This Franciscan Apple teacup and saucer set carries the pattern that helped define mid-century American dinnerware — hand-painted, deeply embossed, and instantly recognizable.
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Maker: Franciscan / Gladding McBean (Interpace)
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Pattern: Apple
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Materials: Earthenware, hand painted
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Quantity: Set of 3 cups and saucers
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Dimensions: Saucers approx. 6.0 inches in diameter; Cups 2.75 inches tall, 3.5 inches in diameter (top opening)
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Origin: California, USA
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Era: Vintage, 1953 - 1958
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Condition: Excellent vintage — only one crazing line inside one of the cups, otherwise, no issues noted. Hand wash recommended. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.
Red apples and green leaves rise in high relief against warm off-white earthenware, with the branch-shaped handle offering a natural finger groove. The backstamp reads Made in California, U.S.A., hand decorated, Gladding McBean & Co., Oven-Safe — a mark used only between February 1953 and July 1958, which lets us date this set with confidence.
A lovely set for a collector rounding out their Franciscan Apple collection, or for anyone who appreciates true American craft — fitting for a birthday, housewarming, or Fall table.
Franciscan's Apple pattern debuted in 1940, marking the company's shift from solid-colored art pottery to richly embossed, hand-painted dinnerware. Alongside Desert Rose, its sister pattern, Apple became Gladding McBean's defining work — produced for decades across multiple owners and continents, though these California-made originals remain the most sought after by collectors today.
Browse our shop for more Franciscan Apple and Desert Rose pieces to round out your collection.
