Finding aid for the Max and Rita Lawrence Architectural Pottery Records, ca. 1950-1994 LSC.1587
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
A Chronology of ARCHITECTURAL POTTERY (Firm: Los Angeles, California, Max and Rita Lawrence)
1950 September | Formation of Architectural Pottery, a company to produce and distribute large-scaled ceramic planters of contemporary design ---the culmination of a class project in the California School of Art. |
1951 | Museum of Modern Art's Good Design Award given to all designs in the original Architectural Pottery presentation catalog. |
1953 | Introduction of Sand Urns as a product category and the addition of a wide range of new designs, including the Trail Blazer awarded Hour Glass design by LaGardo Tackett, who had been the teacher of the original California School of Art class. |
1959 | Presentation of cylinders of diverse diameter and height, in a wide range of glazes. Numerous other designs added to accomodate needs of small and large plants. |
1961 | Formation of Architectural Fiberglass as a division of the original company, and presentation of geometric designs by John Follis in planters larger than could be made in clay. These, and other designs added later, became the recipients of numerous design awards. |
1963 | Addition of new product category of fiberglass trash receptacles and planter benches. |
1964 | Nomination for Industrial Arts Medal by Los Angeles and San Diego chapters of the American Institute of Architects. |
1967 | Expansion of products in clay to include more hand-crafted detail and another clay body and the establishment of the Pro/Artisan Studio within Architectural Pottery, under the guidance of David Cressey. |
1967 | A broadening of designs from Architectural Fiberglass to widen the Street Furniture offerings. Introduction of more sculptural designs in fiberglass benches and seating by Douglas Deeds and Elsie Crawford. |
1968 | Licensing of designs for manufacture in Western Europe. Later to be expanded to Japan, Australia, Argentina. |
1969 | Introduction of an all-fiberglass Work Center System for offices and line of lounge furniture for indoor / outdoor use by Douglas Deeds. |
1971 | Establishment of Group Artec as the new over-all company name and the addition of a new division, Arcon Furniture. Introduction of new designs in Public Seating by Richard Thompson, and others, to provide one-piece, unitized, massive seating arrangements for large public areas. |
1972 | Establishment of Architectural Ceramic Surfaces, a new division to produce quality floor and wall tile in new earthy glazes and textures designed by David Cressey. |
1972 | Presentation of the Thompson R/S System for offices based on a space frame concept of modularity and adaptability. |
- Awards
- Communications
- Designs
- Designers
- History
- Outreach/Publicity
- Sales.
UCLA Center for Oral History Research Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Awards
Design
Submissions. Entry forms, correspondence. 1973
AIA / UCLA Alumni Awards(?)
A few words about Rita Lawrence prepared for the Los Angeles Times Home Magazine by A. Quincy Jones, F.A.I.A, . 3 leaves. Typescript (photocopy). With a note from Elaine K. Sewell Jones (?). January 3, 1972
American Institute of Architects
Presentation book. Text. 1 leaf. Typescript [?]. Submitted by the Southern California Chapter of the American institute of Architects to the Committee on Institute Honors, The AIA. December 1964
Presentation book. Photographs. Submitted by the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to the Committee on Institute Honors, The AIA. December 1964
Supporting letter from Robert J. Platt to AIA Committee on Institute Honors, . 1 item, 2 pieces. Submitted by the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to the Committee on Institute Honors, the AIA. November 24, 1964
Presentation book. Group Artec book 1. 1973
Presentation book. Group Artec book 2. 1973
Communications
Lawrence, Max and Rita (file 1 of 4). Primarily inter-office memos re marketing, finance, personnel, publicity. 1968-1973
Lawrence, Max and Rita (file 2 of 4). Primarily inter-office memos re management, production, marketing. 1967-1973
Lawrence, Max and Rita (file 3 of 4). Primarily inter-office memos re production, personnel. 1969-1973
Lawrence, Max and Rita (file 4 of 4). Primarily inter-office memos. 1970-1971
Lawrence, Max. Note transmitting article Man on Top Sends Small Business to Bottom. Article in: Southern California Industrial News, volume 25, issue 45. July 16, 1973. p.1 with note evidently from Max Lawrence. 1973
Warehouse. Memos. Shipping, repairs, quality control. 1966-1968
Warehouse. Forms and form letters. re definition of substitution of equivalents for products.
