GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Although designed in 1931, the Century shape was repeatedly used by Homer Laughlin during the decade as the base for dinnerware of great diversity. The Mexicana pattern was introduced to the market in 1937 on both Century and Homer Laughlin's Kitchen Kraft line. Featuring cacti and Native American pottery, the design was advertised as the one that "started the vogue for the Mexican motif in crockery which has swept the country." [1]
[1] Crockery and Glass Journal 122:5 (May 1938): 10.
Adapted from
Charles L. Venable, Ellen P. Denker, Katherine C. Grier, Stephen G. Harrison, China and Glass in America, 1880-1980: From Tabletop to TV Tray (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000), 460, cat. 169.
NOTES
- Tower Gallery: Latin American Art, 2017.
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Notes/Curatorial Remarks, n.d.; Charles L. Venable, Ellen P. Denker, Katherine C. Grier, Stephen G. Harrison, China and Glass in America, 1880-1980: From Tabletop to TV Tray (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000), 365, cat. 169.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Rhead_Frederick Hurten: ULAN: 500324807
Homer Laughlin China Company: ULAN: 500334813
Cultures
Geography
Staffordshire (county/England): TGN: 7008174
East Liverpool (Ohio/United States): TGN: 2079372
Newell (West Virginia/United States): TGN: 2119374
Process/materials
earthenware: AAT: 300140803
transfer printing: AAT: 300053922
painting (coating): AAT: 300161986
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
ceramics (object genre): AAT: 300151343
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
plates (dishes): AAT: 300042991
dinner plates: AAT: 300042999
dinner services: AAT: 300227296
tableware: AAT: 300043196
decorative arts: AAT: 300054168
modernist (European style): AAT: 300021474
Art Deco (style or movement): AAT: 300021426
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
bands (decorative): DMA
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
circular (shape): AAT: 300263827
squares (geometric figures): AAT: 300055637
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
cacti (cactus / Caryophyllales order): DMA
Caryophyllales (order/plant): AAT: 300375562
deserts: AAT: 300008916
scalloping: AAT: 300165381
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Mexican (North American styles and periods): AAT: 300107963
Native Mexican (North American styles and periods): AAT: 300386455
Southwestern North American styles (Pre-Columbian): AAT: 300016920
decorating (process): AAT: 300056257
design (discipline): AAT: 300054171
advertisements: AAT: 300193993
patterns (design elements): AAT: 300010108
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1997: Dallas Museum of Art, 20th-Century Design Fund (Lorrie Kitchen, dealer) [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Committee on Collections Record (dated December 09, 1997, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- "Mexican" (Mexican) ware was a popular style of casual dinner ware in the early 1930s. U.S. glassmakers and potteries decorated wares with stereotypical images of the American Southwest and Mexico in the 1930s and 1940s.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1997.134
Category
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AND
General Description
Although designed in 1931, the Century shape was repeatedly used by Homer Laughlin during the decade as the base for dinnerware of great diversity. The Mexicana pattern was introduced to the market in 1937 on both Century and Homer Laughlin's Kitchen Kraft line. Featuring cacti and Native American pottery, the design was advertised as the one that "started the vogue for the Mexican motif in crockery which has swept the country." [1]
[1] Crockery and Glass Journal 122:5 (May 1938): 10.
Adapted from
Charles L. Venable, Ellen P. Denker, Katherine C. Grier, Stephen G. Harrison, China and Glass in America, 1880-1980: From Tabletop to TV Tray (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000), 460, cat. 169.
Fun Facts
- "Mexican" (Mexican) ware was a popular style of casual dinner ware in the early 1930s. U.S. glassmakers and potteries decorated wares with stereotypical images of the American Southwest and Mexico in the 1930s and 1940s.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Tower Gallery: Latin American Art, 2017.
- Fun Facts Sources: TMS, Notes/Curatorial Remarks, n.d.; Charles L. Venable, Ellen P. Denker, Katherine C. Grier, Stephen G. Harrison, China and Glass in America, 1880-1980: From Tabletop to TV Tray (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000), 365, cat. 169.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Rhead_Frederick Hurten: ULAN: 500324807
Homer Laughlin China Company: ULAN: 500334813
Cultures
Geography
Staffordshire (county/England): TGN: 7008174
East Liverpool (Ohio/United States): TGN: 2079372
Newell (West Virginia/United States): TGN: 2119374
Process/materials
earthenware: AAT: 300140803
transfer printing: AAT: 300053922
painting (coating): AAT: 300161986
clay: AAT: 300010439
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
ceramics (object genre): AAT: 300151343
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
plates (dishes): AAT: 300042991
dinner plates: AAT: 300042999
dinner services: AAT: 300227296
tableware: AAT: 300043196
decorative arts: AAT: 300054168
modernist (European style): AAT: 300021474
Art Deco (style or movement): AAT: 300021426
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
bands (decorative): DMA
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
circles (plane figures): AAT: 300055627
circular (shape): AAT: 300263827
squares (geometric figures): AAT: 300055637
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
cacti (cactus / Caryophyllales order): DMA
Caryophyllales (order/plant): AAT: 300375562
deserts: AAT: 300008916
scalloping: AAT: 300165381
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Mexican (North American styles and periods): AAT: 300107963
Native Mexican (North American styles and periods): AAT: 300386455
Southwestern North American styles (Pre-Columbian): AAT: 300016920
decorating (process): AAT: 300056257
design (discipline): AAT: 300054171
advertisements: AAT: 300193993
patterns (design elements): AAT: 300010108
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1997: Dallas Museum of Art, 20th-Century Design Fund (Lorrie Kitchen, dealer) [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Committee on Collections Record (dated December 09, 1997, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
number
Equals
1997.134
source file
object_notes_3_c-0328.xml.nores