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VOL. 44, NO. 12 FRIDAY MARCH 22, 2013
True Originals: Ceramics By Josef
T
By Donald-Brian Johnson Betty Cleminson enjoyed long ed, her father would display
here are thousands of them. Literally. Enter the words “Josef Originals” on any online auction site, and prepare to be overwhelmed. Limitless listings appear, each of a fetching ceramic figurine ripe for the picking. There are hoop-skirted maidens, birthday party girls bearing birthstonebedecked bouquets, sleeping Santas, and mischievous choir boys. Poodles. Pussycats. Kimono-clad geishas, graceful ballerinas, playful pixies, and winsome young lovers. What do they all have in common?
careers that began in just this way. So did Muriel Joseph George. From “Muriel” to “Josef” In the early 1940s, then-single Muriel Joseph began to establish a name for herself via a limited line of handcrafted jewelry. While unique, her Lucite-leatherAustrian crystal creations were both time-consuming and expensive to produce. Their of-necessity higher selling prices proved unattractive to wartime buyers, so Muriel turned to ceramic as a less-costly medium. At the “Keen Ha” and same time, she “Keen Torre” geishas, began experiJosef Originals California. 12” h., menting with $125-150/pr. the creation of Each and every one owes its exis- ceramic figurines. tence to the creative mind of Highly detailed, designer Muriel Joseph George. these “Muriel of California: California” designs Ceramics Central were precursors of the Like many of her California creative deluge that ceramics contemporaries, followed. Muriel’s career soared (and then Encouraged by soured) due to events far beyond the positive reaction her control. During the World of her family, War II years of the 1940s, inex- including pensive giftware imports from new husoverseas were cut off. To keep band Tom consumers satisfied (and store G e o r g e , shelves filled), retailers turned to M u r i e l domestic manufacturers. Most of decided to those manufacturers were, at least focus full in their initial years, “momattention on and-pop” operations (usually figural produc“mom”). They operated out of tion. In 1945, converted storage sheds, “ J o s e f kitchens, basements, or, in Originals” set up shop Muriel’s case, the family in the couple’s Arcadia, garage. Calif., garage. (According to So that products could company legend, the “Josef” be sold inexpensively, name came about as a printer’s yet still result in a error. The initial batch of profit for the budding labels for the first run entrepreneurs, both of the firm’s figurines arrived with “Joseph” misLace accent girl, incised spelled. With a “Josef Originals.” 5-1/2” release h., $30-35. deadline looming, overhead and Muriel staffing were kept decided at minimal the misprint l e v e l s . had a catchy Talent, howring to it, and ever, was at a “Josef Originals” m a x i m u m . was born.) California’s cottage In today’s carefully industry in ceramics (plus the pre-planned manufacturing world occasional geographical anomaly, of crossed “T’s” and dotted “I’s,” such as Madison’s Ceramic Arts we can only marvel at the seat-ofStudio) allowed artisans your-pants ingenuity that went into whose abilities might ensuring the success of such have been smothstart-ups as “Josef.” In ered in a more trathe market for a sales ditional work rep? If you’re enterenvironment to prising Muriel Joseph flourish. Such George, you call on ceramic design the talents of your mavens of the 1940s father, already a and ‘50s as Hedi salesman for other Schoop, Betty Lou companies. Muriel Nichols, Betty encouraged him to Harrington, and bring one of her earliest figurines, “Pitty “Lamb,” Josef Originals Sing,” along on sales Japan. 3” h., $15-20. calls. With other business complet-
Muriel’s tiny charmer to his clients. Orders were immediate for this Oriental-themed rendition of a child in an oversized conical hat, posed with a fluffy kitten. “Pitty Sing” became the first big hit for Josef Originals, and the firm’s one kiln operated day and night in order to meet demand. A Series of Successes Well into the 1950s, business boomed for Josef Originals. Soon outgrowing its makeshift garage surroundings, the firm moved to a dedicated production facility in Monrovia. Muriel knew exactly what her customers
- “Big Sisters and Little boxes, lady head vases, pin trays, soap dishes, lipstick holders, wall Sisters” (one for each!) plaques, pie birds, music - “Little Gourmets” (tiny boxes, bells, mugs, ceramic cooks served up favorite ashtrays, bride-andconcoctions) groom cake toppers, - “Belle Girls” (the skirt of and a sleigh-ful of each doll was—you guessed it—a assorted holiday bell) ware. Crossover tie- “You Are An Angel” (beguilins included the ing angel figurines with gold“Secret Pals” series, tipped wings) with Josef fig- “Ecology Girls” (the naturebased decoration on these 1970s figurines illustrated a variety of plant life, from “Marie Antoinette,”, Josef Originals California. 5-3/4” h., $30-35.
cattails to mushrooms) The possibili“Simone,” Josef ties for new and Originals California. varied series of 6-1/4” h., $30-35. figurines was endless, and eventually, Muriel explored most of them. Her series concepts could be inspired by a childhood activity—an historical period or even a favorite catch phrase. Among the many Josef series introduced throughout the years were “Nursery Rhymes,” “Make
urines designed to match specific Hallmark greeting cards. A Signature Style Easy-to-relate-to themes were one element of the Josef appeal. Even more important, however, was
“Koi & Poi” Hawaiian children, Josef Originals California. 4-1/4” h., 4-1/2” h., $30-40/pr.
wanted, and happily provided it. There were no outré Dorothy Kindell nudes or Yona exotics emerging from the Josef studio. Instead, Muriel focused on readily accessible themes with universal appeal. Among the most popular Josef lines are the following: - “Birthstone Dolls” (on each, the dress and birthstone colors matched) - “Birthday Girls” (available numerals covered all ages up to 21) - “Dolls of the Month” (there were 12, of course) - “Day Of the Week Dolls” (seven, naturally) - “Little Pets” (each little ceramic girl cuddled an even littler ceramic animal) - “Career Girls” (among them a teacher, a florist, a nurse, an actress-and a debutante!) - “Little Commandment Dolls” (Muriel’s twelve “commandments” were more on the order of a guide to graciousness. For example, “be loving and giving”) - “Little Internationals” (29 countries made the roll call in this series) - “Flower Girls” (each figurine’s sun hat was a different flower)
Believe,” “Let’s Pretend,” “Little Homemakers,” “Dress-Ups,” “A Little Girl’s Dreams,” “Mama & Baby,” “Summer Days,” “American Colonial Days,” “Four Seasons,” “Moments To Remember,” “Sweet Memories,” “First the overall skill of execution. Love,” and “My Favorite Particularly throughout the Things.” In addition to purely decorative 1950s, when Josef was based in pieces, Josef Originals occa- California, the figurines, both in design and realization, are sionally turned out exquisite. The colors are “double-duty” restful pastels and the finfigurines. ishes glossy, with Particularly embellishments includpopular ing applied gold accents, spaghettiwork, and jew“Teddy & eled trim. Carol” bouMuriel specialized in quet couple, Josef Originals depicting children (adult California. 5” h., Josef figurines are few $30-40/pr. and far between), and these are children that look like children. Their proportions, poses, and facial features—the alwaysblack eyes, wideopen or demurely downcast, the button noses and shy smiles—were carefully observed from real life and lovingly recreated. Muriel’s innate creative talents found their best realization not only in themes were the “statement” her figcombined to enhance sales, resulting in such mash-ups as urines made (“childhood recapthe “Twelve Month Musical Dolls tured”), but in just how artisticalWith Birthstones.” Also on the ly and effectively that statement market: Josef planters, vases, can- was conveyed. (Continued on page 2) dleholders, towel rings, trinket