Description
1940's Rosemeade Dakota Pottery Elephant Salt and pepper shakers. Much less<br>common in this trunk down form but I have seen this exact mold with original<br>labels, plus it's obviously Rosemeade clay, uncommon color also. 2.5" tall with<br>no damage.<br><br>Rosemeade pottery has become a popular collectible today because its creator,<br>Laura Taylor Hughes, chose subjects which continually fascinate people--animals,<br>birds, fish--and modeled authentic characterizations of their living<br>counterparts. These innovative designs were then accurately hand painted in<br>nature's vivid coloring.<br>Laura Taylor combined education, experience and creative skill. Educated at<br>UND, Taylor was a student and assistant to nationally known director, Margaret<br>Cable. After a short period of making Dickota pottery at the Dickinson Clay<br>Products Company, Laura Taylor was appointed state supervisor of the North<br>Dakota Works Administration (WPA).<br>An opportunity to demonstrate pottery making at the 1939 New York World's Fair<br>changed Laura Taylor's life as she met Robert J. Hughes, zealous booster of<br>state enterprise. Together they founded the Wahpeton Pottery Company in January<br>1940 and married three years later.<br>Many of Laura Taylor's naturalistic designs reflected the native flora and fauna<br>of her North Dakota farm childhood. A wide range of other products included<br>place souvenirs, human forms, functional items and advertising pieces. <br>Observing trends, Taylor met the needs and wishes of the public. The company<br>name was changed to Rosemeade Potteries in 1953 for better name recognition and<br>remained successful while many other companies of that era did not survive.<br>Distinctive lustrous glazes created by Howard Lewis, production manager, set<br>Rosemeade apart, making it easily recognizable. Metal oxides painted under the<br>glazes fired into colorful hues. Lewis also threw swirl pottery vases and<br>pitchers. He learned the swirl process while working at Niloak Pottery and<br>previously produced "Dickota Badlands" swirl pottery for the Dickinson Clay<br>Products Company.<br>Joe McLaughlin succeeded Lewis as production manager. McLaughlin introduced<br>decorative decals, including those of wildlife artist Les Kouba, and accelerated<br>advertising specialties sales. Rosemeade Potteries closed in 1961.<br>Although some early pottery and the swirl ware were thrown on the potter's<br>wheel, the majority of Rosemeade was cast in molds. Most Rosemeade pottery is<br>identified with an impressed mark or an ink stamp of the company name in black<br>or blue lettering on the bottom.<br>tw254
