California Originals Vintage Fruit Shaped Pottery Bowl - Pear Shaped Serving Bowl Mid-Century Bowl Kitchen Decor - Kitsch Yellow Serving

This is a vibrantly colored bowl manufactured by California Originals in the mid century is in the shape of a pear. It has a brown stem, two green leaves and a pink/red blush in the center of its deep yellow color. At the far end is a star shaped pucker - see photos.

It measures approx. 11" long and 8" across at its widest point. There are no chips or cracks. It has light wear and is in nice vintage condition.

On the bottom is says "Cal. Orig. 8488 USA"

History of the California Originals Company:
California Originals had it's start in 1945 as Heirlooms of Tomorrow, making fine quality porcelain lace figurines.

The most active period for household ceramic production, including tableware, kitchenware, giftware, and art ware was from the 1930s through the 1960s. The major area of production was in the Los Angeles basin. "Located in and about Los Angeles, there are over 300 producers of figurines. Next in size is the Trenton area. Some are now developing around East Liverpool, and a few, such as Ceramic Arts Studio and Haeger, are spot in the middle west.

The period around World War II saw the greatest growth for the ceramic industry. With imports cut off from European and Asian markets, small family owned businesses, in addition to the larger potteries, stepped in to fill the need for ceramic giftwares and tablewares throughout the United States. By 1948, "the peak year for the industry, over eight hundred ceramic concerns were in operation throughout California."

With sunlight year round, an abundance of raw materials, and relatively inexpensive natural gas, California became competitive with centers of ceramic production such as the "Pottery Capital of the World" East Liverpool, Ohio, US and Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

In the 1950s, imports resumed and flooded the United States market with competitively priced ceramic wares. Only a fraction of California potteries survived until the early 1960s. Today, only a few are still in business.