Kensington ware coffee set
Creation: circa 1935Abstract
Lurelle Guild (1898-1985) was an architect, industrial designer, and interior designer. The collection contains a three-piece "Mayfair" coffee set designed by Guild, a coffee pot, creamer, and sugar bowl, manufactured by Wear-Ever Aluminum, a subsidiary of the Aluminum Company of America as part of its Kensington Ware line.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1935
Creator
- Wear-Ever Aluminum, Inc (Organization)
Extent
5 item(s)
Biographical Note
Lurelle Guild (1898-1985) was an architect, industrial designer, and interior designer.
After graduating from Syracuse University in 1920, where he studied painting as well as some freelance designing, Guild and his wife moved to New York City, and he worked as an illustrator and writer. Guild started his own business in 1924 called Lurelle Guild Associates. With an eight-person staff, the company made models and worked on product development. In 1928, he renamed the business the Guild of Industrial Design. Additionally, he started Dale Decorators, which was a door-to-door decorating service, and was a founding member of the Industrial Designers Society of America.
Guild played an active role in product development and marketing; he designed about a thousand products a year. When he invented a new product, he patented it and then assigned the patent to the manufacturer, charging a fee and then royalties. One of his clients was Alcoa Aluminum, maker of Kensington Ware kitchen utensils. Guild responded to the company's needs and requests for certain types of products and improvements to some already produced. Other clients included Electrolux, International Silver Company, Kensington, Pullman Company, Revlon, and the Scranton Lace Company.
Scope and Contents
A three-piece "Mayfair" coffee set in cast aluminum with cherry handles designed by Lurelle Guild (1898-1985), patented in 1934, and manufactured by Wear-Ever Aluminum Inc., a subsidiary of the Aluminum Company of America as part of its Kensington Ware line. It consists of a coffee pot, creamer, and sugar bowl. There are two companion pieces, a "Mayfair" water pitcher and a cigarette box.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Kensington ware coffee set
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2021: Ashley Williams
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository