lettuce ware

Bursting onto the scene in the 1960s, Lettuce Ware, the charming handmade pottery seen above, immediately became a staple in Palm Beach. In fact, during this time, it was a widely spread notion that the true mark of a socialite and exceptional hostess was a tabletop boasting cabbage-shaped dishes, cups, and tureens handcrafted by Dodie Thayer, affectionately known as the “Pottery Queen of Palm Beach." Her pieces were so popular that Thayer's devoted customers would wait for months on end (sometimes even years) to purchase one as each ceramic was hand-molded using real pieces of lettuce and then fired in her garage-based kiln. Notable admirers of her work include Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis, Bunny Mellon, the Duchess of Windsor, Brooke Astor, and C.Z. Guest, whose collections have sold for astronomical amounts at auctions.

Lettuce ware is perhaps just as coveted today as it was 60 years ago thanks to its recent resurgence in popularity. Since the 1960s, there have been many reproductions resembling the originals, including the current collection at Tory Burch, created in collaboration with Dodie Thayer, to make the ceramic pieces more accessible to the general public.

And of course, it would be remiss to mention lettuce ware and not Bordallo Pinhero, the Portugal company founded in 1884 by master artist and designer Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro. In fact, some of the most well-known pieces of majolica lettuce ware were crafted by Bordallo Pinheiro over 100 years ago and those pieces are still being produced today!

So, if you are looking to start an impactful collection that packs a punch of color, whimsy, and pays homage to the ethereal days of Palm Beach, then take a peek at lettuce ware! Happy Hunting!