butter-dish
- Museum number
- 1988,0117.2
- Title
- Series: Casual China
- Description
-
Butter dish; high-fired earthenware, cast, in the form of a shallow tray and domed lid with pinched-in grips glazed in 'Sugar White'.
- Production date
-
1946 (designed)
-
1946-1965 (produced circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 7 centimetres
-
Length: 20 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- See also 1988,0117.1
See also 1988,0118.1-2
See also 1989,0108.1-3
See also 1988,0116.1
In set with 1989,0710.1
Text from J. Rudoe, 'Decorative Arts 1850-1950. A catalogue of the British Museum collection'. 2nd ed. no. 326.
For a full discussion of Russel Wright and 'American Modern' dinner ware see curator's comments for Cat. no. 319 (1988.0117.1)
Like 'American Modern', 'Casual China' comprised inventive shapes with exciting colours, but in general the shapes are less exaggerated, being designed for easy stacking and resistance to damage. Russel Wright and his wife were pictured in 'china-breaking' sessions to show how durable it was (W.J. Hennessey, 'Russel Wright: American designer', Gallery Association of New York State, Cambridge Mass. 1983, 8) and this feature became a significant selling-point. Some of the shapes were redesigned in the 1950s, but the pinch-grips are characteristic of the original designs. For further discussion, see Hennessey, 55, 58-9; A. Kerr, 'Russel Wright: Designs for the American table', Paducah, Kentucky 1985, 45-57.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1988
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1988,0117.2
