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From
the 1930s to the 1960s numerous potteries in
Southern California turned out some of the finest
figural pottery ever made in America. For decades
these beautiful wares lingered in obscurity,
but now they have rocketed to the forefront
of collectibility. They are illustrated here
in California Potteries: The Complete Book
with over 800 color photographs covering more
than 75 companies including Brayton Laguna,
Kay Finch, and Hedi Scoop. Lesser known companies
like DeLee Art, Robert Simmons, and Walker-Renaker
are represented too. Unrestrained by tradition,
California pottery has generated some of the
most imaginative shapes and designs in American
ceramics. The period covered by this book covers
an astonishing period of design creativity,
renowned designers including Ernest Batchelder,
Rockwell Kent, and Edith Heath, and producers
like Bauer, Catalina, and Vernon Kilns made
remarkable contributions to the spirit of California
pottery. Their work includes not only the strikingly
colorful dishware we have come to associate
with California, but also agricultural pottery,
garden pottery, and decorative and architectural
tiles. Each piece reflects the flavor and style
of the times - from the sober Arts and Crafts
and romantic Mission styles in the teens and
twenties, to the starkly aerodynamic Modernist
style of the forties and fifties. It's this
ingenious take on everyday ware that makes California
pottery a sought after and prized collectible
today. Information about the potteries, tips
for collectors, and a realistic price guide
make this an indispensable book for collectors.
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