Century House Coffee Cup Mug Dated 1954 Black and White Graphic Bird Design

Century House made pottery from 1948-1963 in Madison, Wisconsin. This rare vintage MCM coffee cup/mug is dated 1954. The design is wonderful and graphic. This cup is clean and has no chips or cracks. It's simply amazing and rare. It's a small cup, probably 6-8oz. Great for espresso! From the Wisconsin Pottery Association's website: "Production at Century House consisted of lamps, bowls, plates, large punch bowls, juvenile ware, pixie figurines, tea sets, and coffee mugs. Decorative motifs range from rosemaling to realistically-depicted sprays of pine cones to abstract mid-century designs. The firm was well-known in Madison for special-order gift plates and chargers that were commissioned to celebrate weddings, birthdays, and other events. “Family tree” plates were also made. The special-order plates were the bread and butter of the business, according to the Howell’s son Kirby, the company’s present owner. The Howells did most of the pottery manufacture themselves with never more than two additional people on staff at any one time to help with pottery decoration. Among the decorators who worked at Century House was Zona Liberace, a long-time employee who had previously been the head of the decoration department at the Ceramic Arts Studio. (Zona was the stepmother of the Liberace.) Aaron Bohrod, now an internationally known artist, also did decoration for the company, notably several lamp bases."