Franciscan Hand-Decorated Embossed Dinnerware [Hardcover]

James F. Elliot-Bishop (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2007

California-based Gladding, McBean & Co. began producing Franciscan dinnerware in the 1930s. Their introduction of Franciscan Apple in 1940 heralded a new product line featuring heavily sculpted, embossed dinnerware hand-decorated in brilliant colors. Desert Rose, introduced a year later, became the top selling dinnerware pattern in the world. Many additional patterns were produced through 1984, when the Franciscan plant in Glendale, California was closed. This comprehensive guide focuses solely on Franciscan hand-decorated embossed dinnerware manufactured in the United States and includes Apple, Desert Rose (and its three variations), Wild Flowers, Ivy, Fruit, California Poppy, October, Forget-Me-Not, Strawberry Fair, Strawberry Time, Fresh Fruit, Bountiful, Rosette, and Bouquet. Over 430 color photos illustrate these highly collectible pieces while the captions provide values, sizes, and other information for each pattern. An extensive company history and detailed shape listings are included. This is the complete reference for collectors of Franciscan hand-painted embossed dinnerware.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764319868
• ISBN-13: 978-0764319860
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,043,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, August 13, 2004

By 

Franciscan is Best "Franciscan is Best" (Palm Springs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Franciscan Hand-Decorated Embossed Dinnerware (Hardcover)

I love this book. I have known James for about 10 years. He has been collecting Franciscan dishes and patterns like Desert Rose and Apple and Ivy for over 25 years now. This is the best book for a Franciscan California Pottery or dinnerware collector.There is information on Catalina Ceramics and Art deco. There are unique bits of information that only a seasoned collector would know.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Franciscan Hand-decorated Embossed Dinnerware, March 16, 2006

By 

Brenda Freeman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Franciscan Hand-Decorated Embossed Dinnerware (Hardcover)

Excellent reference book and also very interesting. This book answered all my questions. Highly recommend.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Franciscan Reference Book Available!, August 22, 2009

By 

K. Banks "Iced Tea Lover" (Grand Junction, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Franciscan Hand-Decorated Embossed Dinnerware (Hardcover)

If you want to learn all about the Gladding-McBean Company and the evolution of the Franciscan Hand-Decorated dinnerware they produced for the greater part of the 20th century, this is the best reference guide you can find! Highlighting the most popular patterns in detail, I have found the answer to every question I had in this one book!