Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces by Russel Wright for Steubenville
View Similar Items
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces by Russel Wright for Steubenville
About the Item
- Creator:Russel Wright (Designer),Steubenville (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)Width: 10 in (25.4 cm)Depth: 12 in (30.48 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 5
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1546234331512
Russel Wright
While industrial designer Russell Wright may be known to modern furniture enthusiasts for his streamlined end tables, dining chairs and other pieces, he is universally revered for a line of tableware he created called American Modern. Efficient, practical, and striking in their elegant forms and warm colors, the American Modern ceramic pieces, which included bowls, pitchers, dishes, and other items, became the best-selling dinnerware of all time. Today, vintage Russell Wright American Modern tableware is an evergreen favorite of art collectors and interior designers alike.
Born in 1904 in Ohio, Wright was surrounded by inspiration for the furniture he would one day design. He was raised in a Quaker household and grew up with the spare, meticulously handcrafted furniture for which the Quakers are known. As a young man, he studied art and sculpture at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and the Art Students League of New York, going on to study law at Princeton University in New Jersey. But Wright loved the arts and abandoned his pursuit of a law degree to create stage sets in Princeton and Paris alongside fellow noted designer Norman Bel Geddes.
In 1927, Wright married artist and sculptor Mary Einstein. Together, they moved to New York City, where Wright began to create sculptures. Mary convinced him to create metal bookends from his sculptures, and later, when he began to craft bar accessories from chrome, he turned to aluminum, a much cheaper material for the purposes of mass production (his barware was eventually included in the "Machine Art" show at the Museum of Modern Art in 1934, which was curated by Philip Johnson).
Mary worked on marketing Russell's products, successfully proposing everyday uses for Wright's beautifully designed housewares. She is said to have been a pioneer in the world of lifestyle marketing, coining the terms "American Modern" and "blonde" to describe the charming, light-colored maple furniture he created for Conant Ball, which was known at the time for its reproductions of American Colonial furniture.
While Wright had created some Art Deco furnishings for Heywood-Wakefield, it was this group of bedroom furniture for Conant Ball that got its name, American Modern, from Mary. Under her guidance, Wright's attractive, functional designs for the home gained renown, leading to commissions by prestigious companies like the Steubenville Pottery Company.
In 1935, Wright formed Russell Wright Associates with Irving Richards, an entrepreneur who had worked with Lightolier and would later establish Raymor. In collaboration with Richards, Wright debuted the first line of American Modern dinnerware in 1939, which was initially produced by Russell Wright Associates and then manufactured by Steubenville for two decades. The line sold over 200 million pieces during its 20 years of production. In 1955, Wright was selected by the U.S. State Department to research handicraft industries in Southeast Asia, a trip that influenced his later designs.
Throughout his life, Wright continued to design furniture and housewares, with the works' signature earth tones, curved forms, and clean silhouettes of his floor lamps, lounge chairs, and serveware remaining popular staples in American households. In his later years, he focused on designing and building his home, Manitoga, and working with the National Parks Service to develop the "Summer in the Parks" program.
Upon Wright's death in 1974, Manitoga was given to the Nature Conservancy. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and today houses the Russell & Mary Wright Design Gallery, where many of Wright's works stand on permanent display. In 2011, stamps from the U.S. Postal Service featured Wright's image as one of the United States' twelve most influential industrial designers.
Find vintage Russel Wright lighting, seating, tables, serveware, ceramics and glass on 1stDibs.
