Johnson Bros "The Friendly Village"

Johnson Brothers The Friendly Village was introduced in 1953 and became one of the company’s most enduring and recognisable tableware patterns. The design features a variety of village scenes across the service, including cottages, bridges, mills, lanes and snow-covered buildings, all brought together by the distinctive brown floral and leaf border.

For customers looking to replace a dinner plate, add extra bowls, find cups and saucers, or build up a larger service, The Friendly Village is one of the most practical discontinued Johnson Brothers patterns to collect. Scene names can be particularly important, as the same type of piece, such as a dinner plate, may have been produced with more than one village scene.

The Johnson Brothers reference book records a wide range of pieces, including square salad plates and cereal bowls, along with extensive giftware and special items. The range also became especially popular in the United States, although it is still regularly found and collected in the UK.

Because The Friendly Village was made over many decades, variations in backstamp, colour depth, scene placement and later production can occur. As with all discontinued Johnson Brothers tableware, availability varies by piece and scene, so please check our current stock if you are trying to complete, extend or carefully match an existing The Friendly Village service.