Wow, we had some amazing California pottery finds at an estate sale today. I couldn’t believe that these wonderfully modern Franciscan “Contours” dishes by Gladding McBean were still available when we got to the sale. This is a lesson in estate/ garage sales - I know people say you always have to be the first ones in line to get the best things. But I’ll take a little knowledge over early morning lines any day. And we’ve been having a ton of luck purposely going late to estate sales.

This sale started at 8 am, but I got there late after 1pm. Actually, I almost ended up skipping it because I’d remember the Craigslist description didn’t seem that exciting. Plus, they had blocked off nearly all the roads leading to the sale! I was following the signs and they led right to roads that were completely blocked.

These dishes were just sitting in the front room on a table. I couldn’t believe it, because I’ve been looking for them for quite awhile. They are actually rather rare, having been produced for only one year (1955-1956 according to Chipman). The ultra modern pieces were designed by George James and feature extremely thin and delicate china. I’ve been almost too afraid to handle them because they’re so delicate.

I believe they came in several different solid colors (gray, sandalwood, dawn) as well as gold leaf patterned designs like these. I’m not entirely sure yet which designs are which, and if the dishes I got were meant to go together or if they were from different sets. I was only disappointed that there weren’t any more!

I think that they may have been passed over because they weren’t exactly “thriftstore” cheap, and you would probably have to know what line they were because the “Contours” name isn’t on the bottom. Certainly the lady there in charge of the estate had no idea, except that they were Franciscan. They are marked, but only with the Franciscan name. The three pieces have item numbers 47, 53 and 22. I still have to try and figure out which items these are - pretty sure that it’s a vase, vegetable serving bowl and an elongated tray of sorts. The shapes are amazing and it’s a wonder that the little atomic feet on the bottom haven’t broken off. The vase does have a little flaw near the bottom that may be a manufacturing craze or crack. But I’m certainly not complaining!

Updated: I found a listing for the shapes for Contours Looks like I have a #47 Large Elipse Bowl, #53 Small Open End Tray and #22 Large Tube Vase. Interesting that the brochure says that those were not decorated items, since all of the ones I have are decorated.