good condition for age. Some very minor superficial cutlery scratches. One plate has a small chip and another has some tiny nicks (see last image.)
Measurements:
6-3/4 w in // 17 w cm
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Vintage and antique items may have minor imperfections due to age and use. I inspect all items and aim to disclose any deficiencies.
Items are carefully packaged using recycled materials wherever possible.
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