Warehouse. Invoices. 1973
Showroom remodeling. Blueprint and correspondence (agreement). Tile installation in showroom. 1972
Foreign
Asia
Correspondence File 1 of 2. Personal and business correspondence with Japan, Korea, India, license agreement with Semica Interior Incorporated (Japan). 1969-1973
Correspondence File 2 of 2. Personal and business correspondence with licensees in Japan, 1972 Japanese licensee (Semica) catalog. 1973-1975
Australia
Correspondence, (and before). About installation at Sydney Opera House. 1974
Canada
Correspondence. Through licensee Knoll International / Canada. 1965-1970
Europe
Thompson System. European patent. 1973-1977
Correspondence (file 1 of 2). Personal and business correspondence with Thomas Szekely, Toby Rodes, and others. 1969-1971
Correspondence (file 2 of 2). Personal and business correspondence with Thomas Szekely, Toby Rodes, and others. 1971-1972
Correspondence re sale of business. 3 letters. 1974-1975
Correspondence and Catalogs. Personal and business correspondence with Scotland and other countries.
Group Artec
Royalty agreements.
Patent information. For Thompson System. 1972-1977
International
Correspondence. Business correspondence with India, Soviet Union, Puerto Rico, Spain, South Africa, Middle East. 1960-1970
Israel
Correspondence. Personal and business. 1969-1972
Mexico
Correspondence. Personal and business correspondence, license agreement with Consorcio de Diseños. 1966-1975
Sintoform
Correspondence. Personal and business. 1973-1982
Correspondence. Personal and business. 1972-1974
Correspondence. Personal and business. 1958-1972
South America / Argentina
Correspondence, . Personal and business correspondence with licensees in Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia, letter from Max Lawrence and Rita Lawrence May 1, 1975 re selling of Group Artec. 1969-1975
CSI (Possible Venture)
Venture capital firm. Correspondence, board meeting minutes. 1969
Designs
Work Center
Photographs.
Press releases. 1969
Correspondence. With magazines, Museum of Modern Art; mimeographs of photos with explanation. December 1968-August 1970
Clippings about similar systems.
Printed brochure. 1 copy.
Specifications. n.d.
Terra Major
Printed descriptions / catalog. Program from California Ceramics at Los Angeles Furniture Mart, Peter Breck catalog.
Development and publicity. 3 copies of Beginning Vocabulary to Develop a Consumer Brochure on Table-Top Ware, estimate for first production, list of marketing questions. January 1969-
Related clippings. Lead Poisoning from pottery article, clip of personal pitch for Terra Major from unknown writer and publisher.
Invoices. Completed and cancelled sales orders. 1970
Photographs. n.d.
Correspondence. 1970
Lounge Furniture
Design statement and printed description, . Indoor/outdoor chair. 1969
Sales, . Sales invoices. 1970
Designers
Follis, John
Sketches and letters to Rita Lawrence, . 1957
Baronian and Danielson
Adaptation of Architectural Pottery's Bowl IN-03 to Outdoor Light, . Photographs and specifications. Not produced. 1957
Unsigned
Sketches, Installation plan for Farm and Home Savings, and product sketch. 1959 and n.d.
Leland, Malcolm
Letters to Rita Lawrence and sketches, 1962 and n.d.
Carruthers, John
Letters to Rita Lawrence, enclosing sketches and design statements, . 1960
Vanderveen, Loet
Letter to Rita Lawrence and sketches, . 1962
Taylor, William Paul
Planter sketches, . 1962
Deeds, Douglas
Letters from Ron Yeo to Rita Lawrence and designs, . Yeo was another fiberglass designer. Design for newspaper vending. 1967
Correspondence, memos, and sketches, . 1964-1970
Photograph of trash receptacles, n.d.
Clippings.
Sketches of indoor outdoor chair, etc.
Lawrence Halprin plans, Sketch on notepaper From the desk of Robert Alan Martin. n.d.
Photographs of Deeds (?) and indoor outdoor chair and other furniture and of an automobile, 5 pcs. No date
Design philosophy, . 1969
Memos to / about / from Rita Lawrence, . 1966-1970
Correspondence and memos, . 1966-1967
Letter to House Beautiful, . Photocopy. For an award(?). 1968
Tackett, LaGardo
Correspondence, . 1966-1970
Design statements for stone ware, n.d.
Dinner ware clippings, . Samarkand, Arabia, etc. 1965-1967
Portfolio of drawings of stoneware, n.d.
Design statement and drawings (blueprints) for Matrix / 30 stoneware, n.d.
Box art sketches, n.d.
Topiary planters drawings. Also slide and color print.
Sketches for The City Tree, n.d.
Crawford, Elsie
Sketches, . Of round seat planter (FGPE-631, FGPE-832) other design not produced. 1968
History
A History of Architectural Pottery. Written 1971 or 1972 and distributed with correspondence. 1971 or 1972
Outreach/Publicity
Advertisement, . In: Arts + Architecture, Fall 1981 (premier issue), p.25 ad for Architectural Pottery. 1981
Correspondence. News releases, cover letter to architecture schools, etc. 1956-1970
Memos and photographs. News releases with photos. 1962-1973
Installation Photographs. Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania, Architectural Fiberglass in Australia, Arco Building in Los Angeles, Mattel Corporation, a shoe store and others.
