Canadian Pacific Railway Dining Car Relish Tray Sovereign Potters Hamilton Hotel China – Mid Century Railroad Restaurant Ware

This is a vintage oval relish tray used in the dining car service of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The tray is made of heavy restaurant-grade hotel china and bears the green “Canadian Pacific Dining Car Service” crest on the rim.

The piece was manufactured by Sovereign Potters Ltd. of Hamilton, Ontario, whose maple-leaf backstamp appears on the base. Sovereign Potters was founded in 1933 and became one of Canada’s major producers of dinnerware as well as as institutional dinnerware. In 1947 the firm was acquired by Johnson Bros. of England and continued producing dinnerware until 1958.

The long narrow form was used in railway dining service as a relish tray, typically for celery, olives, pickles, or other accompaniments served alongside meals in the dining car.

Railroad restaurant ware like this was designed for heavy service and durability, making surviving pieces with clear logos increasingly sought after by collectors of railway memorabilia and hotel china.

Measurements

Length: 11"
Width: 4 3/4"
Height: 1 1/2"

Condition:  Excellent condition with the exception of some brownish staining to the unglazed foot on the underside - a bleaching would most likely eliminate this.

This is a rather unusual form, at least I can’t find any other examples - nice addition to a collection!