EXCLUSIVELY FOR RANDOLPH STREET MARKET BY NENA IVON, nenasnotes
An exquisite tureen handcrafted by Dodie Thayer, the extraordinary Lettuce Ware artisan.
Happy Spring and the earthโs rebirth. I was originally thinking I would do an Easter post… you know wonderful little bunnies, perfectly dyed eggs, tulips, wonderful tablescapes and the bounty of the Spring holiday feastsโฆbut how clichรฉ. Yes, I know we all love these signs of renewal but since these posts are about collectibles letโs go a bit outside the box and talk about an area of collecting many of us donโt normally think about… Lettuce Ware and other vegetable ware collectibles.
We can, of course, relate to collecting fabulous pieces of Majolica in the form of vegetables but I am concentrating this account on more modern collectibles… we will save Majolica for another time.
Dodie Thayer (who passed away at age 91 in 2018) cast her life-like pieces, each vein shaped by hand, in her home in Jupiter, Florida. During the 1960โs through the 1980โs the pieces were in demand by Palm Beach Society. C.Z. Guest was a major collector and her collection was sold in 2015 at Sothebyโs for $35,000, original valuation, $3,000.
Dodie Thayer looking very Mid-Century Modern with a display of her wares.
Some of the C. Z. Guest collection.
From one of my favorite blogs The Glam Pad, a C. Z. Guest table setting
You would have found these charming pieces in the homes of Brooke Astor, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the Duchess of Windsor among many others.
From the Tory Burch Collection in this cheerful table setting.
Having purchased a huge collection from renowned interior designer and collector, Todd Romano, Designer and Lifestyle guru, Tory Burch, became a friend of Thayer that friendship led to a collaboration and Dodie authorized reproductions for the first time. We love when these things happen. Now we can find the beauty of this artisan at non-auction prices. To me this is the perfect subject when you are collecting (of course, at RANDOLPH STREET MARKET), lucky you will be to find an original piece but now you can find the continuation of the work of a true innovator in a 21st century line, which is also now collectibleโฆ.everything old is indeed new again!!!.
More from the Tory Burch Collection.
Letโs look at a few more pieces and display ideasโฆ.from Thayer…
A collectors dream…
Gorgeous Thayer…
Now letโs look at a couple of Majolica pieces… yes, I know I said I wasnโt going to do Majolica but couldnโt resist… sorry (not sorry!)
Other veggiesโฆthese from Boston porcelain artist, Katherine Houston, glorious…
Letโs look for something from her at RSM…
From my own collection, this charming Katherine Houston pea pod (4โ) signed and dated 1997, a Christmas gift that year from a dear friend, Martin Gapshis, miss him terribly… great taste and style!!!
Another gift from Martin this cauliflower small covered bowl (long before the popularity of the veg!) late 1990โs from Vietri, Italian Majolica.
Oh, alright, a couple of bunnies… enjoy Spring!
For more information check the comprehensive article in the Wall Street Journal on Collecting Lettuce Ware by Alexa Brazilian July 19, 2013.
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by Nena Ivon
www.nenasnotes.com
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All photos, with the exception of the two pieces from my collection, from Pinterest photo credits unknown.