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| Measuring 9.5 inches - luncheon plate size |
Upon seeing the many pieces of Iron Mountain Stoneware (IMS) for sale on eBay which are shipping from California, I had to believe there was at least one major distribution point there. This week a distribution store was finally confirmed when I visited a local collector in my area who was selling some of their collection. While discussing different places where she and her husband had seen pieces of IMS during their travels, they mentioned an exclusive, high-end store in San Francisco, CA called Gumps. I looked up
Gumps (find the store history here) today and while they are still in business, IMS is not.
Recently, as further proof of the stoneware being sold by Gumps, the luncheon-sized plate pictured here was offered for auction. Purchasing this plate in 1979 from Gumps afforded the new owner the ability to choose Iron Mountain Stoneware pieces in exchange for it as it was listed as a gift certificate. The plate was personally signed by Nancy, in 1979, signifying that she did the hand application of decorative glaze in the Martha's Flowers colors. This design is not duplicated on any of the Martha's Flowers plates however--so it could be truly unique to this 'gift certificate.
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| Signed by Nancy in 1979 |