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A presentation given to the National Academy of Design
January 16, 2004

by Marilyn G. Karmason, M.D.

Click on pictures to enlarge!
Updated: June 30, 2009

Section 7: American

 As for American Majolica: Griffen, Smith and Hill, or Etruscan, were from Phoenixville, PA, 1879. In 1884-5 the company attended a New Orleans exhibition, honored for their majolica. Here are 2 pages of the catalogue that include 150 pieces of Majolica with the Shell and Seaweed pattern.

GSH_Pages

An Etruscan ice cream platter has great shell-and-seaweed.

GSH_Shell_And_Seaweed_Platter

As does a larger compote and tea service.

GSH_Shell_and_Seaweed_Compote_and_Tea_Set

The next slide shows almost all pieces of the Shell and Seaweed design, from the tiny butter pat on the left.

GSH_Shell_And_Seaweed_Service

The large humidor

GSH_Shell_and_Seaweed_Humidor

and Tea Service shown here alone.

GSH_Shell_and_Seaweed_Tea_Set_Compote

Here is a Cheese Bell and Sardine Box, and a Paperweight.

GSH_Swan_Items

Here is a beautiful Etruscan napkin plate.

GSH_Napkin_plate

This Etruscan Oyster Plate reached no less than $6,000 at auction.

GSH_Oyster_Plate

Small note: In 1880, Tenuous Majolica, the primitive version of Etruscan, was attributed to William Hill of Griffen, Smith and Hill.   But in recent years, it turns out that this attribution was as “tenuous” as its name when it became known that Tenuous came from a Richard Harrison, in 1882-1887, inPeekskill, NY. Here is Harrison’s covered mustard pot.

Tenuous_Mustard_Pot

There are about a dozen other makers of American majolica, George Morely in East Liverpool and Wellsville, Ohio, produced owl pitchers and  gurgling-fish pitchers, colors not bright.

Morley_Fish_And_Parrot_Pitchers

But cheerful David Haynes owned the Baltimore Chesapeake Pottery in 1882. He produced majolica, as a Clifton dinner service, and later as Avalon clocks and banks. In the early 2Oth century, Haynes’ majolica was sold at Macy‘s.

Chesapeake_Pottery_Clifton_Items

The Eureka Pottery, established in 1883 in Trenton, N.J. was inspired by English interpretations of Oriental design. This Fan-shaped ice cream server with colorful figures on a pebbly blue background is very similar to the Wedgwood Bird & Fan.

Eureka_Fan_Ice_Cream_Service

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