Franciscan China at edish.com

In the 1930's, California represented a new American lifestyle. It was as far away as possible both spiritually and geographically from the old, traditional, industrialized, densely populated and frequently cold East Coast. The warm Southern California sun and overall mild climate encouraged less definition between indoors and out. More roomy, open architecture and access to the outdoors resulted in a newfound appreciation for the natural and bright colors seen in the Western landscape. The nearby neighboring country, Mexico, had long celebrated vibrant color in their arts and handicrafts, which certainly must have had an impact as well.

Many West Coast individuals welcomed the more casual style of domestic living, which included dining and entertaining. The life style was reflected in people's fashion and decoration choices. A new large demand for dishes that matched the more laid back style came to exist. The Gladding, McBean & Co. pottery, already firmly rooted in Southern California since the 1880s was prepared to provide the wares to meet that new demand. The new art pottery ware and tableware that Gladding, McBean introduced was named "Franciscan Pottery". The name was most likely taken from the Franciscan order of Catholic missionaries sent to California in the late 18th or early 19th century. In the mid 1930s production of Franciscan ware began. By the early 1940s due to intense promotion and distribution, the casual pottery and a new line of Franciscan fine china had become popular all across the country. The colorful low priced wares represented the optimism and opportunity of the west, and were welcomed by those who had endured the depression.

During the years that Franciscan was very popular, before it's closing in the 1980s, hundreds of successful patterns were introduced. Probably the best known of these were Desert Rose, Apple, Star Burst, Hacienda Gold and Green and Madeira. Besides all of the millions of people who have actually owned Franciscan patterns, many more Americans are aware of them because one of their relatives, neighbors or co-workers has had one. Who can say that they do not "know" the Ricardos from the "I love Lucy Show"? Lucy and Ricky had Franciscan "Ivy", and they used it every day on the program. Today, the Wedgwood group based in England continues to manufacture two of the most popular old Franciscan patterns of all time, Desert Rose and Apple.