Royal Vienna porcelain often imitated

Who made Royal Vienna porcelain? Collectors today call many pieces Royal Vienna because they have the famous beehive mark on the bottom or because they are decorated in the style now considered Royal Vienna. Plates and vases have elaborate gold border decorations and realistic, romantic portraits or scenes and the beehive mark. But it is the most imitated mark on porcelain. And the borders and scenes can be hand-painted by skilled artists or just decals that resemble the originals.

The Imperial State Manufactory Vienna (the original Royal Vienna porcelain works) made porcelains from 1744 to 1864, when it closed. The firm, owned by royalty, used the beehive or shield mark. After 1864, many other small factories in Austria were permitted to use the name “Royal Vienna,” and they often used the underglaze beehive mark. Several factories from other countries bought the old molds and made reproductions.

The Vienna Porcelain Factory Augarten, started in 1922 and still operating, considers itself to be the successor to the original royal factory. But collectors want the quality, artist-decorated pieces, and some of the best were made by the small companies working after 1864.

Beware! The original porcelain works never used the words “Royal Vienna” or “Vienna” as a mark.

Q: I have a strange antique silver serving piece with an end that looks like part of a tube. I have been told it was used to make holes in cheese. Any idea why?

A: You must have a Stilton cheese scoop. Stilton cheese was first made in England in the early 18th century. Frances Pawlett made the blue cheese and sold it to her brother-in-law for his inn in Stilton. It was a coaching stop, and travelers referred to the cheese as the cheese from Stilton. It became popular and was made in other nearby counties, but was always called Stilton.

Mrs. Pawlett made the cheese in 16-pound wheels that were carried in special Stilton market baskets. The cheese was kept at home in a Stilton Cheese Bell, a round dish with a dome cover. When served at a formal Victorian dinner, the wheel was put on the table, then pieces were scooped out with the silver Stilton cheese scoop.

Today, we think the scooped wheel is messy and wasteful, and the cheese tends to dry out, so the scoop is not used often. There are hundreds of variations of cheese scoops made of silver or silver plate. They cost from $50 to $1,000, depending on the design and maker.

Most Stilton cheese is served today with a special server that resembles a sharp cake server. It cuts neat wedges. True Stilton cheese is made by only six creameries in England.

Tip: Yesterday’s newspaper can be used to polish water spots off chrome.

Ralph and Terry Kovel’s column is syndicated by King Features. Write to: Kovels, (Las Vegas Review-Journal), King Features Syndicate, 888 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10019.