- Museum number
- 1991,0501.3
- Title
- Series: Tomorrow's Classic
- Description
-
Sugar bowl and cover from tea and dinner-set; earthenware; with matt black glaze; cover glazed white.
- Production date
- 1949-1950 (designed)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 97 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- Text from J. Rudoe, 'Decorative Arts 1850-1950', revised ed. 1994, no. 436.
See also Rudoe 1991, 'Decorative Arts 1850-1950', Cat.333-335 and 358-361. (1989,0107.1-3, 1989,1104.1, 1990,1202.1-4)
Also the revised edition, Rudoe 1994, Cat. 337a-e, 338, 339a-c, 440, 441a-h, 442a-b, 443a-d, 444a-c, 445-8.
In set with 1991,0501.1-9
This was Zeisel's most popular service, without the eccentricities of her earlier 'Town & Country' service of 1946 but retailing a flowing, organic line. 'Tomorrow's Classic' was designed by Zeisel without a pattern and was not immediately put into production. However, Charles Seliger of the Commercial Decal Company thought the forms would be ideally suited for decorated ware and he arranged for Hall China to produce it. The contract required Zeisel and her studio to provide nine patterns the first year and three each subsequent year. 'Fantasy' was inspired by the work of Naum Gabo and was designed by William Katavolos, Ross Littell and Douglas Kelley, students at the Pratt Institute where Zeisel had taught since 1939 (see Montreal 1984, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, 'Designer for Industry', exhibition catalogue, 48 and figs. 64-8). 'Beaux Arts' was designed by Zeisel's assistant, Irene Haas (Montreal 1984, fig. 67). Others were designed by Charles Seliger of Commercial Decal. Fro further discussion and history of Hall China Company, see M. Eidelberg (ed), 'Design 1935-1965. 'What Modern Was', exhibition catalogue, Montreal and New York 1991, 197-8 and 375.
Information supplementary to Rudoe 1991/1994:
For the most recent discussion of 'Tomorrow's Classic', see Pat Kirkham (ed), 'Eva Zeisel: Life, Design, and Beauty', San Francisco 2013, pp. 98-101.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1992 31 Jan-5 Apr, Glasgow, Museum and Art Gallery, The New Look-Design in the Fifties
1991-1992 13 Oct-5 Jan, Manchester, City Art Gallery, The New Look-Design in the Fifties
- Acquisition date
- 1991
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased by Judy Rudoe in New York.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1991,0501.3
