Vintage Avon Mount Vernon Cobalt Blue Glass Plate — Fostoria Americana Collector’s Dish, George & Martha Washington

There is something quietly powerful about holding this plate. The cobalt glass catches the light and deepens to near-black in shadow, then flashes brilliant blue when it turns — and there, emerging from the frosted surface, is Mount Vernon. George Washington's home. The place where the man who could have been king chose instead to be a farmer, a citizen, a president who walked away from power. This vintage collector's plate was crafted by the Fostoria Glass Company — one of America's most celebrated glassmakers — for Avon Products during the Bicentennial era of the late 1970s. Fostoria, founded in 1887 in Fostoria, Ohio, and later based in Moundsville, West Virginia, was renowned for its elegant pressed and blown glassware. At its peak, the company employed over 1,000 artisans and its pieces graced tables and mantels across America for nearly a century before closing in 1986. This plate represents some of Fostoria's finest decorative pressed glass work: the scalloped oval form, the crisp embossed detail, the rich depth of the cobalt blue — all hallmarks of quality American glassmaking. The design centers on Mount Vernon, Washington's beloved plantation estate on the Potomac River in Virginia. Washington inherited the property and transformed it over decades from a modest 3,500-square-foot farmhouse into an 11,000-square-foot Georgian mansion — a labor of love that occupied him between the battles, the presidency, and the founding of a nation. The estate has been preserved since 1858 by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and remains the most-visited historic home in America, welcoming over a million visitors each year.

Why Now: America's 250th Anniversary

• On July 4, 2026, our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — the Semiquincentennial.
• Mount Vernon is unveiling a revitalized George Washington exhibition this spring.
• The U.S. Mint has released special anniversary coinage featuring Washington and Valley Forge.
• Museums from the Smithsonian to Colonial Williamsburg are mounting landmark Americana exhibitions.
• Interest in American heritage collectibles is surging.

This plate, born from one Bicentennial celebration, finds new resonance in another. It is a beautiful, tangible connection to the founding story — and at nearly fifty years old, it has become a collectible in its own right. Display it on a plate stand in a study or library, use it as an elegant vanity dish, or give it as a meaningful gift to the history lover, Washington admirer, or Americana collector in your life. Curated with care for The Vintage Rose Boutique.

Details

• Maker: Fostoria Glass Company, for Avon Products, Inc.
• Era: Bicentennial period, circa 1976-1979
• Material: Pressed cobalt blue glass
• Design: Frosted embossed image of Mount Vernon with "Mount Vernon" in script and "George and Martha Washington" text
• Form: Oval dish with scalloped edge
• Dimensions: Approximately 9" long x 6.5" wide
• Marks: "Avon" embossed on reverse
• Original use: Collector's plate / decorative soap dish
• Display: Plate stand, vanity, shelf, or wall mount

Condition

Excellent vintage condition. No chips, cracks, or repairs. The glass is clean and bright with crisp, well-defined embossed detail throughout. Light wear consistent with age may be present. Please review all photographs carefully — the item pictured is the item you will receive.