Good Luck China?

The pattern also has two swastikas on it, which is now a very stigmatized symbol in the western world due to its use in Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 40s.

Thompson Pottery, USA had a Francis pattern but that is not it. There was a pottery in Derbyshire, England owned by Joseph Thompson 1818-1850 but yours does not look that old and most of their pottery was an impressed mark early on and then a printed with his full name and city. Also there was a Pauline Thompson in England 1950-? but that is not her mark. It seems that everything on the plate is a good luck symbol so the swastikas are as well. Red poppies are considered good luck in Love, Money, and health. Only 1 is like the Nazi swastika. I imagine this plate was made before they used it in a negative way. Neat find.

I remember seeing a documentary on ancient towers about 3 years ago. In one segment, while doing an interview with the local guide in an area like Nepal, they did a brief (one line) explanation of the swastika displayed in the background. It is a religious/good luck symbol from long before WWII. "http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_Nazi_symbol_mean" Does a nice explanation of it. I am in no way an expert on plates and china, is it not Thompson Pottery works and Francis the designer/potter? That company has been around long enough to possible. 250chief

Because of its use by Hitler and the Nazis many people in the West since the 1930's associate this ancient symbol primarily with Nazism, and white supremacy in general. This was not always the case, as the Swastika is a "Good Luck" or religious symbol in many cultures of the world, including Native Americans, Hindus and Buddhists. The use of this symbol dates back thousands of years to the Neolithic period. This symbol was also used in North America up until the 1920's as decoration on mundane household items such as pottery, Native rugs and jewelery. The best way to tell if an item has a Nazi Swastika is to simply look at it's position , the Nazi version nearly always right facing, shown at a " Points Up" 45 degree angle. Lovejoy