The modern lady and I had a great find this week – a set of four place settings of Russel Wright’s Iroquois Casual in the Sherbet Pink and Charcoal colors.
The set is just wonderful but what made it even more special was the original tri-fold brochure for this classic mid-century line of china. I love finding pieces like this and just had to share this one.
Introduced in 1946, the Casual line was made of high-fired vitreous china and was very durable – suitable for use in the oven and on the stovetop as well as on the table. Russel Wright, and his wife Mary, often demonstrated how resistant to breakage this dinnerware was by upsetting a drainer full of the dishes during department store promotional presentations.
Russel and Mary Wright demonstrating Iroquois Casual China – circa 1947
The durability of these dishes is equally appreciated by collectors today. This dinnerware is not as likely to be found with chips, cracks or crazing as many other mid-century lines are prone to have. For example, Russel Wright’s American Modern dinnerware is notorious for crazing and we have found our fair share of American Modern in poor condition for this very reason – largely due to being overheated in dishwashers during the dry cycle.
But Iroquois Casual has stood the test of time and is one of the legacies from a man who was dedicated to make American home life easier – Russel Wright.
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