House Boat on the River (for "Bits of the Old South")

 

? Cavett

 

c. 1940  

ink drawing 

7-1/2" diameter size 

ink, lower left 

 

 

 

antique-white cardstock 

published 

Vernon Kilns 

20091 

$250.00 

An original drawing for "Bits of the Old South". Designed, copyrighted by Vernon Kilns U.S.A. The artist "Cavett" remains a mystery, it is only known that he volunteered for WWII and was killed while in paratrooper training. No-one remembered his first name. This original drawing by "Cavett" is one of a group that were commissioned by Vernon Kilns, Vernon, California in the mid 1930s to be used to create a line of "collector" plates. Depression-era economics and streamlined designs diminished America's collector plate market until Vernon Kilns opened on the edge of Los Angeles in 1931. The 1933 earthquake forced the firm to bring out new 'blanks' for dinnerware. The firm quickly realized the potential their popular new shapes could have as collector plates with a simple change in the underglaze transfer design. In the 1930s, an art-ware department was created. Jane Bennison, May and Vieve Hamilton, and Harry Bird became designers for Vernon's dinnerware and art ware. Several artists created stock collector plate lines which were sold nationwide. The 'Bits' series featured eight different plates with historic scenes from six different US regions; most also had a chop plate (such as the Old South levee plate). "Bits of the Old South included: "Down on the Levee," "Off to the Hunt," "A Southern Mansion," "Cypress Swamp," "The Old Mill," "Tobacco Field, Houseboat on the River," and "Cotton Patch." The California Mission commemorative plates are 8.5" inch plates picturing 16 different missions plus one 14" chop plate.