Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Lands

The first book to document the history of the groundbreaking company Architectural Pottery, tracing its critical influence on midcentury design and its enduring appeal today

Architectural Pottery’s strikingly minimalist designs heralded new domestic housewares that could uniquely accent the modern home―inside and out. Formally expressive yet accessible, their refreshingly unembellished, elegant pots and planters were enthusiastically received by the public upon Architectural Pottery’s launch in 1950, soon ubiquitous in spaces representing the epitome of modern living. Highly coveted and prized in design circles, they were seen in houses by Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and the historic Case Study Houses, and featured in the first of MoMA’s legendary Good Design exhibitions alongside now-iconic designs by Ray and Charles Eames, Alexander Girard, and George Nelson. Over three decades, Architectural Pottery also developed innovations in stoneware production, expanded into fiberglass furniture, and included famed furniture designer Paul McCobb and sculptor David Cressey on its roster of designers. 

A midcentury modern design enthusiast’s dream, Architectural Pottery: Ceramics for a Modern Landscape is the first full history of this celebrated and influential brand. Richly illustrated with contemporary photography and extensive visual archival material―including the records of the founders Rita and Max Lawrence, and the personal archives of designers, art directors, and photographers associated with the company―it both tells a compelling story and is a valuable resource for collectors and interior designers.

The publication of this new book will coincide with a major exhibition at the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, California.

About the Author

Daniel Chavkin is a photographer, collector, and researcher of all things modernist, and the author of Unseen Midcentury Desert Modern.

Jeffrey Head is a writer specializing in architecture and design and is author of several books.

Jo Lauria is a Los Angeles–based curator, writer, and educator, as well as coauthor of Master of the Midcentury: The Architecture of William F. Cody, also published by Monacelli.