Maximalist - Colorware History & Design

QwkDog 3D Vernon Kilns Harry Bird Heywood-Wakefield

PACIFIC POTTERY HOSTESSWARE

Pacific launched their iconic Hostessware dinnerware line in 1932. In its ten-year run, Pacific produced almost 200 pieces in a wide variety of bright, cheerful colors. Learn more about Hostessware and explore one of the most comprehensive collections in the world.

HOSTESSWARE

DECORATED HOSTESSWARE

The creative talent at Pacific Clay added flair to Hostessware with the 1934 launch of their decorated ware. Pacific produced over 50 different in-glazed designs, many one-of-a-kind, in the few years that the patterns were in production. Delve into this comprehensive pattern guide with close to 200 examples.

DECORATED

COLORWARE DESIGNS

I enjoy creating designs inspired by California colorware. Many of these logo and print designs are available on a variety of items and fabrics through third-party providers like Society6 and Spoonflower. Check out the design portfolio and click-through to purchase items where available.

DESIGN

CALIFORNIA COLORED POTTERY

BAUER POTTERY

Bauer Pottery was founded by John Andrew (J.A.) Bauer in the late 1800s in Paducah, Kentucky. Seeing opportunity in California, he moved the company to the Lincoln Heights district in Los Angeles in 1910 and produced a range of stoneware, kitchenware and gardenware. Their production facility was located at 415-421 West Avenue 33, just a few blocks away from Pacific Clay Products‘ plant #4. The company marketed their first solid-color dinnerware, a plainware line called “California Colored Pottery” in 1930.

Image: Gilbert Rodhe for Heywood-Wakefield: Learn more about this scene

Harry Bird for Vernon Kilns

The artist and potter William “Harry” Bird designed for Vernon Kilns and Bauer in the mid- to late-1930s. Bird pioneered the in-glazing technique of decorating, also used by Pacific Pottery on their decorated ware starting around 1935. All of Harry Bird’s designs were produced on Vernon’s “Montecito” shape (used in Early California and lines). In the few short years he worked at Vernon, he produced dozens of patterns including an expansive “Flower” series with close to 30 different designs.

Image: Harry Bird for Vernon Kilns, “Desert Mallow” carafe and #1 tumbler set

Informal!

Color for Your Table

A Completist’s Guide to Pacific Pottery Hostessware

Want to learn more about Pacific Pottery? Informal is a complete as-we-know it guide to Pacific Pottery and their iconic Hostessware dinnerware line. Meticulously researched and compiled by one of the top Pacific collectors, Informal is an illustrated guide to all of the known Hostessware pieces — including decorated lines — with visuals, designs, and photographs. The book is available as print-on-demand through the online publishing company Blurb.

BUY