Gladding McBean made things that lasted — from the red roof tiles on Stanford's campus to the terracotta on California's Spanish Colonial buildings. Their Kaolena line is a quieter legacy: delicate porcelain made exclusively for Los Angeles distributor Max Schonfeld between 1930 and 1951, stamped with his initials "MS" alongside the Gladding McBean mark.
These two leaf-shaped dishes are from that line — hand-painted florals in soft colors, scalloped edges following the natural curve of the leaf form, with gold rim detail. Whether they were made as salt cellars, butter pats, or both is a matter of interpretation; today they serve equally well as ring dishes, earring catchers, mise en place bowls, or small condiment servers on a beautifully set table. A note on condition: one dish is in excellent vintage condition with minor gold wear; the other has a small chip on the rim. Both are priced accordingly and shown in detail in the photos.
A meaningful find for a California pottery collector, a Gladding McBean or Franciscan enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a piece with a story.
Maker: Gladding McBean, California, USA (Kaolena line for Max Schonfeld)
Material: Porcelain with hand-painted florals and gold rim
Set: 2 leaf-shaped dishes
Dimensions: 4" long, 4¼" wide
Era: Vintage, 1930–1951
Condition: Mixed — one excellent (minor gold wear only), one good (small rim chip, minor gold wear). Please review all photos carefully, as all sales are final.
