US Navy Mess Hall Dinner Plate Syracuse China 1942

U.S. Navy mess hall dinner plate with an anchor insignia. 

The stamp “O.P. CO Syracuse China W-11” comes from the Onondaga Pottery Company (O.P. Co.), which later became widely known as Syracuse China.

9" Diameter

Breaking it down:

• O.P. CO → Onondaga Pottery Company (original corporate name).

• Syracuse China → Their brand name, used widely on commercial, railroad, hotel, and U.S. military dinnerware.

• W-11 → This is a date code. Syracuse China used a letter-number system to identify month and year of production.

The Code:

• W = 1942

• 11 = November

Details:

• Anchor Symbol: The simple blue anchor at the top is a standard emblem used on U.S. Navy-issued tableware. It signified naval property and was especially common on enlisted mess china.

• Design: Heavy ceramic construction with a blue line rim. This design was practical, durable, and meant to withstand daily use at sea.

• Purpose: This is a flat dinner plate, part of the Navy’s mess hall set used by sailors for general meals.

Context:

• Unlike the more ornate wardroom (officer) china with gold trim and crests, this style was strictly utilitarian.

• Plates like this were in service from WWII through the Cold War and were produced by various American china manufacturers under Navy contracts.

• The anchor-marked dinnerware is now collectible naval memorabilia.