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The Wrong Russel Wright?

Russel Wright is probably the most commonly known American industrial designer of all time. Beginning in the 1930s, he and his wife Mary sat at the drawing board trying to anticipate and fulfill the demands of America’s new casual living and entertaining style. Important designs in wood, aluminum, steel and especially ceramics flowed from their office.

Based on the incredible sales of their everyday china designs for the next fifty years, it is safe to say they were doing something Wright! However, there is some confusion about Russel Wright patterns . Russel Wright designed the china for various manufacturing companies, and those companies then manufactured, promoted and distributed the wares to retail stores.

More on Wright


		For more information regarding collecting Russel Wright List Price: $24.95

Steubenville and Iroquois are the two main companies for which Wright designed a pattern. If you have some Russel Wright designed china and you are searching for more, you should be aware of the difference between the two.

Luckily, for collectors, Wright’s designs are generally well marked with his name because the manufacturer wanted the consumer to know that the item was designed by Wright. Unfortunately, this is also what has led to the confusion. The maker’s mark is generally smaller than Wright’s signature, but it is present on almost all pieces. The following images depict examples of the two manufacturer's marks.

Wright’s designs for Steubenville were actually introduced prior to WW II, and they continued to be widely distributed until the 1980s! This pattern is called "American Modern", and came in eleven colors:

Bean Brown	Chartreuse	Seafoam
Black Chutney	Coral	Steubenville Blue
Cantaloupe	Glacier	White
Cedar Green	Granite

The ceramic body is low-fired earthenware, with graceful, organic lines.

Steubenville "American Modern": Chartreuse Cup and Saucer, Coral Gravy and Black Chutney Creamer

Wright's designs for Iroquois were introduced in 1946, just after WW II. The pattern for Iroquois is named "Casual", and came in fourteen different colors:

Aqua	Ice Blue	Parsley
Avocado Yellow	Lemon	Pink Sherbet
Brick Red	Lettuce Green	Ripe Apricot
Cantaloupe	Nutmeg	Sugar White
Charcoal	Oyster

This true china ceramic body is fired at a much higher temperature, so it is dense and durable like restaurant china. The shapes are more subtle, with an almost Japanese simplicity.

Iroquois "Casual": Avocado Yellow Covered Gravy, Sugar White Carafe, and Charcoal Cup and Saucer

The two patterns (hence the two manufacturers) are easily distinguishable by weight, shape and color. Wright did design china for a handful of other companies, but more than 90% of collectors are looking for either Steubenville "American Modern" or Iroquois "Casual" in one or more of the various colors.

Wright’s "American Modern" and "Casual" patterns are extremely collectible, but plentiful quantities allow pieces of this great American design to be very affordable. Basic place setting pieces can be found for as little as $10.00 to $20.00 per piece.