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Leigh Ware Potters

Another Leigh Ware design in "Ultra" pattern.

Here's another design in Leigh Ware Potters, "Ultra" shape!    I found only one reference to it on the web, calling it "Rooftops", which makes sense.

I imagine this was done at the same time as the other Ultra shapes... 1929-1930.   It reminds me of California, or possibly Italy.  Has anyone any information on this pattern?

 

Fran E.

 

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Average: 5 (4 votes)
mpratt's picture

I really like the decoration

I really like the decoration. The big plate almost looks mission. How do others describe this modern style? How appropriate to post 1929-1930, given we are in that same period, I suspect, financially.

atomicscott's picture

Vernon Kilns

This pattern style reminds me of the WPA-style art and design that was going on in the 1930s--modern, traditional and naive at the same time. It looks similar to the wonderful Vernon Kilns "Going to Town" or "Native American" dinnerware patterns done on the Montecito shape. Although, I am sure that this Leigh Ware dinnerware pre-dates the 1937 Vernon Kilns designs. You can find photographic examples of the Vernon Kilns dinnerware on Tim and Linda Colling's Vernon Kilns website: http://vernonkilns.com

atomicscott's picture

Love it!

I love Leigh Ware and this pattern is just absolutely amazing on it. I love the lanky tree with the birds flying to (or from) it. Thanks for sharing this dinnerware!

mod-mod-world's picture

Art Deco

You can definitely see the Art Deco influence in these shapes with that stair-step edge. It's almost architectural. I wonder how these shapes would look with an abstract Deco decoration. Thanks for the post, these are even older than we usually get to see.

mpratt's picture

20th century modern style intersection

It does seem to represent an intersection of earlier 20th-century modern and traditional styles. I find that I am growing fonder of these more elaborated examples of early 20th century American style.

wadogum's picture

Looks like a Clarice Cliff Design

It looks like Clarice Cliff, right down to the art deco shape. Clarice Cliff was an artist in the 30's in England. She was considered ahead of her time. Your pieces remind me of her line called "Bizarre". Wedgewood still makes reproductions of all her lines. Her original pieces are highly sought after and go for big bucks! I think it could be an "ode" to Clarice Cliff!

Tim Deerr's picture

Re: Leigh Ware Potters

Fran,

Thought folks might like to see the original Leigh Potters ad for "Rooftops" as reproduced in Jo Cunningham's book, Collectors Encylopedia of American Dinnerware : Identification and Values, 2nd ed.   Also note that it appears the ad tends to resolve (for me, at least) the "not so burning"question of whether the 8 and 3/8ths "Ultra" shaped plate was originally manufactured as a "salad"or "luncheon" plate. (I've heard it refered to as either.) The ad certainly seems to suggest it's intended usage was as a luncheon plate.  Thanks to the reference librarian at the Rodman Library in Alliance, OH, for sending me this as background on Leigh Potters.

[curator note: Image removed. Book pages are generally copyrighted and are not permitted on modish without the consent of the copyright owner. Additionally, advertisements from magazines after 1922 are also potentially copyright renewed, so those aren't permitted either without permission. Please refer to the Cornell Copyright Information Center for a good summary on copyrights. FYI, Jo Cunningham's book is a great resource and available through retailers online.]