Story ideas. Correspondence re publicity. 1970
Article Economia di Penseriero, Economia di Progretto, . In: Abitare, issue 329. p.248 mention in article about post-war design in Los Angeles. 1994 May 1994
Article Decorative Shards. In: Arts + Architecture, vol.2.2, p.37, article about design at Architectural Pottery. 1983
Mentions with photographs. In: California Design 76, p.40 shows Thompson Office System, p.38 shows Artec seating. 1976
Program from The Celebration of the 53rd Anniversary of UCLA. 3 copies of program honoring Rita Lawrence with Professional Achievement Award. April 23, 1972
Article Alumni Recognize Stein, Lawrence Contribution. In: UCLA Daily Bruin. p.23 article about Rita Lawrence winning Professional Achievement Award. April 27, 1972
Fashion layout. In: California Stylist. Several page fashion layout using Architectural Pottery pieces as background. February 1970
Article The 1969 Design Review, . In: Industrial Design, vol.16 no.10. , p.49. Architectural Fiberglass and Group Arcon furniture, designed by Douglas Deeds. 1969 December 1969
Article The 1967 Design Review, . In: Industrial Design, vol.14 no.10, p.32 Architectural Fiberglass seating. December 1967
Article Six Unlikely Tycoons, . In: Los Angeles, p.30 features story on Rita Lawrence and Max Lawrence and Architectural Pottery. September 1967
Article Semi-custom Pottery, . In: Interiors, p.52 about new division of Architectural Pottery, (Pro-Artisan). December 1966
Article New Pots from Architectural Pottery, . In: Interiors, p.100 about new line - Pro-Artisan. August 1966
Article Expanded Showroom for Architectural Pottery, . In: Interiors, p.100 about new showroom facility. November 1964
Article Planters and Sand Urns of Fiberglass, . In: Interiors, pp.147-148, new division Architecural Fiberglass. April 1964
Article Planting Pots, . In: Arts + Architecture, p.22. November 1961
Article Sensuous Forms and Colorful Glazes Add New Dash to Planters, . In: Interiors, p.108 Article on hand-thrown pottery mentions Architectural Pottery. July 1961
Listing Architectural Pottery, . In: Arts + Architecture, p.108 products which have been merit specified for Case Study Houses. May 1961
Photo essay about Architectural Pottery Production, . Bound photo essay by John Jensen for class project, copy of letter from Rita Lawrence to Jensen's school. 1970
Scrapbook. Restricted pending conservation.
Scrapbook. Restricted pending conservation.
Reprints of advertisement from Arts + Architecture. 2 copies. July 1953
The Offices of the 70s. In: Modern Office Procedures, pp.19-26 photograph of Office Systems desk, p.23. January 1970
A Gentle Kind of Genius. 2 copies. In: Los Angeles Times Home Magazine, pp.12-33 article on Rita Lawrence and Architectural Pottery. February 12, 1972
Miscellaneous clippings. Copy of Abitare (special Genoa issue). Sample design magazine.
Sales
Procedures
Letterhead and invoices. Samples.
Product Research
Fiberglass
Miscellaneous clippings.
Tile
Tile. Correspondence and notes. David Cressey notes, color texture descriptions, color name development. 1970-1973
Tile Photographs. Snapshots (w/negatives) and glossy prints of installations: Los Angeles County Museum, Mechanic's Bank, Richmond, California, John Deere Building, Moline, Illinois. 1964-1967
Tile. Clippings, Indian Hill Ceramics. n.d.
Tile. Press Releases. Purchase of Indian Hill Ceramics, poster, price list. 1970
Cressey, David
Clippings, . Artist-in-residence brochure, clips from other manufacturers. 1964-
Memos and correspondence, . Sales and production. 1965-1970
Catalogs, etc.
Earliest. Village Station address.
Pro-Artisan. August 1965
Retail Price List. April 1966
Craftsman One, (and before). Before Artist in Residence and Pro-Artisan Line. 1963
Artist in Residence program. 1963
Sweets, Catalog text. n.d.
General information--Architectural Fiberglass (early). Installation List, . Color and texture samples. August 1963
Building Products Division--Architectural Fiberglass (early). Brochure (), photos of AF molds used in building Santa Barbara Community College (). n.d. May 1964
Work Center System--Architectural Fiberglass (early). Brochures (). n.d.
