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Sauceboat and underplate ("American Modern" Dinnerware)

A work made of glazed earthenware.

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  • A work made of glazed earthenware.

Date:

1937–59

Artist:

Russel Wright
American, 1904–1976
Made by Steubenville Pottery
Steubenville, Ohio

About this artwork

An ardent promoter of modern design, Russel Wright developed his American Modern line of dinnerware in 1937, which included serving pieces such as this sauceboat. Wright claimed that the organic shapes of the pattern reflected each piece’s function, and that muted colors such as seafoam blue were used in order to “dramatize” the service of food. Although Wright designed the line in 1937, American Modern was not produced until 1939, because of the skepticism of potential manufacturers during the Great Depression. Nonetheless, it has proved to be one of the most popular ceramic patterns ever created.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of the Americas

Artist

Russel Wright (Designer)

Title

Sauceboat and underplate ("American Modern" Dinnerware)

Place

East Liverpool (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

c. 1937–1959

Medium

Glazed earthenware

Dimensions

Sauce boat: 6.4 × 22.9 × 16.5 cm (2 1/2 × 9 × 6 1/2 in.); Underplate: 2.5 × 27.6 × 15.9 cm (1 × 10 7/8 × 6 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Beryl C. Michels

Reference Number

1995.251a-b

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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