| Abstract: |
When Russel Wright's American Modern dinnerware first appeared in 1939, it brought unfussy elegance straight to the table. Each piece, designed with the eye and hand in mind, presented a wonderfully refined silhouette -- a creamer as stout as a Disney dwarf, a water pitcher as sleek as a heron in flight. Manufactured until 1959 by Steubenville Pottery in Ohio, American Modern became one of the best-selling tableware lines in history. After a lackluster attempt by Oneida to bring American Modern to the masses via Bed Bath and Beyond in 2002 (curves were deleted, sizes amped up, and the 16 new, uninflected colors were reminiscent of Necco Wafers), Russel Wright Studios -- under the direction of the designer's daughter, Annie Wright, and the industrial designer Patrick Dickson -- is taking American Modern back into its own hands. A collaboration with Bauer Pottery of Los Angeles, the new version captures the delicate forms and luminous palette of the originals, including radiant chartreuse and sea-foam blue in newly formulated glazes. ''We also thought it was important to include Russel's perfect tea tumbler,'' Dickson says. ''Because sustainable design isn't just about recyclables. It's about good design that can go on forever.'' This time around, let's hope so. SUSAN MORGAN [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
