• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flour Child logo

  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Privacy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Classic Cocktails
  • Dinners
  • About Us
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Let's Dish » Franciscan Ware Dinnerware is Whimsical and Wonderful

    Published: Aug 5, 2020 · Modified: Jun 17, 2021 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Franciscan Ware Dinnerware is Whimsical and Wonderful

    Franciscan Ware was earthenware produced in Southern California, and it led the way in mid century patterns and colors. They ranged from space age to modern, and also included some traditional favorites like their famous apple pattern.

    The Franciscan Starburst dinnerware was a spacey and whimsical design on glazed pottery was an instant classic. It was fun and colorful and reflected American's post-war prosperity and exuberance.
    Zany Starburst is still a mid century favorite dinnerware line.

    Franciscan Starburst became an Instant Classic

    The highly collectible Franciscan Starburst dinnerware was originally produced in Los Angeles by Franciscan Ware, a division of Gladding-McBean & Company. Eventually Gladding & McBean sold the company, and that started a long trail of further sales and acquisitions that limited production. Some of their patterns are still being produced, but unfortunately Starburst isn't one of them. This pattern, with its zany shapes and colored dots, is sought after by mid century enthusiasts and is quite pricey when you can find it. We have a few treasured pieces, and the bowl pictures below is one of our favorites.

    The 10" Cooker from Franciscan Ware was a space age dream.
    Franciscan Ware offered a full line of dishware, from plates to cookers to candle sticks.

    An instant hit, Starburst was a departure from the usual flowers and colors of the dinnerware designs of that time. The pattern exemplified the prosperity and exuberance of post-war America much the same way as tail fins on cars did. It also hinted at atomic power, which influenced designs for cars and even appliances.

    Whimsical and Spacey Dinnerware is a thing?

    I personally was not aware of mid century dinnerware as a 'thing'. Then last February we attended Modernism Week in Palm Springs. If you're not familiar with Modernism Week, then do yourself a favor and head over to their site. It's a week-long festival of all things mid century. It offers art and architectural tours, exhibits, lectures, and best of all -- SALES! Evenings are spent enjoying cocktail parties and mid century fashion shows at famous homes previously owned by notable stars such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Chat with experts while sipping a cocktail and enjoying the glorious Palm Springs weather!

    Franciscan Ware Oasis pattern was also fun with beautiful blue pastel shades and cool lines.
    Franciscan Ware Oasis was another fun pattern with beautiful colors and lines.

    One of the events Nancy signed us up for was a small exhibit on dinnerware. With really no expectations of what that session would hold, we wandered into the Library building where it was held and were the first ones in. There, an expert walked us through a portion of his collection and explained the design, manufacturing and use of several different types of dinnerware. I had a blast! It was fun looking at the various patterns and learning how mid century dinnerware really changed things in that industry. This was the first time that style really played a role in what people bought and used in the kitchen. Yes, it had to perform well, but how did it look? Those and many new questions were now normal.

    Gone but certainly not forgotten

    Once the 70's came along, many of these ultra cool dishes were well worn and either discarded or put into storage where they sat and gathered dust. Several years ago that began to change thanks to enthusiasts like us. You can still find some pristine examples out there at flea markets and antique stores -- and the hunt is half the fun! Certainly eBay has many listings for Starburst, but that kinda takes some of the fun out of the hunt of finding that missing piece.

    Do you have any Franciscan Ware in your collection? What's your favorite pattern or piece?

    More Let's Dish

    • Pyrex starburst cinderella casserole dish on a table
      Let's Dish -- About The Pyrex Cinderella Serving Casserole - "Atomic Starburst"
    • Two examples of Dorothy Thorpe glasses
      Let's Dish About Dorothy Thorpe Iconic Cocktail Glasses
    • 2014 Orange and Turquoise Coquelles on a travertine surface
      Let's Dish About Le Creuset's Raymond Loewy Coquelle
    • JAJ Pyrex Flora pattern oval casserole dish in a silver stand
      Let's Dish About Vintage JAJ British Pyrex

