Hull-House Kilns was a commercial enterprise that created hand-made dinnerware and decorative ceramics. It was known for is Mexican inspired colors, specifically an orange-red glaze. [1] [2]
Hull-House Kilns was established as part of the Chicago settlement house, Hull House. The program was developed by the potter Myrtle Merritt French (1886-1970). [3] She began teaching pottery at Hull House in 1924. The classes were first attended by Mexican immigrants in Chicago, and then by African Americans. [1] A notable potter working at Hull-House Kilns was Jesús Torres. [4]
By 1927 the enterprise began producing pottery commercially. [5] The workshop was located in the Boys’ Club Building of the settlement house. [6] The pottery was sold through the Hull House store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and through Macy's department store in New York City. [1] Hull-House pottery can be considered a precursor to Fiesta dinnerware. [6] In 1937 Hull-House Kilns closed. It was unable to remain viable during the Great Depression and the rise of larger commercial pottery operations. [1]
In 2000 the University of Illinois Chicago held an exhibit entitled Pots of Promise: Mexicans and Pottery at Hull-House, 1920-40. The accompanying catalogue was published by the University of Illinois Press. [7]
Examples of Hull-House Kilns pottery are in the Art Institute of Chicago [8] and the Hull House Museum. [9]
Hull-House Kilns was a commercial enterprise that created hand-made dinnerware and decorative ceramics. It was known for is Mexican inspired colors, specifically an orange-red glaze. [1] [2]
Hull-House Kilns was established as part of the Chicago settlement house, Hull House. The program was developed by the potter Myrtle Merritt French (1886-1970). [3] She began teaching pottery at Hull House in 1924. The classes were first attended by Mexican immigrants in Chicago, and then by African Americans. [1] A notable potter working at Hull-House Kilns was Jesús Torres. [4]
By 1927 the enterprise began producing pottery commercially. [5] The workshop was located in the Boys’ Club Building of the settlement house. [6] The pottery was sold through the Hull House store on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and through Macy's department store in New York City. [1] Hull-House pottery can be considered a precursor to Fiesta dinnerware. [6] In 1937 Hull-House Kilns closed. It was unable to remain viable during the Great Depression and the rise of larger commercial pottery operations. [1]
In 2000 the University of Illinois Chicago held an exhibit entitled Pots of Promise: Mexicans and Pottery at Hull-House, 1920-40. The accompanying catalogue was published by the University of Illinois Press. [7]
Examples of Hull-House Kilns pottery are in the Art Institute of Chicago [8] and the Hull House Museum. [9]