A Ceramic Fantasia
Just finished being wowed again while re-watching Walt Disney’s Fantasia. Yeah, we all know that it’s a gorgeously animated marriage of animation and classical music. But I think it’s fascinating how, in this movie, Disney essentially captured America’s aesthetic tastes as of 1940. For all its highbrow aspirations, the film drew a lot of its visuals from decidedly middlebrow sources. You can see it in, for example, the saucy “pinup girl” look bestowed upon the centaurettes from the Pastoral Sympony sequence. Decorated tchotckes from the 5 and 10 cent store appear to be the main influence behind the goldfish and flowers in the Nutcracker Suite sequence. The Pastoral Symphony’s overwhelmingly cute baby pegasus and bare-butted cherubs were tailor made for people who felt more comfortable with Mickey Mouse than Salvador Dalí. Let’s face it, Disney knew his audience well.
Given all that, it’s no surprise that Disney once had a contract with California pottery manufacturer Vernon Kilns to produce a line of Fantasia-inspired ceramic dinnerware and figurines. Due to the lack of success upon the film’s original release, these pieces were only available for a very short time and didn’t sell well. And now, of course, they’re highly coveted by Disneyana collectors. I’ve tried to locate photos of this stuff on various online auction sites and have them listed below. This isn’t a definitive list, but check out the photos and see if you agree that this is some of the coolest bric-a-brac ever made:
- The Nutcracker Suite — Goldfish Bowl; Autumn Ballet Serving Plate; Fairyland Platter; Fairyland Plate; Fairyland Lidded Box and Tray; Fairyland Decanter; Fairyland Round Teapot; Fairyland Tall Teapot; Mushroom Salt & Pepper (I have these!).
- The Pastoral Symphony — Centaur Figurine; Centaurette Figurine; Nubian Centaurette Figurine; White Baby Pegasus Figurine; Black Baby Pegasus Figurine; Unicorn Figurine; Cherub Figurine; Satyr Figurine 1; Satyr Figurine 2; Satyr Bowl.
- Dance of the Hours — Ostrich Figurine; Elephant Figurines; Hippo Figurine.
Thanks for putting those all in one place. What great pieces! I had no idea there were so many.
Excellent post! i had no idea these existed. NowI want’em al, blast you!
Just curious– WHICH version of “Fantasia” do you have? I’m guessing you have it on DVD with the restored Stokowski (sp?) soundtrack– they came out with a re-scored and re-directed version (on VHS, this is the mid-80′s I’m pretty sure) that was muddy and dreadful and got lots of bad press amongst the Disney elites.
I’m so glad you saw it and liked it at all– most don’t “get it”– too non-linear, too yaddayada…
Yet for the sheer visual audacity and wit, the Echt Amerikan sense of the didactic effortlessly intermingled with pleasure( We’re gonna expose you to some highbrow music, sonny, but you’ll have fun anyway), and the move away from the heavy Germanic style of earlier features into a cleaner, more open sense of space and horizon and character (physiognomy is destiny, except when hippos dance!) it remains my favorite feature-length release.
Truly an American Century movie, tricked up by special speakers( acknowledged with a special Oscar by AMPAS two years later) in selected houses (pre-THX THX!), it ransacked 2000 years of Western Classics and polished them for a New Consumer, one interested in the process AND the product, or so Walt mistakenly thought.
Turns out all we wanted was a flimsy “Ave Maria” endorsed by Yer Uncle’s CYO Film Board to counter-act the huge fun of those animate dead things on Bald Mountain.
Turns out we failed you, Walt. Or at least our Grandfathers and Grandmothers did. “Rebecca’ won Best Picture in 1940– maybe they just weren’t interested in something so clever…
I watched the supposedly “uncut” DVD which is now out of print. The one with grainy, close cropped censored scenes in “The Pastoral Symphony”.
It’s interesting that (from what I can tell) Vernon only made products from three Fantasia segments. I would have a heart attack if I ever saw a “Night On Bald Mountain” figurine!
i have vernon kilns autumn ballet circa 1940 various piecess that i might sell for the right price and that wont be cheap,,,,let me know
great blog! i’m researching these pieces as well (pastoral symphony), and trying to put them all together (the VK ones are marked and numbered). i own two, but they are made by american pottery who bought out VK. i wish i owned them all! ;)
Thanks, ro.
I wish I owned them all, too, but I’m happy with my one representative mushroom salt and pepper!
I have an Autumn Ballet Serving Plate. I found it in My Mother in laws house after she passed. No one wanted it so I have it hanging on the wall. I am just wondering if anyonr knows the value? This thing is mint…… Please contact me at bamba1@embarqmail.com
Thanks bunches,
Anita Jo