An ardent promoter of modern design, Russel Wright developed his American Modern line of dinnerware, which included serving pieces such as this celery dish, in 1937. Wright claimed that the organic shapes of the pattern reflected each piece’s function and that muted colors such as cedar green were used in order to “dramatize” the service of food. Although Wright designed the line in 1937, American Modern was not produced until 1939 because of the skepticism of potential manufacturers during the Great Depression. Nonetheless, it has proved to be one of the most popular ceramic patterns ever created.