M&B Stock No. 146 "Katarina"

General Comments
No. 146 “Katrina” is the other of two American Art Works attempts at a “delft” (or more properly 'delftware') look to a stock design (“Gretchen” No. 145 being the other). It is an example of trompe l’oiel in the same sense that the Japanese inspired “lacquerware” (No. 59, No. 83, and No. 94) and woodgrain trays (No. 114, No. 115, No. 139, and No. 142), fooling the viewer into believing it was actual delftware. Cross-town competitor H D Beach probably best perfected this style among the tray manufacturers (in addition to American Art Works, Kaufmann & Strauss also had a “delft” design).

Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands (you know, that country where all those beer drinking “Dutch” immigrants to American supposedly came from). Delft is well known for the Delft pottery ceramic products which was styled on the imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century. The city had an early start in this area since it was a home port of the Dutch East India Company. It was particularly known for designs in “deflt blue” and sometimes the pottery itself is referred to as Delft Blue, although other colors were produced. Delftware ranged from simple household items – plain white earthenware with little or no decoration – to fancy artwork. Pictorial plates were made in abundance, illustrated with religious motifs, native Dutch scenes with windmills and fishing boats, hunting scenes, landscapes and seascapes.

Katrina is a shortened form of Katherine, and most sources point to an Italian origin for this name, which is derived from the Greek word katharos, meaning pure. Other sources claim its origins as Czech but still with the same meaning of pure. Of all the female names Meek or American Art Works used, this one has the most variations (different spellings, usually in various languages) and diminutive forms (e.g., Katya, Karen, Caitlyn, Kate, Cathy, etc). Katrina is a relative newcomer as a name in the United States, not registering much usage before the 1950s. It’s peak of popularity was in the late 1960s through the early 1980s, but it’s been in decline ever since. However, anglicized versions (Katherine) and various other diminutives collectively have been in the top 50 names in the United States for almost the entire 20th century, only recently tailing off in the 2010s.

Although it presents a somewhat stereotypical Dutch scene of Katrina, dressed in a traditional Dutch outfit and carrying a basket, walking past fishing boats it is not so chock-full of stereotypes as Gretchen.

Sahling's Design Notes
Sahling does not have an entry in his workbook for this design. Many of the examples we’ve seen do not carry any of the typical stock design information (title, copyright date, stock number).

Size, Shape and Message Placement
All of the examples we’ve seen of this design carrying advertising have been concave pies. These feature a plain, pale blue rim with dark blue advertising text and matching dark blue edges. The most common example, from Enterprise Brewing of San Francisco, has advertising text on the prow of the boat on the face of the tray. Although we’ve never seen a sign version, we have encountered a framed, flat version that looks like an unpressed tray that features “Katrina” in color and has a tulip rim design. There is a corresponding “Gretchen” version as well.

Hager & Price
Hager stopped commenting on specific trays after No. 136 and he does not include this design in his date of introduction table or his catalog. Almost all of the examples we’ve encountered have been from Enterprise Brewing of San Francisco and Fresno Brewing, both of whom also used the “Gretchen” design (No. 145). We have seen single examples from F.D. Radeke Brewing of Kankakee, IL and the Bakery and Confectionery Workers International Union of America (the latter also used “Gretchen”).