Mark Stevens

Pedlar of Dreams: the Story of Howard Kron and Texans Incorporated Mark Stevens

In the early '30s Howard Kron took a bus to Hollywood to pursue his acting dreams. Before the decades end he had traveled the nightclub circuit as a popular singer, and discovered the world of pottery design, the arena in which he would excel. Although a relative unknown today, his extensive body of work includes some of the most memorable icons of mid-century décor, including numerous TV lamps that are treasured by collectors for their distinctive style. Pedlar of Dreams examines Kron's early aspirations, disappointments and final triumph as a ceramics designer and engineer. As the creative force behind Texans Incorporated, a pottery located in the unlikely Texas town of Bangs, he imbued his creations with a unique blend of classic and modern sensibilities, taking mass-produced pottery to a new level.