Mid-century mix 'n' match

I've always been a bit of a Russel Wright purist. I collect Iroquois Casual dishes in avocado yellow and ripe apricot, and I’ve never been really tempted to stray much outside those parameters, except for the occasional piece of Russel Wright American Modern in chartreuse. I don’t have much of the AM, because it breaks so much more easily than the Iroquois Casual does, but the design of some of the pieces makes it hard to resist.

The other day, though, I happened upon some pictures of Metlox Free Form paired with American Modern chartreuse, as well as Red Wing Futura Northern Lights with Franciscan Starburst and Red Wing Town and Country paired with Iroquois Impromptu Vision. The combinations were so stunning that they made me want to start buying all kinds of cool dishes and mixing ‘n’ matching like a maniac. Naturally, the first stop in my tableware stream of consciousness was Metlox Contempora teamed with American Modern granite gray and coral…or maybe Iroquois Casual in ice blue. Or how about Red Wing Smart Set with American Modern granite gray or Iroquois Casual oyster or lemon yellow? Or Paul McCobb Contempri Eclipse with....what? I could go on like this all day, because the possibilities are truly endless.

What great combos can you come up with?

Metlox Free Form with Russel Wright American Modern in chartreuse
modish.net

More Free Form and AM
modish.net

Red Wing Futura Northern Lights with Franciscan Starburst
modish.net

Red Wing Town and Country with Iroquois Impromptu Vision
modish.net

Metlox Contempora
modish.net

A set of Russel Wright Iroquois Casual in ice blue that I sold

Red Wing pottery

Red Wing dinnerware production began in 1935 and became the company's staple product from the early 1940s until operations ceased in 1967.

Most Red Wing dinnerware patterns were designed by Charles Murphy, but one notable exception was the bestseller Town and Country, which was created in 1946 by noted industrial designer Eva Zeisel. It became one of Red Wing's most important commercial products upon its release in 1947 and was produced until 1956. The Museum of Modern Art is reproducing the ware today, indicating the importance of the pieces in American modern design.

Several other patterns of Red Wing produced in the 1950s and 1960s in demand among mid-century collectors. In 1955, Smart Set and Crazy Rhythm were introduced, followed by Northern Lights in 1956, Lute Song in 1960 and Desert Sun, Pompeii and Pepe in1962.

From wisconsinpottery.org and mindspring.com

Town and Country by Eva Zeisel, 1946

Town and Country by Eva Zeisel, 1946

Smart Set, 1955

Crazy Rhythm, 1956

Desert Sun, 1962

Pompeii, 1962