Franciscan Apple 5-Piece Place Setting

by Franciscan

Product Features

• Set consists of 1 dinner plate, 1 salad plate, 1 teacup, 1 saucer and 1 soup/cereal bowl.
• Dishwasher, Microwave, and Freezer Safe
• Introduced in 1940
• Made in China
• Dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000050993
• Item model number: 5-27001-0233
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,225 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Part of one of the most popular dinnerware patterns in American history, this five-piece place setting exemplifies the informal grace of Southwestern hospitality. First made in California and now produced in various countries, Franciscan dinnerware achieved immediate popularity when it appeared in the late 1930s and ranks as a prized collectible, particularly the American-made pieces (pre-1984). Apple (1940) and Desert Rose (1941) are the only continuously produced Franciscan patterns. Today's Franciscan dinnerware (the name honors colonial California's mission-founding priests) fulfills contemporary expectations, going safely into the dishwasher, microwave, and freezer. The Apple pattern's subtly painted red apples and green leaves are set against a sand background. The set consists of a 10-3/4-inch dinner plate, an 8-inch salad plate, a 6-inch soup/cereal bowl, and a 6-ounce cup with a 5-inch saucer. --Fred Brack

What’s in the Box
1 place setting. Place setting consists of: 10-3/4-inch dinner plate; 8-inch salad plate; 6-inch soup/cereal bowl; 6-ounce cup; 5-inch saucer. 5 pieces total.

Product Description

On the first day of January 1940, Apple was introducedas Gladding McBean's first pattern to have hand painted decoration on an embossed body. The design of the Apple collection has a red, green and brown apple decoration on a sand colored base. The apple design is in a hand-painted style of ripe red apples and green leaves with brown accents that parovide a warm sense of Fall year round. The 5 piece place setting consists of a dinner palte, salad plate, teacup and saucer and fianlly a soup/cereal bowl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Memories, December 30, 2000

By 

Linda Frey (Gillette, WY, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franciscan Apple 5-Piece Place Setting (Kitchen)

My mother had a set of Franciscan Apple dinnerware as I was growing up, though I never thought too much about what I was eating off of at the time. Later, as a wife and mother myself, I was looking for a theme around which to decorate my kitchen. We had just moved to Appleton, WI (16 years ago) so I decided to use an "apple" theme, w/o even connecting the idea with my mom's dishes. I was frankly surprised to visit my parents and become reacquainted with the Franciscan dishes. Over the years I've collected innumerable apple items, but my goal is to have a set of Franciscan apple dishes of my own! They do chip, but they last forever and retain their color beautifully.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but they crack & chip over time. (3 to 4 stars), March 5, 2005

By 

Groovy Vegan (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)   

This review is from: Franciscan Apple 5-Piece Place Setting (Kitchen)

I've had a full set of Franciscan apple-pattern dishes for 20 years. I've also added some serving pieces in this pattern--a large oval flat dish, serving bowl, 2-compartment oblong serving bowl, and even a Franciscan Apple salt and pepper set shaped like apples. I still like the bright, beautiful apple pattern, which has not faded a bit in 20 years--particularly in the fall when it looks most in season.

However, over time, about 25% of the dishes and bowls have developed cracks or chips. This doesn't come from dropping or mishandling the dishes in any way, just from normal wear and tear. In addition to actual cracks in some dishes, some of the paint has developed "crinkles." Also, the bowls tend to be on the small side compared to other dish sets I've seen such as the Fiestaware. I rarely use the teacups, which are too small to be of practical use to me.

When deciding whether or not to buy these (or any other dishes), I suggest taking a good look at the pattern, preferably in person. Is it something you can live with for a long time? Is the bowl large enough for your cereal, soup, or salad, or do you feel like you'll be getting endless refills? And when deciding on Franciscan-ware, I would definitely factor in the fact that these dishes crack and chip over time.

P.S. Franciscan dishes made after 1984, including mine, were made in England. Prior to that they were made in the USA.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS VINTAGE PATTERN, April 21, 2006

By 

Apple Fan (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franciscan Apple 5-Piece Place Setting (Kitchen)

We inherited a collection of vintage Franciscan Apple that have decorated our china hutch for almost 20 years. Recently I searched for an everyday dinnerware for my family of 5. After weeks of searching, I chose the "still available after 65 years" Apple pattern. In addition to the microwave, dishwasher safe, freezer safe attributes, I love the fact that these dishes are NORMAL size. My service for 12 actually fits in the cabinet and in the dishwasher. The dishes are smaller and lighter weight than most patterns available today. Hurray! Who needs a coffee cup that is so large you can't drink it before it gets cold or a cereal bowl that looks like a mixing bowl. The lighter weight is easier for children to handle so we have few accidents. And, I love the variety of open stock accessories still available. After 20 years, we still love MeMa's old Apple Dishes...