MCM Metlox Poppytrail “Contempora” Atomic Freeform Bowl—California Pottery, 1950s

Details

Description

Fabulous bowl from California's Metlox pottery in the rare "Contempora (Freeform") pattern! Classic mid-century design c. 1955–1959.
This beauty is … Read more Fabulous bowl from California's Metlox pottery in the rare "Contempora (Freeform") pattern! Classic mid-century design c. 1955–1959.
This beauty is perfect for your tabletop, display, or use as a sculptural catch-all. The wonderful warm gray, speckled glaze has a hand-painted atomic motif in coral red, teal blue, medium gray, and black. Pairs beautifully with other mid-century ceramics, art glass, and atomic-age décor.

HISTORY
Designed and produced in Manhattan Beach, California, the Contempora pattern from Metlox’s Poppytrail “Freeform” line captures the energy and optimism of the 1950s atomic era. Introduced around 1955, this modernist series paired sculptural, asymmetrical forms with abstract, boomerang-inspired decoration in coral, teal, gray, and black. Each piece was individually glazed, resulting in subtle variations that make every example one-of-a-kind. The free-form silhouette and intersecting linework evoke the space-age design language seen across mid-century architecture, furniture, and textiles. Collectors prize Contempora for its artistry and for its role in defining the California Modern aesthetic alongside Franciscan’s "Starburst" and Vernonware’s "Heavenly Days." See less