Taawa Ware – 1934

In 1934, Gladding, McBean introduced their first decorated dinnerware patterns named Taawa Ware on the El Patio shape. Taawa Ware was designed by an Hawaiian named Osmond Wall Jr. He based the designs of Taawa Ware on Hawaiian Tapa cloth designs. The first order may have been a special order by Gumps in Honolulu and sold exclusively in their Honolulu shop. By October of 1934, Gladding, McBean added the line to their dinnerware and art ware lines in their dealer price list catalog.

Taawa Ware was an informal table and tea service decorated in underglaze stains. There were a number of patterns. Patterns A-D were patterns carved into plates through a layer of color. Patterns A-D were made in four colors: brown, yellow, green, and blue. Initials, designs, and names could be carved into the plates at an additional cost.

Patterns E-H were painted underglaze in bright colors with a creamy background.

In October, 1934, the following items could be ordered. Other items were added after this date including a coffeepot & covered carafe.

• Bread & Butter Plate 6.5″
• Salad Plate 7.5″
• Small Dinner Plate 9.5″
• Large Dinner Plate 10.5″
• Serving Plate 14″
• Buffet Supper Plate 17″
• Cup & Saucer, El Patio Shape
• Creamer, El Patio Shape
• Sugar Bowl, El Patio Shape
• Teapot, El Patio Shape
• Tea Tile, El Patio Shape
• Sherbet Cup, El Patio Shape
• Salad Bowl, El Patio Shape

A special combination was offered as a Tea Set in one carton consisting of:

• 8 Salad Plates
• 8 Cup & Saucers
• 1 Toast Plate 10.5″
• 1 Teapot
• 1 Tea Tile
• 1 Creamer
• 1 Sugar
• 1 Salad Bowl
• 1 Sherbet Cup for Jam

The Tea Set came only in patterns A, B, C, F, G, or H. Unfortunately images of the patterns A through H have not been documented.

Notes: The existence of Taawa Ware was not discovered until after the book Franciscan, Catalina, and Other Gladding, McBean Wares was published. Taawa Ware was the first decorated ware produced by Gladding, McBean. Osmond Wall Jr. may have or may have not been employed at Gladding, McBean. Most designs were outsourced to consultants and designers by Mary Grant, the unofficial design director when dinnerware and art ware was introduced in 1934.

Taawa Ware’s exact date of discontinuation is unknown. It is known Taawa Ware does not appear in a catalog from 1936, so it had to have been discontinued before 1936.

Taawa Ware sometimes has the oval GMcB bug mark though often times is not marked.

• Special thanks to Jeffrey Allen Smythe for his great detective work on finding the designer of Taawa Ware.