According to ceramics historians, the Franciscan Desert Rose pattern is one of the most popular American dinnerware patterns ever. Franciscan designed this inimitable pattern in 1941 along with its famous Apple pattern. Franciscan Desert Rose featured raised relief tiles and hand-painted designs. These designs reflected a true Southwestern flair.

Other contemporaneous Franciscan designs received critical adulation as well. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted an extensive exhibition featuring the design work of Frederic and Mary Grant, the Franciscan designers who helped to popularize the Desert Rose line. Original pieces from the first manufacture can be worth up to a few thousand dollars to collectors.

Given that Franciscan Desert Rose pieces are handcrafted, you should follow a few common sense rules of care. First of all, don't soak your ceramics in water to clean them. Soaking can introduce water into the pores of the material and lead to cracking, warping, discoloration, and disfiguring. Invest in a small pottery brush with fine bristles, and use extremely gentle detergent to keep your pieces clean.

You may also want to get an aerosol air pressure canister to blow dust and dirt off of your ceramics. This method of cleaning is safer than washing. Make sure never to apply caustic or scratchy cleansers, like Brillo pads or SOS pads, to the surface of your Desert Rose dishes. Also, keep dinnerware stored securely in your cabinets, away from pets and small children.