1935 University of California Wedgwood Grand Lot: UC Berkeley Founders Rock Cal

Description: The Quintessential University of California, Berkeley 1935 Wedgwood Eleven-Piece Collection, from the Founders Rock Diamond Jubilee: The Ultimate Cal Alumni Collector's Acquisition *Please read all the specifications of the pieces in this collection, and closely review all photos, before making the decision to purchase it. If you are familiar with this Wedgwood edition or would otherwise like to skip to the specifications, they are listed in detail below, preceded by this device: >>* Arguably the most beautiful of all the timeless Wedgwood University of California transferware editions, the Founders Rock Diamond Jubilee collection features G. Elwood Hoover and Clyde Sunderland's exquisitely detailed designs and images of classic campus views in a gorgeous teal green, which is set in stunning compliment against Wedgwood's cream colored bone china queensware. (For clarity, as this can be confusing, I should emphasize that this entire collection is from a unique edition for the 1935 Founders Rock Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 75 years since those namesake men from the UC's ancestral College of California stood at that namesake site, and declared that this was where their new campus would stand, in 1860. These pieces are NOT from the much more common 1943 Diamond Jubilee edition [commemorating the 75th anniversary of the University's official founding, in 1868], which is, in essence, a duplicate or reissue of this edition.) This intricate, nearly photorealistic transferware imagery comes to life and puts us right there at the University in 1935 and earlier. Our reunion tour begins high above it all - as if we've flown in and are descending for a very exclusive on-site landing - from whence we take in the entire campus as it was in '35, in Hoover and Sunderland's "University Panorama" aerial, bordered by the collection's trademark California poppy pattern on the prodigious 16.5-inch service platter. (As a Bay Area local and longtime Berkeley / Oakland resident myself, the changes in that view are as stupefying as the many parts that have stayed the same are delightful.) Sunderland - whose role must have been as an aerial photographer, illustrator, or aviation specialist of some kind - takes his leave here, as the remaining ten pieces feature Hoover's art exclusively. (As a side note for those who are as interested in the story behind everything as I am: I've learned an interesting fact about our artist here, from a Berkeley history buff and fellow eBayer named Ken. The virtuoso responsible for the beauty and existence of this entire series in all its editions, G. Elwood Hoover, was better known in life as Grace Hoover [later North]. Undoubtedly pressed to conceal her gender under that abbreviated professional signature, and likely compensated for her effort and skill with a mere pittance compared to what a less talented man would have received, Grace Hoover represents the hope, determination and successes of the many women and their allies who have made the University of California such a powerhouse and sanctuary of equal rights from the beginning. Enrolling women alongside men as a coeducational institution in the 19th century was, of course, merely the first brave move among many - from civil rights leadership to paving the way for today's standards in accessibility for individuals with disabilities - and Grace Hoover was likewise one of many courageous and gifted women in this quiet movement; but I believe that anything bearing her artwork should come with such an explanation, honoring her legacy by correcting the assumption that "G. Elwood" was a man.) Back on terra firma, Hoover - who is more than capable - continues our reunion tour on foot, from vantage points as familiar as home. Her skilled, impassioned and nuanced hand casts these images in stunning detail, evoking equal parts convincing realism and romantic drama. First, we approach the school from the west and see its classic, 20th century white buildings framed against the hills as they appeared in 1935, on the exterior of the second substantial, grand-sized dish: the 11.5-inch serving bowl. Rotating the bowl in either direction, we're greeted by one of the two handsome and sharp University of California seals, on our way to another view of campus on the bowl's opposite side - this one from the young days of the school, in 1888, and its venerable inaugural structures: North Hall, The Civil Engineering (and/or original Mining) Building, Bacon Hall/Library, and South Hall. A quick hop above the hills again reveals the interior of the bowl, which is tastefully adorned with the familiar design element that threads the collection together and is present on every piece: the ringed California poppy pattern border. From here, our tour meanders through the grounds as Hoover guides us to nine of the best and most famous sites and highlights of the University of California's historic campus, on the collection's set of unique 10.25-inch dinner plates. Ringed by a selection of other famed campus landmarks (such as the Campanile at the apex of each plate) and the familiar inner border of poppies, these plates each serve as an individual canvas for Hoover's portraits of the following sites, buildings and views, labeled on back with their ribbon-cutting dates: Bacon Hall (aka Bacon Library) - 1881 The Greek Theater - 1903 The University (Doe) Library - 1911 Bowles Hall - 1928 Giannini Hall - 1930 International House - 1930 Faculty Glade **Benjamin Ide Wheeler Hall - 1917 **View of the Golden Gate from the Campus **Repaired - see notes, below Joining the vast and majestic platter, and the stately serving bowl, these nine individual setting plates (I've also seen them referred to as cabinet plates or chargers, though I'm not sure which is technically accurate) bring the ensemble's count to eleven pieces, its grand sum here. It should be noted, however, that twelve of these individual plates were made in this edition, and that there are other types of dishes in the series - cups and saucers at the very least, and likely some other large serving vessels; these are all out there to