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 Series

DESIGN SOURCES,, circa 1893-1927,, 1977-1981,, 1987,, undated

Dates

  • circa 1893-1927,
  • 1977-1981,
  • 1987,
  • undated

Scope and Contents

Summary: Monographs, scrapbooks and photographs used as inspiration for both production dinnerware patterns and (mostly animal-themed) giftware plates.

Publications: Arranged alphabetically by author.

Three illustrated monographs used as inspiration for pattern and giftware designs. The monographs include A Monograph of the Pheasants, 1918-1922, by William Beebe, Festons und Decorative Gruppen, circa 1900, by Martin Gerlach, which depicts various arrangements of plant life and prey animals, and The Passing Show, 1903, by Albert Beck Wenzell, with plates depicting scenes of Victorian Era social life.

Beebe's A Monograph of the Pheasants, a four-volume work, is the only work in the sub-series to include color plates.

Scrapbooks: Arranged alphabetically by title.

Two scrapbook style volumes used as inspiration and sources of possible pattern and giftware designs. One volume, labeled "Early Design Scrapbook," circa 1893, consists largely of images of decorative book covers and title pages, while the second volume, labeled "Children's China Presentation," 1987, consists of images from children's stories, such as Charlotte's Web and the works of Dr. Seuss.

The volume labeled "Children's China Presentation" appears to have been part of a product line proposal.

Photographs: Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Color and black-and-white photographic prints, primarily of artwork, for possible use as giftware or special service designs. Subjects depicted include Native American life, tall sailing ships, equestrian and hunting activities, and wildlife. Included in the sub-series are 3 ½ x 5, 5 x 7 and 10 x 12 color prints, 8 x 10 black-and-white prints, 4 x 5 and 8 x 10 negatives, color slides and several postal and greeting cards, as well as several lists of artwork (some of which does not appear in the collection).

Several images of sailing ships are printed on postal and greeting cards, most of which were produced for the Musee de Marine in France.

The wildlife artwork depicted is mostly attributed to Lynn Chase, whose body of work is also represented in Lenox's "Nature's Nursery" line of giftware.

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

English

Physical Description

(2.5 cubic feet)

Arrangement

Arrangement: Organized into three sub-series by document type.