Friday, September 18, 2009

Bauer Pottery




In 1996 when I went to my boyfriend's house for dinner for the first time, I was delighted by the dishes he used, but had an interesting feeling about the dinner ware of his choice. It was blue greenish, somewhat similar to the theme color used by Tiffany & Co. Specifically, I was uncomfortable with the color of the dinner plates. That color reminded me of the same color as a cold medicine I often took when I was a kid. Therefore, it brought back a memory of bitter taste.
After so many years, I am still using the same dinner plates, because I am now married to the man, Mr. Kajima who owns those plates.
I suspect they are the imitation of the Ringware line of theBauer Pottery.



Many years ago, I visited the Laguna Vintage American Pottery Shop in Seattle. That was when I saw the original copy of the plates. Ringwares are with concentric circles which can be easily mass produced and sold inexpensively. This line was introduced after the Depression, and was a success.
These ringwares are stonewares which are durable for everyday usage. The form is simple with pure functionality which are the characters of American ware.
After the owner of the Bauer pottery passed away, Frederick Hurten Rhead, the designer of the Ringware line produced another similar line of pottery, the Fiesta dinnerware which is in art deco
styling with bold, bright colors.
Seeing these originals, they remind me of the colorful sky of Southwestern states.
Last week I went to the Laguna Vintage American Pottery Shop with guests, and was so delighted to see the colorful Bauer Pottery again.
Perhaps I am just preparing myself to go through the upcoming depressing weather of Seattle!

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