Colorful California Dinnerware

A Special Exhibition at
Gifts of Art Gallery, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan
Taubman Health Center North 3D Gallery
1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48109
September 7 – December 3, 2021, 8 am – 8 pm
med.umich.edu/goa/exhibits.htm | 734.936.ARTS (2787)

There is nothing more inviting to the diner than California-designed dinnerware!  The International Museum of Dinnerware Design celebrates this exuberance with the special exhibition Colorful California Dinnerware, presented as part of the Gifts of Art program at Michigan Medicine, September 7 -December 3, 2021. In 2020, IMoDD received the generous donation of more than 350 dinnerware examples from the private collection of the estate of the late Bill Stern who founded the Museum of California Design in Los Angeles. Designers in this collection include Eva Zeisel, Gale Turnbull, Don Blanding, Rockwell Kent, Tyrus Wong, Dorothy Thorpe, Jane Bennison, Martha Bird, LaGarda Tackett, and Beatrice Wood, among others. A partial list of the manufacturers of these designs include Vernon Kilns, Schmid Porcelain International, Metlox Pottery, Gladding McBean, Wallace China, Vadna of California, Bauer, Pacific Pottery, Hall China, and Winfield Pottery. While not all these designers or manufacturers were chosen for this exhibition, one can see from the examples selected, the forms are innovative, the decorative patterns are spell-binding, and the glazes are frequently bright bright bright.

Vadna, Leucadia, California (1940s-1950s)
William Hardesty Humfreville (1907-1982) and Vadna Elder Humfreville (1914-1998), designers
Vadna of California dinnerware in yellow and gray with some with wooden handles and bases, circa 1950
semi-porcelain, glazed, some with wooden handles and bases
mark:  Vadna of California
IMoDD 2020.131 Bill Stern Collection

Schmid Porcelain International
LaGardo Tackett, designer (American, 1911-1984)
green Schmid Porcelain (International) Tack dinnerware set, 1950s
porcelain, glazed
mark: logo + Schmid Porcelain Tack
IMoDD 2020.133 Bill Stern Collection

Wallace China Co., Huntington Park and Vernon, California (1931-1959)
Martha Bird, designer (American)
Dahlia pattern restaurant ware dinnerware from Wallace China, ca. 1945
restaurant ware china, finger-painted design, glazed
mark:  varies, but many marked Wallace China Dahlia Pattern Design PAT’D
IMoDD 2020.135 Bill Stern Collection

Crown Lynn Potteries, Aukland, New Zealand
Dorothy C. Thorpe (American, 1901-1989)
Dorothy Thorpe dinnerware in Brocade pattern in lavender with teacup with ball handle, 1960s
ceramic, glazed
mark: Brocade Pat No 485 Designed by Dorothy C. Thorpe of California Crown Lynn Potteries New Zealand Detergent Proof Colours
IMoDD 2020.140 Bill Stern Collection

Vernon Kilns, Vernon, California (1931-1958), manufacturer
Rockwell Kent, designer (1882-1971)
hand-tinted Salamina Ware designed by Rockwell Kent for Vernon Kilns on Ultra shape, ca. 1939
earthenware, glazed, hand-tinted
mark: Salamina designed by Rockwell Kent Vernon Kilns Made in U.S.A.
IMoDD 2020.147 Bill Stern Collection

J.A. Bauer Pottery Co., Los Angeles, California
early Bauer bean pot with lid and two handles, hand thrown, white-glazed earthenware storage vessel, decorated with geometric designs in black, green, orange, and white, ca. 1920s
earthenware, hand-painted, glazed
mark: mold marked Bauer 2
IMoDD 2020.154 Bill Stern Collection

J.A. Bauer Pottery Co., Los Angeles, California
early Bauer bean pot with lid and one handle, hand thrown, white-glazed earthenware storage vessel, decorated with orange, green, yellow designs, signed with the hand-painted studio mark of Helen V. Carey, ca. 1920s
earthenware, hand-painted, glazed
mark: (hand-painted signature) Studio of Helen V. Carey
IMoDD 2020.155 Bill Stern Collection

Pacific Clay Products, Pacific Pottery Division, Los Angeles, California, 1916-1942
Pacific Pottery large orange teapot with ribs and lid, 6 orange cups, and one orange sugar with wing-like handles, 1932-1942
earthenware, glazed (radioactive uranium)
marks: teapot “Pacific Made in USA”
IMoDD 2020.178 Bill Stern Collection

Vernon Kilns, Vernon, California (1931-1958), manufacturer
colossal Vernon Kilns Raffia pattern cup and saucer underglaze hand-painted on San Marino shape, 1953
earthenware, underglaze hand-painted, glazed
cup H: 6” Diam: 9.25”
saucer Diam: 15.25”
mark: “underglaze hand-painted Vernon Ware California USA Raffia”
IMoDD 2020.192 Bill Stern Collection

Vernon Kilns, Vernon, California (1931-1958), manufacturer
Ultra California Authentic Vernonware hand-painted red poppy motif water pitcher, signed “Scott Dec 1944” on base
earthenware, hand-painted, glazed
mark: signed “Scott Dec 1944” and “Ultra California Authentic Vernonware Vernon Kilns Calif. Made in U.S.A.”
IMoDD 2020.228 Bill Stern Collection

Wallace China Co., Huntington Park and Vernon, California (1931-1959)
Wallace China color glaze test plate with rainbow of concentric circles, with numbers 123191214…, marked 9/36
vitreous china/restaurantware, glazed
Mark: handwritten underglaze “9/36” and “Wallace China WF”
IMoDD 2020.231 Bill Stern Collection

Wallace China Co., Huntington Park and Vernon, California (1931-1959)
Wallace China color glaze test plate with rainbow of concentric circles, in green and mauve hues, marked 3/36
vitreous china/restaurantware, glazed
Mark: handwritten underglaze “3/36” and “Wallace China PF”
IMoDD 2020.232 Bill Stern Collection

Wallace China Co., Huntington Park and Vernon, California (1931-1959)
Wallace China color glaze test plate with rainbow of concentric circles, in mustard to oranges, greens, blues, to black hues, marked 5/34
vitreous china/restaurantware, glazed
Mark: handwritten underglaze “’M’ Harshaw U.G. colors Chart made by S. Lerner 5/34” (U.G. = under glaze) and “Wallace China 8P”
IMoDD 2020.233 Bill Stern Collection