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 earth’s 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 feasts…but how cliché. Yes, I know we all love these signs of renewal but since these posts are about collectibles let’s go a bit outside the box and talk about an area of collecting many of us don’t 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 1960’s through the 1980’s the pieces were in demand by Palm Beach Society. C.Z. Guest was a major collector and her collection was sold in 2015 at Sotheby’s 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 collectible….everything old is indeed new again!!!.

More from the Tory Burch Collection.

Let’s look at a few more pieces and display ideas….from Thayer…

A collectors dream…

Gorgeous Thayer…

Now let’s look at a couple of Majolica pieces… yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to do Majolica but couldn’t resist… sorry (not sorry!)

Other veggies…these from Boston porcelain artist, Katherine Houston, glorious…

Let’s look for something from her at RSM…

From my own collection, this charming Katherine Houston pea pod (4”) 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 1990’s 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.