- Stainless Steel and Glass Cruet Set by Ettore Sottsass for AlessiBy Alessi, Ettore SottsassLocated in Brooklyn, NYDesigned by Ettore Sottsass for Alessi and released in 1978, the “5074” condiment set has become a true icon of late 20th Century Modern Design. Aesthetically simple and beautifully...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Vintage Blue Salt Shaker & Pepper Grinder by Enzo MariBy Alessi, Enzo MariLocated in Brooklyn, NYOriginally designed by Enzo Mari (a prolific Italian industrial and furniture design master) for Danese Milano, this set of blue plastic pepper grinder and salt shaker were designed ...Category
Mid-20th Century Serving Pieces
MaterialsMetal
- 1980s Postmodern Ceramic Tea or Coffee Pot by Marco Zanini for BitossiBy Bitossi, Marco ZaniniLocated in Brooklyn, NYStunning postmodern ceramic tea or coffee pot from the Hollywood collection designed by Marco Zanini for Flavia Montelupo/Bitossi. White body, rounded pink handle, and stacked teal top...Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsCeramic
- Il Faro Creamer and Sugar by Aldo Rossi for Rosenthal Studio-LinieBy Rosenthal, Aldo RossiLocated in Brooklyn, NYA beautiful set of porcelain creamer and sugar bowl designed by Aldo Rossi for Rosenthal Studio Linie and made in Germany. Both pieces have...Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsPorcelain
- Set of 3 Postmodern Origami Trays by Tair MercierLocated in Brooklyn, NYThe French duo of Judith Tair, a fashion designer, and Philippe Mercier, an art director, are the creators behind a line of whimsical placemats and pl...Category
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsPlastic
- Mid-Century Modern Birdseye Maple Dresser by Milo Baughman for Lane FurnitureBy Milo Baughman, Lane FurnitureLocated in Brooklyn, NYStunning Mid-Century Modern birdseye maple dresser by Milo Baughman for Lane Furniture. This dresser is equipped 9 drawers and brass d...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBirdseye Maple
$3,000 Sale Price20% Off
- American Modern Ceramic Celery Tray by Russel Wright for Steubenville PotteryBy Steubenville, Russel WrightLocated in San Diego, CAStylish and functional American modern celery tray by Russel Wright for Steubenville Pottery of Ohio, circa 1940s. The ultramodern design emphasizes soft c...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsEarthenware
$220 Sale Price20% Off - American Modern Ceramic Celery Tray by Russel Wright for Steubenville PotteryBy Steubenville, Russel WrightLocated in San Diego, CAStylish and functional American modern celery tray by Russel Wright for Steubenville Pottery of Ohio, circa the 1940s. The ultramodern design emphasizes so...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Platters and Serveware
MaterialsEarthenware
$180 Sale Price20% Off - Vintage Mid-Century Modern Coral Pink Russell Wright Steubenville Serving DishLocated in East Quogue, NYVintage mid-century modern Russell Wright Steubenville oval ceramic serving dish. Size: 10 wide x 7.5 deep x 2.5 inches tall The manufacturer's stamp on the base is "Russell Wright, MFG/BY Steubenville." Classic mcm design, no chips or cracks. Great overall condition. vintage ceramic, vintage pottery, tableware, russell wright, pink pottery...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsCeramic, Pottery
- Russel Wright Spun Aluminum Informal Serving AccessoriesBy Russel WrightLocated in Hanover, MAEleven Pieces of Russel Wright Spun Aluminum; 10 1/2" Pitcher with Six Martinis, Bun Warmer with bentwood handle swivel lid and original wire basket liner, 10" high and a two tiered tray with bentwood handles and supports, 12 1/2" high. Two lidded waffle/pancake dishes. Price is for the entire group. See our separate listing LU886614802111 for the Russell Wright Oceana...Category
Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Barware
MaterialsAluminum
- Russel Wright for Chase Corn setBy Chase Brass and Copper Company, Russel WrightLocated in Philadelphia, PARussel Wright for Chase 4 piece Corn Set. Elegant Design with blue glass tray bottom and a small serving pitcher for butter. Salt and pepper shakers complete the set. Perfect to u...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Serving Pieces
MaterialsChrome
$485 / set - Modernist Chrome Toothpick Holder by Russel Wright for Chase Co.By Chase and Co., Russel WrightLocated in San Diego, CAA very nice modernist toothpick holder by Russel Wright for Chase & Co., circa 1940s. The stainless steel design features a very sleek rounded handle and would be great for syrup, cr...Category
20th Century American Modern Serving Pieces
MaterialsChrome
$200 Sale Price20% Off