The Magic Language of Things

When I found a beautiful curved dish at a Goodwill many years ago, I had no idea that it had been designed by one of the most important woman designers in modern history. At the time, I was drawn to its shape and by the brightly colored floral pattern, and later I learned that the shape of the piece is what distinguished the designer from other designers of her time. So, when I heard that Eva Zeisel had died on December 30th at the age of 105, I was sad, but at the same time I thought what a long and illustrious life she lived. She was an industrial designer, known for her work in ceramics, and she designed into her 100s. Her design career spanned seventy-five years. Pretty amazing.

If you don't recognize her name, than perhaps you'll recognize some of her work. She designed these pieces in the 1940s and Crate and Barrel has recreated some of these pieces in a new line. Every time I walk into Crate and Barrel, I look for the gravy boat. Known for the sensual curves in her designs, Eva Zeisel often told interviewers that she was inspired by mother and child and many of her pieces resemble birds and look like a mother bird nestling her young.

The piece that I found at the Goodwill was one that she designed for Hall China in the 1950s, from her Bouquet collection. It is the celery dish in the top of the photo. Last year, I was lucky enough to find a matching plate when I was out thrifting. I was thrilled that I had found another Eva Zeisel design to add to my collection. 

I've read that Eva's work in industrial design was her 'search for beauty.' I think she found it, don't you?

You can read about Eva and her work at http://evazeiseloriginals.com/. And just a few months ago, a new book was published: Eva Zeisel on Design: The Magic Language of Things.