Roycroft Inn - Original 1930's - Buffalo China - Hotel China Restaurant Creamer For Sale

Roycroft Inn Hotel - 1930 to possibly 1940's Era (could be earlier) - Buffalo China - Very Rare - Original 2 1/4" tall - Side Marked - China Dairy CreamerOffered is a very rare 1930 to 1940's era (could be earlier or even just a little later) 2 1/4" side marked Buffalo China - Buffalo Pottery Co. small version dairy creamer made for the dining services at the Roycroft Inn restaurant and hotel that was (and still is today) located in the famous art community of East Aurora, New York.

This creamer is authentic heavyweight vintage (not the later reproduction type china). It may be earlier, as it does not have a backstamp and could go back to the era during the actual ownership of the Hubbard family. It has the hotel's logo on the side and is the pottery style ivory base (not the white nor the yellowish base). Again, this is not the china that was made during the 1990's to early 2000's for sale in the hotel's gift shop. This is the real actual china used many years ago.

Additionally, any of this china made during the early years of operation of the Roycroft Inn is scarce and does not appear that often. However, this smaller handle-less creamer is one of the hardest pieces to ever find in this pattern. The larger handle-less creamer is very rare, but the smaller - single serving creamer (as is this one) is the rarest of the creamers.

An amazing addition to your Larkin, Buffalo, Roycroft, Frank Lloyd Wright, or historic East Aurora antique collection.

Historically, The Roycroft Inn opened in 1905 to provide housing for the streams of visitors to East Aurora, New York, home of the Roycroft Arts and Crafts community of craftsmen and artists which formed part of the American Arts and Crafts movement. The community was founded by Elbert Hubbard.

Though Frank Lloyd Wright did not design the Roycroft Inn, but where he is connected with the Inn is the fact that Lloyd and Hubbard were well acquainted and its architectural design is a distinct movement from Wright’s Prairie School architecture that Hubbard used. The logo on this cream bares complete resemblance to this as well.

Elbert Hubbard (1857-1915), the individual responsible for the development of the grounds and buildings known as the "Roycroft Campus," started working for the Larkin Soap Company (which owned the Buffalo China Co. that opened in 1901 with the Inn opening in 1905) in 1875 as the junior partner in charge of sales and advertising. In 1893, he left the Larkin Company's employ and, sustained by the sale of his share of the Larkin Company, pursued his goal to become a writer. He first earned literary notoriety from his stories entitled "Little Journeys," based on visits to the homes of famous people.

In 1899, less than two years after Hubbard began creating the Roycroft Campus, he was propelled to worldwide fame and renewed financial wealth with the publication of his essay entitled, "A Message to Garcia." The "Message," which stressed loyalty to one's benefactor, was so popular and so frequently reprinted by businesses and institutions, that it became one of the world's most widely published literary works alongside the Bible and the dictionary. As a direct result of this success, he was able to further augment his development of the Roycroft Campus.

In about the time that this creamer was made and used for actual usage at the restaurant at the Inn, the Roycroft campus had over 500 workers on site (along with the scores of artist and visitors that were coming into the campus daily), which dining services alone would have been very important. This creamer would have been used for holding a single serving of dairy cream for hot coffee and hot tea. It would have been used in connection with the Roycroft Inn hotel silver soldered - silver plate and glassware for actual table service. The restaurant was also expanded in 1910 with a beautiful dining porch. With Hubbard's prior connection to Larkin, one can see why he chose buffalo to produce the Inn's hotel china / restaurant ware.

But sadly on May 7th, 1915, Hubbard and his second wife, Alice Moore Hubbard, died (along with scores of others) while aboard the Steamship Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat during the onset of World War I only 20 miles from the coast of Ireland. Hubband's son, Bert Hubbard, continued his family operation of the famous Inn until 1938; when it was sold. After that, the Inn went through various different owners with it eventually closing and its fate seemed uncertain at best.

In 1986 the Roycroft Inn received National Landmark Status. In 1995, the inn reopened with support from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation. Fast forward to now, and today, the inn is a popular destination and is furnished with original and reproduction furniture – including more than one iteration of Roycroft-style reproduction china, also for sale in the inn's gift shop.

The original Buffalo China bears a strong Arts and Crafts influence reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright designs, trimmed in rust with iconic crest almost resembling a Western branded R. It has no cracks, no chips, and is in wonderful condition. Some of the original Buffalo China was more like pottery and suffered from a considerable amount of glaze crazing. This creamer is more of the vintage heavyweight china, but is completely original and authentic. This is also (in my opinion) the hardest to find of the early original patterns.

A most rarest addition to your restaurant creamer, dairy creamers, or high-end restaurant ware collection.

Please note that the photographic image of the dining room's interior at the Roycroft Inn is shown for historical reference purposes only and is not included with this listing.

Buyer to pay the standard shipping fee shown on the listing, which I will determine how and with what service it will be shipped. No returns on any items.

Items can take up to three (3) days to ship (due to my schedule working here at the animal rescue).

Please ask any questions before committing to purchase.

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