Photography Courtesy of Manitoga
WITHIN A MERE 20 YEARS, this industrial designer’s dinnerware line had sold over 200 million pieces and skyrocketed him into nationwide fame. It’s still an iconic houseware known for its fun silhouettes, rounded edges and muted, earthy colors. The dinnerware? American Modern. The designer? Russel Wright.
BEGINNINGS
Born in Ohio in 1904, Wright got his start studying art and sculpture at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and went on to design theater sets in New York City. His career found its beginnings in the midst of the Great Depression—people were no longer interested in fine china or silver that needed constant polishing. So Wright began to create beautiful, easy-to-care-for housewares that were affordable.
His career found its beginnings in the midst of the Great Depression—people were no longer interested in fine china or silver that needed constant polishing.