- Home
- Explore
- Directories
- Library
- Museum
- Special hyalyn Exhibition*
- Collections
- The atomicscott Collection
- The Duke Collection
- The Fiestaphile Collection
- The Gary Klun Collection
- The jwr3060 Collection
- The Madbrit Collection
- The mccormickstudio Collection
- The mod mod world Collection
- The modlectic Collection
- The nostalgiaholic Collection
- The Pratt Collection
- The raymordq Collection
- The Studiosmith Collection
- The style-invasion Collection
- The tennebrac Collection
- The trittium Collection
- The youngmoderns Collection
- Exhibitions
- Legacy Cybermuseum
- Sections
Welcome to modish!
Modish is a social-networking community of modern design enthusiasts from all walks of life. Recent finds and prized possessions are shared by members in a format resembling show & tell. We are a good-spirited, fun group and the site is an invaluable, ever-expanding and evolving resource for 20th century modern design enthusiasts. Posts on all forms of vintage modern design are welcome (Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mid-century Modern, and more). Your active participation makes this all work.
When you register and sign in, you can participate, search content, and access almost 10,000 pages. Sign in to remove the welcome and login boxes.
User login
Desert Mist by Southern California Pottery Company
Originally called California Rustic in a Giftwares and Housewares full page trade advertisement, this line was introduced c.1947. Shortly after its introduction, demand was so great for the line that the Southern California Pottery Co. plant had to be increased in size by 5,000 square feet to accommodate demand. "Lovely as the Sun-swept California Desert." "A truly enchanting dinnerware California designed for modern living." "California inspired...its simplicity of line and graceful beauty affords a charming setting for breakfast, luncheon, or formal dinner...for patio or buffet. A truly 'round-the-clock' dinnerware. Moderately priced." Another one-liner from the Desert Mist brochure by the Southern California Pottery Co. describes the available colors--Sand, Sienna (a burnt coral), Grey Mist, Chartreuse, and Blue (also known as Blue Mist)--as "true desert colors." In the trades, very early in the line's life, the Chartreuse glaze was called Desert Mist. Shortly after introduction, the line name was changed to Desert Mist and Chartreuse replaced Desert Mist as the new glaze name. The Sienna decoration, which was originally introduced as Coral, was added the following year to the line. 
While the cream and sugar shapes in this line are a bit frumpy for my own sense of mid-century modern, I have always been intrigued by some of the elongated serving pieces in this line. Here you see a recent find in Chartreuse, the Desert Mist tea pot. I have looked for years to find one of these in perfect shape and reasonably priced. This tea pot was acquired on a trip to Delaware. The ferry trip from Cape May across the Delaware River with friends cost $38 each way, making me rethink how great a deal my $10 find really was. Even so, dishing with friends is always the real treat. Relish platter with coaster (photo on the right). Third Eye Wide Open or Big Head Big Heart or Ceramic Bob Square Head. 
