| Early colors used by
Barbara Willis were turquoise, yellow, chartreuse and white. Later she would
incorporate coral and bright red. Besides the florist items, early pieces
included cigarette boxes, ashtrays, candle holders, wall pockets, salt and
pepper shakers and some figural items. By the late forties success had
necessitated the move to a larger plant in North Hollywood, but production
was small enough that each piece passed through Willis' hands.
Some decaled housewares were produced in the early
1950s but the undecorated pieces remained the most popular. Also in the 1950s
the flood of cheap imports hurt all the California potters. That and
representation problems convinced Barbara Willis to quit the ceramics business
in 1958. Some of her molds were sold to The California Cleminsons who used
them to anchor a new line of modern housewares. Barbara Willis followed other
pursuits for the next 40 years, but in the late 1990s again began working
in clay and continues at her Malibu Beach home.
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Check out this great shirt from Cafepress:
Vintage design featuring one of Barbara Willis's trademark vase decorating techniques, a crackle turquoise glaze over brown clay.
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Barbara Willis
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