Mid-Century Signed Wishon Harrell California Midcentury Modern Studio Pottery Ashtray

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Vtg Signed Wishon Harrell California Midcentury Modern Studio Pottery Ashtray
Aprox. dimensions: 9" diameter
Very good original condition! No chips … Read more Vtg Signed Wishon Harrell California Midcentury Modern Studio Pottery Ashtray
Aprox. dimensions: 9" diameter
Very good original condition! No chips or cracks!

James Wishon and Jerry Harrell began their professional pottery careers working for Frank Willett at Willett Studios in Pico Rivera, California. Both Willett and Wishon had work included in the California Design 9 exhibit. As I understand it, Willett and Wishon threw the ware and Jerry Harrell did much of the glaze decoration.

In 1971, when Willett moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Wishon and Harrell began their partnership as Wishon-Harrell Pottery. The first location was in Santa Ana, California then La Jolla (San Diego). Along with changing times and taste, I suspect a little homesickness sent them East. For a short time they made ware in Durango, Colorado and eventually (mid-1980s) found their home in Muncie, Indiana. (I'm pretty sure that at least Jerry Harrell, and maybe both were originally from Indiana.)

The pictures above show, first, two pieces signed Wishon. Pieces signed only Wishon almost certainly date from before 1971. The second picture shows two similarly shaped bottle vases from Willett Studios - the large one is signed Willett, the small one is signed Wishon. The last picture again shows two similarly shaped vases from Willett Studios - both have Willett Studios stickers and die-stamps and both are signed Wishon. See less