All Articles, Mid-Century Modern Designers, Russel Wright

Ten Awesome Creations by Russel Wright

The American Modern Pitcher. This piece of kitchenware is one of the most popular and recognizable pieces of ceramic dinnerware in Russel Wright’s American Modern collection. Coated in a glazed finish, the pitcher has a pear-like shape with a handle that curves slightly upward. The top has a narrow opening that runs down the backside and stops at the handle. The tip of the pitcher curves outward to make serving feasible. It comes in four colors: coral, chartreuse (a light green gradient), seafoam (a dark green gradient), and granite grey.

The Modern Spice Tablecloth. The plaid design in this tablecloth often contains four different color combinations with translucent overlays. The most popular version is the red, white, dark green, and light green color pattern. Spun using cotton and rayon, the tablecloth is around 50 x 50 in dimensions.

The Conant Ball Dining Chair. The simple and elegant design of these chairs evokes the Art Deco style that was popular in the Mid 20th Century. The main section includes a cushion made using textile. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, but gray and white seem to be the most abundant versions. The design of the cushion is slightly wavy and shaped like a scroll. There are four simple, pointed chair legs made of birch. The two front legs are positioned at a 90-degree angle. The two rear legs lean towards the back, creating a slightly obtuse angle in relation to the seat.

The Spun Aluminum Bun Warmer. Here is a toasty way to keep bread fresh and delicious. This spherical silver piece of kitchenware is divided into two halves that are screwed together on each end. An arched handle made of rattan bail holds the bolts in place. It is easy to open the bun warmer without burning one’s fingers because a small, circular wooden knob is placed directly above the opening. Inside is a black, netted basked to hold the bread in place. A cylindrical foundation prevents the bun warmer from rolling off tables and counters.

The Oceana Wood Line Bowls. A collection of artifacts for home decoration. First, there is the Oceana bowl that is shaped like a pentagon. It has ridges that rise up to divide the five sections and a curved outer form. Then, there is the bowl shaped like a snail’s shell with its ridges that swirl towards the center. Third, a long, thin, shallow bowl with waved edges serves as a place to hold small fruit or candy. Lastly, there is a circular deep-set bowl with rough ridged edges is provided for holding larger pieces of fruit. All of these items have been designed from cherry wood and maple.

Flair Ming Lace Dinnerware Set. There are seven pieces of dinnerware included in this collection. The two larger plates, the bowl, and the saucer cup are designed with two leaves touching one another plus a third leaf opposite the two leaves. The smallest saucer has only one leaf painted on the outer edge. A small pitcher and a sugar bowl with a lid complete the set.

Russel Wright Silver Flatware. This collection of silverware is designed in an Art Deco style that focuses on shapes. Seven pieces of silverware complete the set: two soupspoons, a teaspoon, a salad fork, a dinner fork, a dinner knife, and a butter knife.

The Iroquois Casual Teapot. This Teapot is created from ceramic clay with a heavy glaze finish. It has a large handle with a flat noodle shape. The top of the handle arches above the rest of the teapot. The lid is small in comparison to the rest of the item and has a circular knob to make removal of the lid easy. The spout is very short and stout. The teapot’s top half is wide and round with the bottom becoming narrow. It comes in a variety of colors. Among these colors are: turquoise, cantaloupe, brick red, lemon, mustard, and charcoal.

The Pony Chair. Created in 1932, only twelve examples of this chair were originally produced before being re-issued in the 21st Century with 500 chairs. The seat is made of soft, faux black and white hide. The back has a white linen cloth spread by two wooden stiles. Constructed from primavera wood, the arms curve upward, while the legs and apron support the seat cushion.

Theme Formal Glassware. Four distinct glasses comprise of this set designed for upscale dining. The taller two glasses, known as stem glasses, are cylindrical in shape with a slightly concave bottom half. The shorter two glasses are known as Yamato glasses for the company Yamato produced them in Japan. They have a wider top half than that of the stem glasses. All glasses are opalescent with the top half of the glasses appearing clear to translucent and the bottom half transforming into an opaque, white base.