Delano Studio which was located in East Setauket, Long Island, has been a part of my life since 1981. It was my first job many moons ago and probably one of my most influential jobs I've ever had - I just didn't know it at the time.
Delano Studio's was a very small ceramic studio located in Setauket, Long Island that was known for it's hand painted ceramics and china. It was just a few miles from my home in Port Jefferson and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
I was hired on the spot as a Ceramic Decorator. This was my first stepping stone to a very colorful career. I often wondered why I was always hired so quickly after people saw Delano Studio's on my resume. I now know why.
Today I received an email and I want to share it with you. I get about three of these emails a year and it always brings a smile to my face. I often wonder what happened to my boss Mr. Campbell and all the wonderful people I worked with. Great artists and unbeknownst to me, very influential people.
Here's the email:
Hi Donna,
My name is Holly and I found your comment about Delano Studios on the "Old Long Island" website. I have discovered some painted, ceramic tiles in our family barn in CT. "Decorated by Delano Studios". The images on the front are signed by the painter Eric Sloane and most of them are of covered bridges. Do you have any idea when these were produced by the studio? They have been sitting in our barn for at least 40 years and are in nearly pristine condition. Any info. you might have would be really useful in determining their worth. I've attached a couple of pics for you to see.
Thanks so much in advance!
Holly
Holly,
Eric Sloan was a landscape artist - you can Google him to find out more about him. He created the actual art and the studio transformed it into the decal that is fired onto the tile. The staff at Delano Studio's were the people who hand painted them. I was one of the artist's who painted there back 31 years ago. Amazing place to work, great people at the time and loved the opportunity to hand paint beautiful tiles, ceramic, mugs and various other ceramic or china pieces.
As far as worth? I think it depends on what is it. I've been seeing these tiles (mostly birds and landscapes) pop up all over the place over the year but you certainly should check ebay - you'll find more there. Thanks so much for contacting me Holly. Great memories.
These plates are very typical of what I painted. This bridge is Holly's tile.
You can find many more of these on Ebay or on Replacements Ltd. if you have china you need replaced.
Don't forget to look at the back of the plate to see if it's a genuine Delano Studio piece. It may have even been painted by me!
What a great story, thanks for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
DeleteI love your blog. I just happened upon it as I was just doing research on an enamelware coffee pot from Delano Studios. It's lovely with a Christmas Tree design that has a feel of George Briard. Did you work on the enamelware as well? Would you happen to know the time period they were made?
ReplyDeleteSorry I can't help, I was just the Ceramic Decorator in the 80's
DeleteI have a coffee pot with a sllek looking sailboat on it and have never been able to find any info on.Mine is signed by the artist W.B. Ricketts.I feel this piece is at least 1950's or older and the back has hand colored Dela-Ware by Delano studios.
DeleteTry looking on Ebay. It's very difficult to track down ceramics from Delano Studios. Good luck and sorry I can't help you.
DeleteHi Donna, I too have a peice from Delano Studios, its a key plate 5"x7", it has a duck standing amongst some cat tails, the duck is standing up and has right wing behind head and left wing on hip as if its posing.. lol
ReplyDeletethere is a signature "Mermade" it has gold leaf trim, on the back had marquee and 1962. it was my fathers apparently he bought it a year after I was born, I remember it in my grandfathers house in my dads room when I was about 4-5, that room didn't change until the house was sold in 2004 and I picked up the plate..
apparently this company is out of business and all of the artist are no longer with us or?
apparently they were keen on ducks for these style plates I've seen a few now, some golf stuff and raccoons playing tennis, all cartoon style with the exception of one I've seen with a mallard floating in water, more realistic or whatever its called?
I'll keep digging
Hi Donna,
ReplyDeleteI recently purchased two Delano Plates that I can't seem to find any place else One is the Grist Mill Setauket, Long Island and the other is the Three Village Inn, Stoney Brook. Can you tell me the age and what they might be worth? my email is gbetters@comcast.net.
Thanks so much,
Gary
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DeleteI know those two areas well - they were my stomping grounds when I was a kid - very beautiful there! I'm assuming you looked on Ebay, Amazon and everywhere else online correct? It's hard to place a value on these items unless you fund the right buyer. For example, they would be awesome for me to have because those locations have sentimental value. See if there are any G+ communities on Google for Long Island. Once you have a captured audience, let them know what you have. Good luck!!!
DeleteI found your blog by Googling Delano Studios. Have a plate commemorating William Floyd ( 1 of limited edition of 150) a signer of the Declaration of Indeoendence. I think it was commissioned by the Brookhaven Historical Society in 1976.
ReplyDeleteWish I could send you a picture!
Hello Donna, So happy to run across this blog and thread on Delano Studios. I have an incomplete set of dinnerware painted at Delano Studios in Setauket in 1962. The scene on the front is in charcoal, blue, and green and features a very regal bull. The dinner plate shows the "full bull," if you know what I mean! They are precious to me and I've never found others like them despite many online searches. Yesterday I was in an antique barn in Columbia, SC, and found a trinket tray with a different design. The imprint on the reverse read Delano Studios, 1989, Bluffton, SC. I did not know about this part of the company's history. Best regards, -Laura
ReplyDelete