Invariably rooted in another era (or country), figurines by designer Florence Ward exhibit both a delicacy in execution, and a captivating attention to pose and movement.ĭuring World War II, with her husband in the service, the previously-untrained Ward took a course in ceramics. One of Stewarts earliest innovations was the figurine-as-flowerholder, a staple of deLee Art designs long before Hedi Schoop "originated" the trend in the 1940s.Īlthough deLees "Gay ∙0s"-ish ladies remain a favorite with collectors, the companys eventual bread-and-butter was the "De-Stinker" line: ceramic skunk matchholders, useful in the days before room deodorizers.Īcclaimed for their diverse, and richly detailed costuming, female figurals by the Florence Ceramics Company are the epitome of the "pretty lady". (It was also a lengthy one: deLee continued in operation until the late 1950s).
Stewart opened deLee Art in the late 1930s, making her one of the very first California ceramicists to carve out a successful career. Jimmie Lees "pretty ladies", (and men, and children, and even animals), invariably boast demurely downcast, impossibly long, eyelashes running across a deLee with eyes wide open is in itself an eye-opener. Its nearly impossible not to recognize a figurine designed by Jimmie Lee Stewart for her Los Angeles firm, deLee Art.
#Fotonica steam art series
A successful series dating from 1947 presented an "adorable little girl" for every month of the year, each accompanied by a "colorful gallant". (Actual lace, coated with slip, was burned off during firing, leaving only its ceramic imprint).Īll Ynez figurines were "named", and her female figurines were often accompanied by an escort. Ynez is often credited with the first successful use of "real lace" in the Victorian-influenced costuming for her demure maidens. The studio of Ynez Ward, and her husband Carleton, was located in Inglewood, California some of the firms "pretty ladies" date from as early as 1942. Most Ynez pieces had earthenware bodies, adding to their weight, as well as their fragility. Yona Ceramics, (run in conjunction with Yonas husband, Mac), closed its doors in 1958.īilled as "semi-porcelain", the operative word in this description of Ynez Ceramics is "semi". With the popularity of The King and I in the early 1950s, Yona essentially abandoned her focus on female figurals, in favor of pseudo-Siamese themes, often lavishly adorned with gold or silver overglaze. Decked out in turn-of-the-20th-century elegance, Yonas figurines, smaller-scale than Schoops, boast such attractive three-dimensional "add-ons" as ceramic bows, ribbons, and spaghetti spackling. But, even though she began her career as a Schoop decorator, Yona soon moved beyond churning out subtly altered replicas her "pretty ladies" have their own distinctive flair. Yona Lippen of Yona Ceramics is often dismissed as "just another Hedi Schoop ". Previously unable to break into the male-dominated manufacturing world, they were now presented with a wartime window of opportunity.įrom an extensive lineup, here are five favorites, each offering a singular approach to a common theme: the "pretty lady". From "Gay ∙0s" gals to demure Victorian damsels, shy shepherdesses to sultry sirens, the ceramics beauty parade was a lengthy one.Ĭelebrating the diversity of womanhood were women themselves: the majority of female figural ceramics produced during World War II were the work of female designers. With overseas imports suspended for the duration, U.S. War-weary consumers were in the mood for a bit of winsome charm. Nowhere is this focus on the feminine more readily discernible than in the ceramics that flooded America during World War II. Need to perk up the plot? Then forget the dialog.
#Fotonica steam art movie
Its a scenario repeated over the years in dozens of "backstage" movie musicals. Irving Berlins latest hit stops the show (as do all those elaborately-clador semi-cladgirls). She'll start upon a marathon, and run around your brain!"Ī bevy of beauties descends a seemingly endless staircase in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1919. Just like the strain of a haunting refrain, August 7, 2012"A pretty girl is like a melody, that haunts you night and day!
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