Sunday, August 12, 2012

Tomorrow's Classic: It's Just a Fantasy

IF YOU POLL most Zeisel collectors, chances are their first pieces were from the Tomorrow's Classic line of dishes from Hallcraft. They are easily the most common line of Zeisel designs available in the secondary market. Brad and I have a game that we play when we go to flea markets or antique stores—the first one who spots a Zeisel gets a kiss. More often than not, a piece of Tomorrow's Classic will present itself somewhere in the aisles.

Tomorrow's Classic creamer, coffee server, sugar bowl, and teapot

Although the unadorned white pieces are the most sought after today, when the line was designed in 1952, Hallcraft saw them as the perfect vessels for applied decoration. And decorate they did—from the popular floral Bouquet to the quirky gold marbled Surf Ballet. In addition to the patterns, there were also pieces in solid black, gray, and orange. We have even seen lobsters printed on the large platters, and advertising applied to the jugs. Brad once had this ambition to collect a place setting of each pattern but we wisely realized that we would never have enough cupboard space to store all that china. So, our final set consists of white and black pieces, along those decorated with Fantasy—a pattern of black squiggles and gold dots conceived by Ross Littell, who along with William Katavolos and Douglas Kelley, would later design the iconic T-Chair.

Fantasy pattern

With close to forty pieces in the line, it is one of the most extensive commissions that Eva has designed. In addition to the usual place settings and serving pieces, there are candlesticks, cruets, and after dinner servers. There are even pieces that we probably have no use for today, such as marmites, onion soup bowls, and asparagus trays. Innovations included handles that flare up gracefully from the body of the jugs and pots (as opposed to being applied), oblong plates (as opposed to being round), lug handled platters, and reversible egg cups (one end for a hardboiled egg or use the other end for poached).

Tomorrow's Classic gravy boat, vase, and reversible egg cups.

I think my favorite piece is the basket-shaped gravy boat, although the hardest one to find was the flower vase. Tomorrow's Classic makes for an elegant, though formal table, so they come out only during Christmas, Thanksgiving, or when the Queen comes to visit (long may he reign).


Bottom stamp, Hallcraft Tomorrow's Classic

Crate and Barrel and Royal Stafford recently re-released Tomorrow's Classic and married them with pieces from another of Eva's lines for Hallcraft. The combined line is called  Classic Century. The new pieces have a slightly yellower cast than the vintage ones, and they added a mug to the line, which is just an elongated version of the classic cup. Needless to say, we prefer the older stuff, but overall, the re-released pieces have successfully kept the integrity and playfulness of Eva's design. So, the next time you and your significant other find yourselves at a Crate and Barrel, you too can play "Spot the Zeisel". Opportunities for free kisses should never be wasted.

2 comments:

  1. Hello - I just stumbled upon your blog in my search for a catalogue of Eva Zeisel/Hallcraft. I am a new collector and am quickly becoming obsessed! It all started when I found a "Spring" platter in an antique shop in Sonoma and now I get notices from eBay every day. I will keep checking your blog to see what wonderful new finds you share.

    Cheers from South San Francisco!

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  2. HI, I'M MAKING A NEW INVENTORY OF MY HALLCRAFT CENTURY, SUNGLOW DISHES AND WENT ON LINE LOOKING FOR PICTURES TO PUT ON THE LABELS I ATTACH TO THE DISH HOLDERS WHEN I FINISH AND CAME UPON YOUR "CHASING EVA" AND LOVED IT, WE FOUND ARE FIRST TOMORROWS CLASSIC IN A SORTA OF JUNK STORE A CARDBOARD BOX FOR $20.00 AROUND 50 PIECES WITH HALF IN GREAT CONDITION INCLUDING A WHITE COFFEE POT AND AS THE YEARS WENT ON WE WOULD PAY THE GOING RATE WHEN NEEDED. In the 80's and 90's a dealer at the Pasadena City College swap meet would save any Town and Country for me since he said I was only one who know that Eva Zeisel was the designer. Ten years ago I donated some Zeisel and Russel Wright pieces to the LA County Museum of Art (I let the curator pick what she wanted) The only thing I didn't have were Riverside Pottery pieces and I wasn't ready to let go of the Museum pieces yet. Wright auction house in Chicago recently had Riverside pieces form Eva's collection in an auction. I will stop now and thank you for taking the time to write about the the things you love and enjoy in you life, Lawrence Merkle Pasadena CA

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