Centennial plate showcases artist's design

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March 16, 2007

By Eddie Glenn The Tribune Star Fri Mar 16, 2007, 04:32 PM EDT

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Along with books, coins, brochures, dolls, movies, car shows, and statues, Oklahoma’s Centennial will also be commemorated by something that’s actually usable: a plate.

Frankoma Pottery of Sapulpa has teamed up with Tahlequah artist/book illustrator Murv Jacob to produce a fired clay plate celebrating Oklahoma’s 100th birthday.

The mold for the plate was delivered to Jacob’s studio Monday so he could put the finishing touches on the design.

“I like the idea of doing a Centennial plate for three reasons,” said Jacob. “First, it’s going to be made in Oklahoma. Second, it’s going to be made out of Oklahoma clay. And third, It’s going to be shipped all over the world. There are people everywhere who collect Frankoma pottery.”

Founded by John Frank, Frankoma has been making pottery out of Oklahoma clay since 1933. Frank died in 1973, but the company continued to produce some of the most sought-after clay pieces in the world until 2004.

The next year, the company reopened under the ownership of Det and Crystal Merryman, and continued producing pottery using clay from Sugar Loaf Hill near Sapulpa.

According to Jacob, his collaboration with Frankoma resulted from a visit he and his wife, Debbie, made last year to the Merrymans at their Sapulpa plant.

“I had a show at the Tulsa Library, and we decided to just head on down old Route 66 to Sapulpa,” said Jacob. “We went by this building that just looked like an old warehouse, and I didn’t think much of it, but Debbie said, ‘I think that’s it,’ and she was right.”

While taking a tour of the plant, Jacob started getting some ideas for the commemorative plate, and sketched them on the spot.

“They had some old newsprint laying there that they used to wrap stuff up in, and I grabbed a sheet and started doing some sketches for a plate,” he said.

“[Det Merryman] walked up, looked at it, and said, ‘You’re hired.’”

Much of Jacob’s paintings feature a circle motif both he and Merryman thought would be conducive to a plate design.

“He was looking at my work, with those round designs,” said Jacob. “Keep in mind, this is a guy who sells plates. He was looking at those designs and he said, ‘You know, I see something here!’”

Jacob said the Centennial plate won’t be the first time Frankoma has teamed up with an artist from this area. A renowned sculptor from Locust Grove, the late Willard Stone, also designed pieces for the company in the 1970s.

“Willard Stone was one of my teachers,” said Jacob. “So I kinda feel like I’m carrying on a tradition here.”

Jacob said the plate should be available in a couple of months from Frankoma’s online store (www.frankoma.com) and at his Tahlequah studio.

Most of the Frankoma/Jacob Centennial plates will probably be used as decorative items, but Jacob said they’ll work just as well as actual dinnerware, which is what he plans to do with his own.

“I think I’ll invite some friends over for dinner and use a set of those plates,” he said. “Then when they’re finished eating, they can take their plate with them – but they’ll have to wash it first. It’s only right. If they’re gonna get a plate, the least they can do is wash it themselves.”

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