be collected. So, while this lot includes a substantial number of all the different pieces from Wedgwood's 1935 University of California Founders Rock Diamond Jubilee tableware series, it also leaves room for plenty of enjoyment in locating and acquiring additional pieces. Furthermore, your collection can be supplemented with dishes from other editions Wedgwood made for the University - such as the aforementioned 1943 Diamond Jubilee release, and the 1932 First Edition - which are virtually indistinguishable from this set apart from the information, designs and identifying marks on their bases. **IMPORTANT: Two individual setting plates in this collection are repaired, from previous damage. "View of the Golden Gate from the Campus" and "Benjamin Ide Wheeler Hall" sustained cracks, which have been mended with a strong adhesive (prior to my acquisition of the collection). These are nearly invisible on the faces of the plates (you almost certainly wouldn't notice them if you weren't looking for them), but evident on their backs/bases. The Golden Gate plate was neatly cleaved in two, with just a single crack on its right side (from the front). The Wheeler plate's main fracture is similarly located, but the resulting shard split in two - resulting in a second full crack; two hairline fissures also formed across the center of the plate, but did not cross the full diameter or result in complete breaks or cracks. All of these described rifts and repairs are clearly highlighted in images in this listing's gallery. For a collector whose desire is only to display these heirlooms, these two plates will still function wonderfully. If the collection is to be used as actual dinnerware, however, it would likely be best to leave this pair out for the meal. For dining purposes, this set is officially sufficient for seven people. The remaining seven plates, the large platter, and the serving bowl are in excellent condition, with zero found chips, cracks, or repairs, and with only age-consistent light crazing and surface contact marks on their undersides to illustrate their age and service. ** To summarize all of this, and list out all the important details in one (relatively) succinct cluster of words: >>This collection includes the following dishes; all **except last two in list** in excellent condition and free of chips, cracks or other damage; some with expected and acceptable light crazing; some with small spots of discoloration on their bases commensurate with 87 years of service or display; all stamped with date codes of 1935 or '36, "WEDGWOOD" and "MADE IN ENGLAND" on their bases: One (1) extra large 16.25" serving plate/platter displaying aerial view of campus in 1935, with California poppy pattern border; one (1) large 11.5" serving bowl adorned with two University Seals and views of campus in 1888 and 1935 on exterior, and California poppy pattern inside; seven (7) 10.25" individual dinner plates or chargers featuring one unique building or campus location per plate (see list and photos), with outer ring of additional structures and trees, and California poppy pattern; **and two (2) more bonus plates, which have repaired cracks (see **notes, above, and photos). In addition to the impressed stamps noted above, all pieces feature the following imprints on their bases: "WEDGWOOD ETRURIA ENGLAND"; "FOUNDERS ROCK DIAMOND JUBILEE EDITION APRIL 16TH, 1860APRIL 16TH, 1935"; "DESIGNS BY G. ELWOOD HOOVER. [plus 'AND CLYDE SUNDERLAND' on platter] COPYRIGHT 1935 BY CALIFORNIA PLATES."; "(PATENT APPLIED FOR)"; and "JONES MCDUFFEE & STRATTON CO. BOSTON" (importers). >>Please carefully study all photos in the gallery, as they are an integral part of this description and the precise details of these items. Please contact me with any and all questions, information, or comments - don't hesitate, as this can be crucial to your delight in acquiring and owning this collection, and because I'm inviting it and encouraging you to do so! And finally A NOTE ON SHIPPING This order will be professionally packaged, guaranteed and insured by UPS and The UPS Store, using their own proprietary materials. This incurs extra costs, but for this treasury of breakable, valuable, historic and irreplaceable assets, I'm utilizing the best and most guaranteed services available on this platform. (I've shipped glassware, framed art, antique ceramics, and other fragile valuables with The UPS Store's Pack and Ship Guarantee, and I've shipped those things using other services, and everything has always arrived safely and intact as intended with the former. With other services, including my own hyper-meticulous, bomb-proof packing work, items have been damaged and ruined. UPS knows they're on the hook for the insured amount when they do the packing, and they make sure those packages are coddled along the entire journey. And the thought of any piece in this lot breaking is enough to rule out any other choice.) Insurance alone on this shipment will cost upwards of $30. The combined weight of these 11 pieces is nearly 20 pounds. Every item in the set requires a box greater than 12 inches in two dimensions, meaning "oversized" charges (the platter needs at least 22 inches squared, which takes the non-machinable / dimensional weight / large package surcharge fees into the astronomical realm!). In short, it will cost $200 to ship this order to the next town over. The West Coast, over $300. Back east eesh. IN SUMMARY (sorry!), the shipping charge you see here will cover SOME of the cost. The rest will come out of my profit, of which our hosts here are already taking more than 20 percent. The shipping price on this listing is a big number, but please understand that it is merely the portion I ask you to pay, as I pay for the remainder - the insurance, materials charge from UPS, and any extra costs associated with their labor. We share the burden of this cost. Thank you for your interest and, if you've read all of this, your time and dedication! Again, please get in touch with me to discuss anything whatsoever about this offering. As you can see, I enjoy writing about it.

Price: 1350 USD

Location: Provo, Utah

End Time: 2024-02-11T23:44:42.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD