WILLIAMSBURG — Colonial Williamsburg will host a talk and book signing for “Splendid Settings: 100 Years of Mottahedeh” on Sept. 20 at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
The book is described by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as a time travel journey celebrating the most today’s distinguished ceramics reproduction company. At this event, Mottahedeh’s President and Design Director Wendy Kvalheim will look back at the founding of the company, highlighting an extraordinary range of pieces and patterns, and the ongoing partnerships with America’s most venerated historic properties.
“Style never goes out of fashion, and our WILLIAMSBURG collection with Mottahedeh is an inspired blend of past and present that is as appealing today as it has been for generations,” said Kiri Franco, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Director of Brand and Licensing in regards to what she hopes attendees will take away from the experience.
She continues by saying “Our Deputy Director of Interior Design, Liza Gusler, likes to say that Mottahedeh has kept tradition vibrant in a world that increasingly favors goods that are disposable, generic, and neutral.”
As partners, Colonial Williamsburg said it and Mottahedeh developed one of the most popular china patterns of the late 20th century, the Duke of Gloucester pattern, based on a service made at the Worcester Porcelain Manufactory in England for a brother of King George III. Colonial Williamsburg and Mottahedeh also made “Chelsea Birds” from plates made in the 1760s at the Chelsea factory in London.
Franco noted that to create “Virginia Blue,” they interpreted a set of Chinese export porcelain dishes imported in the 1760s by a Virginia planter who ordered “china of the most fashionable sort” from London for his bride. When Colonial Williamsburg wanted a full service to set the table in the supper room at the Governor’s Palace, they asked Mottahedeh to copy archaeological fragments to make a “bespoke” service with royal governor Lord Dunmore’s coat of arms.
“We partner with distinguished companies — like Mottahedeh — to develop products that emphasize the relevance of historic architecture and design to today’s interiors,” said Franco. She also notes that a portion of the proceeds from the collection pieces go back into supporting the mission of the not-for-profit Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
“Our tagline, Tradition for a Modern World, is central to our reason for being. We are fascinated by the creative energies of artists in the bygone ages and feel that our culture can be enhanced by a knowledge of what has gone before. Also, beauty and elevated conversation are important to us as human beings, as well as sharing beautiful meals and living with things that feed the soul,” Franco quoted Mottahedeh President Wendy Kvalheim.
The event will run on Sept. 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Hennage Auditorium at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. The event is free with admission to the Art Museums. No advance tickets are required, however, it is noted that the auditorium capacity is 250 people.
For more information about the event, visit the official event page.
