Mid-Century "Romance of the Stars"
There's something magical and uplifting about the best Mid-Century Modern design. One of the era's most iconic motifs is the starburst. In its various iterations, with its elegance and economy of line, the starburst embodies hope for the future, with science and technology bringing us space exploration, medical advances, and other exciting developments.
"Romance of the Stars" bone china place setting in cream and platinum, from Fine Arts, circa 1959.
The quintessentially MCM starburst is featured in "Romance of the Stars," a lovely Mid Century Modern pattern with a splendid name from Fine Arts China, a Pennsylvania company active from 1944 to 1972. Founded as the Fine Arts Sterling Silverware Company, they sold International Silver flatware and also produced lines of fine china.
Light green version of "Romance of the Stars" from Fine Arts. Pastel shades were very popular in the 1950s and into the 1960s.
This American-made bone china design with platinum trim and accents was available in white, cream, and assorted soft pastel hues that were highly favored at the time. The shapes are clean and modern, and the overall effect is perfectly suited for a beautifully set table.
I could not find an exact date for this china, but Fine Arts also sold sterling flatware with the same pattern name (and a starburst design) made by International Silver that dates to 1959. Starburst and "atomic" motifs were wildly popular from the late 1950s into the 1960s and retain their charm to this day.
"Romance of the Stars" in 1950s pale pink.
