Wilton's History of the  PLOUGH  Pattern:

"The Plough Tavern series is patterned after a piece made by Benjamin and Joseph Harbeson  (1793-1808 being the time during which they were pewterers) in Philadelphia, PA.  The plate which the Wilton pattern makers reprocuced is in the collection of the Plough Tavern restoration in York, PA.   The series was introduced in the mid 1960's and remains as a classic style almost 50 years later.  Its simplicity and adaptability are at home almost anywhere. ...  It has been photographed extensively in national publications and was made famous by a photo of it on the table of the American White House Chief of Staff meetings that was widely published during the Carter, Reagan and Bush[1] presidencies."

PLOUGH is one of Wilton's earliest, best known and most popular, of all Wilton's patterns.  Due to it's exquisitely plain and simple lines, Plough will blend well into any setting - be it a family gathering, or a very elegant dinner.   And so thought our country's White House, as it was a featured dinnerware during 3 administrations. 

In brief,  Plough plates, bowls, and trays are totally plain with only a fine groove near the outer edge.   As in life, all things have an exception and in Plough, this groove is missing from both the Small (12 3/8"),  and Large (14.5") Chargers. 

     Plate edge with groove

In the beginning, the "Plough Tavern" series consisted mostly of plates and bowls.

                         

Wilton's 1979 catalog lists the following pieces as  "PLOUGH TAVERN"   [the casseroles were simply round bowls] :

• CHARGER  14.5" 
• DINNER PLATE  11"  
• SALAD PLATE  7 7/8"
• SAUCER/BREAD PLATE  6"
• CASSEROLE    9.5"   
• PEDASTAL CASSEROLE  9.5"  
• VEGETABLE CASSEROLE  8 3/8"   
• SOUP BOWL  7"
• MUG    4.5"      cap. 13 oz.  

The MUG, has an atypically ornate, scroll-type handle and the body is curved:

      The only  PLOUGH TAVERN Mug                      

 

Although titled only  "TAVERN",  this non-conforming pitcher with a triple reed does not carry "Plough" in it's title in 1979, nor does it to this day:

   "TAVERN"  Pitcher, cap. 2 quarts

 

Wilton's 1988 catalog additionally lists in PLOUGH:

• BUTTER DISH  7.75"
• MEDIUM TRAY  [Oblong]  15.5"

Wilton's 1989 catalog also lists as PLOUGH:

• SMALL CHARGER  12 3/8"

Wilton's 1990 catalog lists "New"  in PLOUGH:

• WINE BOTTLE COASTER   6.75"   
• VEGETABLE BOWL  10.5"
• SOUP BOWL with a Wide edge  7"

There are NO  "PLOUGH TAVERN"  goblets, salt/pepper shakers, creamer/sugars, coffee/tea pots, bread-trays, tureens,  candleholders, ash trays, or unique serving pieces, titled by Wilton in the "PLOUGH TAVERN"  pattern.  If you see any so-named, they are mis-claimed.

Wilton's  very popular plain goblets, WATER (7") and matching WINE (5"),  are often incorrectly attributed to the Plough pattern.   Although they compliment perfectly, Wilton did not title them Plough or Tavern, but only  "WATER GOBLET"  and  "WINE GOBLET".

Later,  as rarely done in the past,  Wilton re-named a few of their plain rimmed, no-design TRAYS and added "Plough"  to their title.

On occassion when creating a Commemorative or Holiday plate, Wilton would use the plain Plough plate as its' base.

The Plough Tavern series was made in both of Wilton's finishes,  Polished and Matte.

Too often Ebayers may erroneously claim various pieces of Wilton Armetale are "PLOUGH"  or  "PLOUGH TAVERN".   In part this may be because of the pattern's  popularity, or mis-information.  But naming them wrongly does not make it so,  and incorrect labeling mis-leads and perpetuates the confusion.

And just a little about the pattern's namesake, the historic Plough Tavern in York, PA ... 

The building was constructed in 1741 on the same site as the General Horatio Gates House which was built later.  Also known as the Golden Plough Tavern, it was designed by Martin Eichelberger to be a tavern, and it remained one through Colonial times and long thereafter.   Architecturally, it is in the Germanic Half-Timber style, reminiscent of 18th century Black Forest construction.   It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

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[ WARNING:   eBay's software randomly places ads for currently running auctions whose titles include the words  "Plough"  or  "Tavern",  in a vertical column, along the right side of this web page, entitled:  "Items from eBay sellers".   Those items/titles/photos, more often than not, tend to be mis-representations, and not true PLOUGH pattern items.     

Generally, at best,  wrongful claims are from ignorance, or at worst, from search manipulation with guilty knowledge.  These ads were not placed here by the author, and should not be considered as accurate examples of Plough Tavern.]

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