Seating--Architectural Fiberglass (early). Price list and photos (), various brochures w/photos (no dates), benches brochure (), clipping made into brochure, Salem, Oregon (). n.d. 1968 1966
Planters, Receptacles, Sand Urns--Architectural Fiberglass (early). Complete brochure w/cover (), New Ideas brochure (, production schedule (Rita Lawrence notes), various brochures, covers, photos. September 1965 n.d.
Catalog 64, . 3 copies w/color and black and white photos. 1964
Architectural Fiberglass; Planters, Benches, Trash Receptacles, Street Furniture (). 3 copies w/ color and black and white photos. 1965
Pro-Artisan (). 3 copies w/ color and black and white photos. 1966
Architectural Fiberglass, (and after). 3 copies w/ color and black and white photos. 1968
Architectural Fiberglass; Net Price Schedule, . 2 copies, no photos. 1969
Architectural Pottery / Architectural Fiberglass, (and before). 1 copy with photos. 1971
Arcon Furniture / Architectural Fiberglass, . 1 copy w/photographs. 1972
Arcon Textiles, Arcon Furniture, Architectural Furnishings, . Price lists only. 1973
Architectural Furnishings, . Price list only. 1974
Architectural Pottery Samples #102. Color & texture samples from various divisions of Architectural Fiberglass.
Duraclay. 3 black and white brochures for dinnerware (), 3 color brochures for planters (), Catalog 64. n.d. n.d.
Additions; Architectural Pottery, . Supplementary catalog showing reflective glazes. 1971
Catalog 64, . 2 copies, copyright 1971. 1971
Price List. 2 copies. 1973
Arcon Furniture; The Hump System, . 2 copies. 1971
Architectural Pottery; Additions, (and after). 1 copy. 1971
Architectural Furnishings; Fiberglass Planters, . 3 copies. 1974
Artec Containers; A/F Planters, (and after). 3 copies. 1973
Ceramic Surfaces: Terrestra Collection / Architectural and Artec, (and after). Photos, 2 copies Artec and 3 copies Architectural w/ color photos. 1971
Artec Containers; A/P Planters, (and after). 3 copies. 1973
Architectural Pottery; Pro-Artisan. 2 general price lists, 3 Lamp Collection w/photos and price list.
Arcon Furniture, (and after). 3 copies of Public Seating, 3 copies of Lounge Furniture. 1971
Arcon Furniture; Office Systems, (and after). 3 copies Office Systems, 3 copies Thompson R/S, 2 copies Office Systems / Thompson R/S. 1971-1973
Architectural Pottery; Price List, . 3 copies w/color sample. 1970
Artec Containers; Pro-Artisan Containers. 3 copies.
Graphic Structures. Photos, brochures.
Europe, 3 copies. n.d.
Group Arcon Furniture. 2 copies.
Mailer #3.
Correspondence. 1970
Exhibit of class work, . Group photograph which constitutes the first mailing and offering. 1950
After 1953 (Village Station), (?). Includes price list. 1954 or 1955
King's Road Address, . 1958-1960
Kings Road Address, . Includes price list. June 1959
Robertson Blvd. Address 1, . Includes price list. March 1961
Robertson Blvd. Address, . June 1959
Robertson Blvd. Address, . March 1961
Catalog. 1964 (circa)
Catalog Photographs
Architectural Fiberglass Seating.
Arcon Furniture Seating.
Architecutural Fiberglass Planters.
Pro-Artisan Planters.
Architectural Pottery - Other.
Architecural Pottery Planters.
Architectural Pottery Planters (early).
Original for Planters CB-16, CB-12, CB-18, CB-22, CB-22.
Original for Planter K-97.
Original for Planter G-99.
Original for Planters C-12, C-18, C-26.
Original for Planters CS-12, CS-27, CS-21.
Original for Planters CB 8-12, CB-8, CB-16-11, CB-12-12, cb-12-7, CB-8-8.
Original for Planters CC-30, CC-19, CC-28, CC-23.
Original for Cylinder photos.
Original for Planter FX-2.
Original for Planter F-508.
Original for planter F-112.
Original for Planter G-25.
Original for Planter E-31.
Original for Planter SW-04.
Original for Planter SW-03. Includes news release.
Original for Planter L-15, L-20.
Original for Planter LL-20.
Chair Height Sandurns SW-02, A-2, A-01, J-22, L-15, AC-17, AX-17, LTW-15.
Miscellaneous. Color transparencies for cylinders, snapshots of various locations (installations?) and products.
Planters. 8 x 10 Negatives.
Production Photos, Photos of plant and workmen. n.d.
Showroom Photographs
Photographs before Renovation. Snapshots. 1964
Photographs after renovation, . Glossy prints and snapshots. 1964
After renovation. Negatives only. Filed separately for preservation. See photos in previous boxes. 1964