Nautilus Eggshell by Homer Laughlin
LaurelHollowPark.net, an informative website created and
maintained by Mark Gonzalez. Copyright © 2009-.
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The Eggshell Nautilus shape was introduced in 1937 and made until the late 1950s. It was sold mostly with decals, but other types of decorations were made, such as colored bands and gold stamps. There were over six hundred different patterns used on Eggshell Nautilus, arguably more than any other vintage Homer Laughlin shape.
Almost a year had passed since the regular Nautilus line was put into production when HLC decided to use the shape as a basis for a new type of body called, Eggshell. Rhead would often call this a talc body, but it was really a special combination, lightweight clay. Some vintage ads identify the primary mineral involved as Tremolite - or calcium magnesium silicate hydroxide, Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2. The flatware for Nautilus Eggshell is the same as the regular Nautilus version, but the hollowware is different.
Designer Frederick Rhead noted making the Nautilus Eggshell backstamp on December 28, 1936 - two days over being exactly a year since he made the regular Nautilus marking. Eventually, two Eggshell Nautilus markings were used and are shown below. The new line was first offered in January of 1937.
When it became apparent Eggshell was a good seller, HLC decided to make more shapes in the lightweight body. Swing came next in late 1937, Theme in 1939, Georgian in 1940, and Andover in 1941.
In August 1940, several new shapes were added to Nautilus Eggshell: salad bowl, teapot, and square plate. This coincided with the same pieces being made for Georgian Eggshell. When shakers were modeled for Georgian Eggshell during the same time, Rhead notes that instead of making them for the Nautilus version, the Swing shakers would be picked up instead.
Many of the patterns on Eggshell Nautilus were picked up from other shapes. Be sure to check out the decal subject page here for more.
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Montgomery Ward's catalog advertisement for Cardinal, Admiral, and Chintz on Eggshell Nautilus |
Pattern N-1811, "Minuet" |
Pattern N-1769 |
Pattern N-1812 |
Pattern N-1776, "Magnolia" |
Pattern N-1578 |
Pattern N-1785 |
Nautlus Eggshell decorated by Wheeling Decorating Co. |
Pattern N-1430 |
Mexicana, N-1524 |
Ads for "Corsage" (Eggshell Nautilus) and "Boquet" (Georgian Eggshell) |
Underglaze decoration |
Nantucket/American Provincial plate |
Magnolia |
Eggshell Nautilus platter, "Chintz" pattern |
Pattern N-1219 platter |
Pattern N-1219 sauceboat |
Pattern N-1794 sauceboat |
Pattern N-1521, "Della Robbia" platter |
Pattern N-1580 |
Pattern N-1577, "Ferndale" |
Pattern N-1591 |
Pattern N-1586 |
Pattern N-1773, "Orchard" |
Pattern VM-8, "Bristol" |
Pattern N-1753, "Nantucket"
on an Eggshell Nautilus platter. |
Pattern N-1523, "Metropole"
which was used on Georgian as G-114. |
Pattern N-1583, "Ardmore" platter |
Pattern N-1583, "Ardmore" teacup and saucer |
Covered sugar decorated by an outside firm |
Overstamp of the decorated sugar |
Casserole with pattern N-1248
Casserole with pattern N-1402
Casserole with pattern N-1829
Casserole with pattern N-1554
Casserole with pattern N-1670
N-1635 (blue band as shown) N-1605 (pink band)
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| Three Eggshell Nautilus decal test plates from the 1940s
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Eggshell Nautilus sugar with N-1520, "Dolls House" and creamer with N-1691, "Blue Dawn"
Eggshell Nautilus sugar with CP-24, "Acacia" and creamer with N-1475, a pattern that originally appeared on Kwaker.
Spanish Door on Eggshell Nautilus 9" plate, gravy, Swing Eggshell sugar, Georgian baker (G-48), and Jade sugar and creamer (J-7). |
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Teapot with N-1694, "Greek Key" |
Colonial Kitchen on Eggshell Nautilus teacup and saucer |
36s bowls with pattern N-1409 |
Gravy with pattern N-1481 |
Part of a bridge set from 1940 using Eggshell Nautilus shapes. |
| Eggshell Nautilus shop samples from the collection of The Fiesta® Tableware Company. |
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