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Mid-Century Modernist Geometric Lucite Bowl Barware Server, 1970s

About the Item

This sophisticated Mid-Century modernist Lucite or acrylic barware bowl, tray, or serving dish was crafted by Grainware in the 1970s. The serving centerpiece boasts a geometric shape with three carved containers for snacks, olives, nuts, or vegetables and has a tall and sturdy handle. The acrylic has a luxurious weight and crystal-clear transparency, similar to genuine crystal. There is no visible maker's mark. The serving set is in excellent condition, with no pronounced signs of wear. Measurements: 11.50 in wide (29 cm) x 10 in deep (25.5 cm) x 8 in high (20.5 cm). Note: Acrylic was invented in 1902 by Otto Röhm, a German chemist, but its mass production did not begin until 1933 when Röhm GmbH (currently Evonik Degussa GmbH) began to market it under the Plexiglas® brand. Also known as ACRYLITE®, Lucite®, and Perspex®, acrylic is noted for its unparalleled transparency among polymers. It is also BPA-free and a food-grade material commonly used for outdoor tableware. Not long after Plexiglas became available, Plastic Productions Company of Redwood City, CA, began manufacturing housewares using acrylic sheets. These products were primarily black or gray. As a result, the products were initially marketed under the Gray n Ware brand, later changed to Grainware. Charles McCrea, who owned the Plastic Productions Company, was also its chief product designer. In June of 1951, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA) acquired several Grainware products, which remain on display today. In 1971, SiLite Inc. acquired the Plastic Productions Company, a housewares and giftware manufacturer based in Chicago, Illinois. Under its president, Robert Parmacek, SiLite introduced new products made using transparent acrylic sheets under the Grainware brand, which were wildly successful. Consequently, Grainware became known as a brand of predominantly clear acrylic products. The next transformation of the Grainware brand came in the late 1970s when Mr. Parmacek changed the production process from vacuum forming of acrylic sheets to injection molding of acrylic resins. The new technique enabled Grainware to mass-produce intricate designs, cementing its reputation as a high-end brand of unique giftware and housewares. In 1991, Carlisle Companies Inc. acquired SiLite Inc. and the Grainware brand, but Jolly Tone remained the primary manufacturer of Grainware products. In 2012, Jolly Tone bought the Grainware brand in partnership with William Bounds Ltd of Torrance, California, to improve logistical management and consolidate marketing efforts. Over the last thirty years, Grainware has enjoyed a reputation as a high-end crystalline acrylic production that combines unique and technically challenging designs. Each Grainware product is a piece of functional art made of acrylic, created with care and precision.

Similar to:

General Decoration (Maker)

Dimensions:

Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Depth: 10 in (25.4 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Acrylic,Lucite

Place of Origin:

Italy

Period:

1970-1979