Collectible Tobacciana / Catchall Dish, Maurice of California, DL-701, MCM Orange & Yellow, California Pottery, Vintage 1960s

California, 1954. A man who survived everything built something bright and entirely his own.

This is a vintage Maurice of California ceramic piece, model DL-701 — a large, dramatically shaped Mid-Century Modern design in rings of bright orange, red, and yellow high-gloss glaze, with embossed floral and wave decorations at the two points. Circa 1960s. One available.

The form is pure California modernism at its most uninhibited: an elongated diamond shape, nearly 14.5 inches point to point, with bold concentric color rings that radiate outward like something between a sunburst and a pop art canvas. One point carries an embossed flower; the other, swirls and waves — both finished in the same high-shine glaze that gives the whole piece its vivid, confident presence. Marked on the base with the model number DL-701 and the Maurice of California name, faintly embossed in the clay. Confirmed genuine.

Maurice of California was founded in Los Angeles in 1954 by Maurice Pechman, a Polish immigrant and Holocaust survivor who came to America and built one of the most distinctive California pottery studios of the mid-century era. The company became known for its boldly designed, deeply retro ceramic wares — ashtrays, candle holders, cookie jars — as well as imported pottery and glass from Europe and the Orient. Maurice ran the business until 1985. He passed in 2011. His pieces are increasingly collected as examples of California mid-century design at its most expressive and personal.

Displays beautifully as a desk catchall, a sculptural shelf object, or a statement piece in a mid-century or retro interior. Priced to reflect condition — please see details below.

A wonderful find for a Maurice of California collector, a mid-century modern enthusiast, or anyone drawn to the bold color and form of California studio pottery.

• Maker: Maurice of California, Los Angeles — founded by Maurice Pechman, 1954–1985
• Model: DL-701
• Made in: USA
• Dated: circa 1960s
• Dimensions: 14.375" point to point | 8.0" wide | 1.25" tall
• Material: Ceramic, high-gloss glaze
• Condition: Vintage used, average condition, priced accordingly. Two chips near grooves and two chips on underside; color wear at both end points. Please review all photos carefully — we cannot accept returns.