A midcentury modern design
enthusiast’s dream, Architectural
Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape (Moncelli Press, 2024) is the
first full history of this celebrated and influential brand. Richly illustrated
with contemporary photography and extensive visual archival material—including
the records of the founders Rita and Max Lawrence, and the personal archives of
designers, art directors, and photographers associated with the company - it
both tells a compelling story and is a valuable resource for collectors and
interior designers.
Join Authors Dan Chavkin,
Jeffrey Head, and Jo Lauria as they share how Architectural Pottery’s strikingly
minimalist designs heralded new domestic housewares that could uniquely accent
the modern home - inside and out. Formally expressive yet accessible, their
refreshingly unembellished, elegant pots and planters were enthusiastically
received by the public upon Architectural Pottery’s launch in 1950, soon
ubiquitous in spaces representing the epitome of modern living.
Highly coveted and prized in
design circles, Architectural Pottery creations were seen in houses by Richard
Neutra, John Lautner, and the historic Case Study Houses, and featured in the
first of MoMA’s legendary Good Design exhibitions alongside now-iconic designs
by Ray and Charles Eames, Alexander Girard, and George Nelson. Over three
decades, Architectural Pottery also developed innovations in stoneware
production, expanded into fiberglass furniture, and included famed furniture
designer Paul McCobb and sculptor David Cressey on its roster of designers.
The publication of this new
book coincides with a major exhibition at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in
Pomona, California.
Chavkin, Head and Lauria on Architectural Pottery—Sunday, October
20th, 2024; 1-2:30 PM Pacific; $5. Go to www.sahscc.org and pay via PayPal; or
mail in order form with check; Zoom link sent upon registration.