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kate says

      September 24, 2020 at 7:55 pm

      These are beautiful! Franciscan has some of the most iconic midcentury dinnerware designs. My favorite pattern of theirs is the "Contours" pattern but I haven't found many examples of it. The search continues!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

      Summer Favorites

      • A stack of grilled beef ribs on a wooden cutting board.
        Grilled Barbecued Beef Short Ribs
      • Six ears of grilled, browned corn stacked on a wooden serving tray.
        Grilled Corn on the Cob (In the Husk)
      • A pitcher of old fashioned lemonade ready to pour into the 4 surrounding glasses that are garnished with a lemon wedge.
        Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade
      • A cast iron skillet full of barbecued beans, with a wooden spoon set on the edge of the pan.
        Fast and Easy Homemade Barbecued Beans
      • A serving of classic potato salad on a green salad plate. Paprika is sprinkled on top.
        Classic Potato Salad Recipe
      • A rectangular serving plate with 7 watermelon wedges stacked, with a large square serving plate behind it and one quarter of a whole watermelon on it.
        Sliced Watermelon Wedges

      Soups & Stews

      • Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
      • A bowl of lasagna soup with shredded cheese on top and basil garnish. A glass of wine and a hot roll are pictured next to the bowl.
        Easy Lasagna Soup (Stovetop and Crockpot Methods)
      • Bowl of simple lentil soup served with French bread on the side.
        Simple Lentil Soup Recipe
      • A close up image of vegetable barley soup in a white bowl
        Old Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup
      • Super Bowl Chili Is The Perfect Football Food
      • Two bowls of beef burgundy stew with a loaf of French bread sitting on a table
        Beef Burgundy Stew - Warm Comfort on a Cold Night

      Popular Recipes

      • Two large cinnamon apple pancakes on a black plate with apple topping and maple syrup running down the sides.
        Cinnamon Apple Pancakes
      • Boneless apple cider pork chops on a serving platter, topped with cooked apples and surrounded with fresh sprigs of parsley.
        Boneless Apple Cider Pork Chops
      • Candy Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
      • An apple butter old fashioned cocktail in a tumbler with apples and fall-related items in the background
        Sip into Fall: How to Make the Perfect Apple Butter Old-Fashioned Cocktail

      • Email
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      Nancy and Bentley

      Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

      More about me →

        Summer Favorites

        • A stack of grilled beef ribs on a wooden cutting board.
          Grilled Barbecued Beef Short Ribs
        • Six ears of grilled, browned corn stacked on a wooden serving tray.
          Grilled Corn on the Cob (In the Husk)
        • A pitcher of old fashioned lemonade ready to pour into the 4 surrounding glasses that are garnished with a lemon wedge.
          Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade
        • A cast iron skillet full of barbecued beans, with a wooden spoon set on the edge of the pan.
          Fast and Easy Homemade Barbecued Beans
        • A serving of classic potato salad on a green salad plate. Paprika is sprinkled on top.
          Classic Potato Salad Recipe
        • A rectangular serving plate with 7 watermelon wedges stacked, with a large square serving plate behind it and one quarter of a whole watermelon on it.
          Sliced Watermelon Wedges

        Soups & Stews

        • A bowl of baked potato soup topped with bacon, green onions, shredded cheddar, and a dollop of sour cream
          The Best Baked Potato Soup
        • Split Pea and Ham Soup is an Old Fashioned Meal in a Bowl
        • Traditional Navy Bean Soup in a blue bowl with spoon.
          Navy Bean Soup is a Traditional Favorite

        Popular Recipes

        • Apple butter on top of a fluffy biscuit on a white plate.
          Homemade Slow Cooked Apple Butter
        • Apple Brown Betty in a parfait glass, with a scoop of ice cream and a cinnamon stick on top.
          Apple Brown Betty: An Orchard to Oven Treat
        • Carmel apple with a wooden stick set on a piece of parchment paper, ready to serve.
          Easy Taffy Apples Recipe (Caramel Apples)
        • A garden salad on a white salad plate, with Thousand Island dressing being spooned over it.
          Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

        Footer

        ↑ back to top

        About

        • Privacy Policy
        • Accessibility Policy

        Newsletter

        • Sign Up! for emails and updates

        Contact

        • Contact

        As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

        Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme