Introduction: As the popularity for wares produced by Gonder increased, well known designers were
secured to create pieces for a new line - Gonder Original. Designers of Gonder Original pieces include Jamie Matchet - a designer for Gorham Silver; Chester Kirk - credited with Gonder's beautiful equestrian pieces; Helen Conover and F.F. Greene. As a result, designs from the
Gonder Original line are some of Gonder's most spectacular and sought
after pieces! These designs were in step with the change in home décor from
the era of 1940's Hollywood Classic to the Retro era of the 1950's. Stunning Gonder designs in wonderful new glazes!
Items from the Gonder Original line include ashtrays, bookends, console bowls and sets, figural pieces - both animal and human, kitchenware items, planters, vases and other miscellaneous items.
While I appreciate all lines produced at Gonder Ceramic Arts, the pieces from the Gonder Original Line are by far my favorite! Collectors tend to agree as these pieces often command higher prices than pieces from other lines.
Mold Numbers: Pieces from the Gonder Original line were assigned mold
numbers and grouped by series -- 100 series through the 1200 series. Pieces
within a series are loosely grouped by category or function. For example,
pieces from the 700 series are generally modern style planters. Pieces from
the 1200 series are bottle vases and pitchers. Of course there are exceptions
to these groupings.
Thankfully, not every number from 100 to 1200
is used in production by Gonder -- we would never complete our collections had
this been the case!
Glazes Finishes: Pieces from this line are finished in newly created
glaze treatments. Gonder ceases the use of the pink interior glaze on Gonder
Original pieces. Interior glazes are the same as the exterior primary glaze.
Many glazes developed for the Gonder Original line are also used on lamp bases produced for wholesale distributors. Because glaze names for this line are undocumented, collectors often use the glaze name assigned by the lamp distributor (ie Bradley Manufacturing) when that information has been available. See the sections on glazes for more detail on these glazes.
