Oklahoma City Souvenir State Plate Made By Vernon Kilns, U.S.A.

MID-AMERICA + THE PLAINS. 
Home Decor / Kitchen Decor, Decorative Plate, Souvenir, c. 1950s. 

Rendered with etchings done in a red tone, this vintage transferware plate is a showpiece of Oklahoma history. From a bevy of structures like the skyscrapers of Oklahoma City, the Will Rogers and Pioneer Women’s monuments, Federal and municipal buildings, and derricks on an oil field, to an image of ‘The Run’ - an 1889 land rush accompanying the opening of Oklahoma for settlement - the design covers it all. Vernon Kilns, U.S.A., the company which made this and a whole collection of state plates, even included the Sooner State’s floral emblem along the rim. Oklahoma does also have an official state flower, a rose named especially for it, yet mistletoe is what decorates the edge of this piece. It was chosen as the area’s emblem when the first settlers came to know it as one of the only green plants available over the harsh winters. A final drawing to be discussed is of Sequoyah, or the “Red Man” as he is unfortunately called here. An accomplished Cherokee leader who also went by the name George Gist, he was silversmith, painter, and developer of a syllabary of his native language. In his long life, Sequoyah took many roles in Cherokee society and made a lot of places his home. Of which, the territory that eventually became the 46th state is particularly significant. The cabin where he worked on his Cherokee syllabary is maintained as an historic site by the town of Sallisaw. In addition, a State of Sequoyah, to be under Native American constitution and governance, had once been proposed for this very region. But the effort lacked support by Congress, and in 1907 the land was annexed by the United States. Well, okay. Even if efforts made under Sequoyah’s name did not result in that immediately hoped for outcome, he was still revered among the Cherokee. And as Sooner humorist Will Rogers, also featured on this plate, put it: “What constitutes a life well spent, anyway? Love and admiration from your fellow men is all that any one can ask.” [Condition: Used Good. Three chips on the back. No cracking.] 

Condition: Used Very Good. 
Local / Regional Attractions. 
Dimensions: 10.5” diameter x 1” deep / 1.25 lb