1960s Mid Century Modern Secla Majolica Portugal Lemon Leaf Green 8” Salad Plates Set of 12

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Set of 12, Lemon Leaf pattern majolica Salad Plates by SECLA. (see below for detail on this majolica manufacterer.) These … Read more Set of 12, Lemon Leaf pattern majolica Salad Plates by SECLA. (see below for detail on this majolica manufacterer.) These Portuguese plates measure 8" in diameter and were painted with a dark, rich, "emerald" green that was finished with a glossy clear glaze that was introduced by the company in the 1960s as market tastes moved to moodier and darker colors. These lemon leaf plates are from that mid-1960s - 1970s era. Each plate measures 8 1/4" in diameter and 1" high and weighs a hefty 14 oz each. A lovely set for a garden inspired party table!

SECLA (Sociedade de Exportação de Cerâmica, Lda.) was founded in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, in 1947. The town had been a historic hub for naturalistic and majolica pottery since the 15th century, but its industry consisted mostly of small, fragmented, family-operated workshops. SECLA was designed as a large-scale manufacturing enterprise aimed at building up Portugal's post-WWII economic growth so the company focused heavily on foreign markets. Hence, the company became one of Portugal’s leading exporters of high-quality earthenware, tableware, and ovenware during the mid-20th century, shipping directly to households and boutiques in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. As early as the 1950s, SECLA hired iconic Portuguese and international painters, sculptors, and ceramists to experiment with new shapes, glazes, and technologies. Through fusion of art and mass production, SECLA popularized everything from functional chic kitchen goods to the iconic naturalistic relief pieces like their vibrantly glazed cabbage, artichoke, and lettuce dinnerware lines. In addition, SECLA modernized the plate design to suit the times by streamlining the designs, flattening the plates for easier stacking and introducing new patterns and trendier colors. When globalization of production started to send hand made work to Asia, global sales for SECLA items fell, eventually lead to closure of the operation in 2008. The legacy of SECLA's pieces now lies in the collectors' market. See less