In 1929 several smaller potteries joined together to form the American Chinaware Corporation and Thorley was hired as “Assistant to the President on Art and Styling.” As the economy began to slide into the Great Depression this new organization tried to attract more customers by expanding the number of styles offered to the public. Among Thorley’s innovative designs is the “Nouvelle” shape seen here. The pieces feature shiny metallic outlines whose “streamlined” appearance came to dominate design in housewares as well as architecture for the rest of the decade.

 

 

 

 

Platter and Plate, 1930
Nouvelle Shape, Top O’ The Hill pattern
Leigh Potters or Knowles, Taylor, and Knowles, American Chinaware Corporation
East Liverpool, Ohio Area
Whiteware