Mission San Juan Bautista

 

Orpha Klinker

  1891 - 1964 (biography)

c. 1930  

ink drawing 

7-1/2" image diameter 

ink signed within image, lower right 

 

Written within image, lower center: "Mission San Juan Bautista / Founded - June 24, 1797 / San Juan, California" 

 

ivory card stock 

published 

artist 

20080 

$400.00 

This original drawing by Orpha Klinker is one of a group that were commissioned by Vernon Kilns, Vernon, California in the mid 1930's to be used to create a line of "collector" plates. This is Mission San Juan Bautista, the 15th California mission, founded in 1797 in San Juan Bautista, California, 90 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Depression-era economics and streamlined designs diminished America's collector plate market until Vernon Kilns opened on the edge of Los Angeles in 1931. The 1933 earthquake forced the firm to bring out new 'blanks' for dinnerware. The firm quickly realized the potential their popular new shapes could have as collector plates with a simple change in the underglaze transfer design. In the 1930s, an art-ware department was created. Jane Bennison, May & Vieve Hamilton and Harry Bird became designers for Vernon's dinnerware and art ware.

Several artists created stock collector plate lines which were sold nationwide. The 'Bits' series featured seven plates with historic scenes from six different US regions; most also had a chop plate (such as the Old South levee plate). California Missions, Race Horses, Cocktail Hour Plates, Music Masters and a Christmas series were other popular lines. The "California Missions" group has 16, 8.5" inch plates picturing 16 different missions plus one 14" chop plate.

, 8.5" inch plates picturing 16 different missions plus one 14" chop plate.