This Indiana company was started by two women who wanted to find a way to stay home with their children and bring in some money. 20 years later, the vibrant fabrics and practical, distinctive designs have made Vera Bradley a true “American Dream.”
You’ll find a style that fits your personality, or reasonably priced accessories that are perfect gifts—glasses cases, backpacks, purses, luggage, and more!
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Vera Bradley remains steadfast in their commitment to excellent quality and tasteful, innovative designs.
The Tortoise Shell is proud to feature Vera Bradley products. In addition to being headquartered in the Midwest, Vera Bradely makes their products in America.
The Tortoise Shell is proud to feature Hadley Pottery as a premiere vendor. Made in America, Hadley Pottery had its inception early in 1940. At that time, M.A. (Mary Alice) Hadley applied her artistic talents toward making a custom set of dishes for a cruiser that the Hadleys had on the Ohio River. The pottery Mary Alice made for the boat was very popular with everyone who saw it. This popularity led to requests for similar pieces.
All of the Hadley designs featured at The Tortoise Shell were created or suggested by Mary Alice Hadley and are painted completely free hand on each piece. The reverse side of each piece bears the signature "M.A. Hadley". Her pottery originals and paintings in watercolor and oil have been exhibited in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and other cities. The Hadley designs are unique in their originality and have been so well received as to be simulated by other pottery makers.
Mrs. Hadley worked at the pottery until her death in 1965. Mr. Hadley continued to run the pottery until 1979 when it was sold to the current owners. Mr. Hadley died in 1991. Mrs. Hadley's creative inspiration continues to influence the pottery today. Very little has changed at the pottery including a few employees who knew Mrs. Hadley, and the tradition continues of signing each piece with the signature "M. A. Hadley".
In growing, Hadley Pottery has exerted a concerted effort to revive craftsmanship on a small scale. The Hadley ware has a modified stoneware body, similar to ironstone. It is made of native clays and is very durable. The decoration is applied directly on the green or unfired clay shapes, which in turn are coated with a porcelain-like glaze by dipping or spraying. Hence the term "underglaze decoration".
Unlike many other pottery lines, Hadley Pottery is fired only one time; and this single fire process produces ware with a maximum bond between the body, decoration and glaze, with the result that the decoration is as permanent as the piece.
In ware produced by the alternate process of separate firings for the body, glaze and decoration, as is the practice with most dinnerware, the decoration (and sometimes the glaze) is readily subject to abrasion and the chemical action of strong cleaning solutions and to crazing.
The high firing temperature of Hadley ware, approximately 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, has the advantage of producing a highly durable piece possessing sufficient resistance to heat shock to be used in an oven, if handled properly (not over or on a flame or heating element or in a broiler).
Hadley Pottery compounds and grinds all of their glazes, which are completely lead-free and cadmium-free, and fired to a hard, glossy surface that is easily cleaned and highly resistant to scratching or chipping.
The Hadley Pottery factory is located in a building constructed in 1848 in Lousiville, Kentucky.
HEREND
Welcome to the world of Herend, renowned since 1826 for beautiful porcelain hand-painted with exquisite detailing. Herend has been renowned since 1826 for producing beautiful porcelain hand-painted pieces.
Each and every piece of Herend dinnerware, figurines, and home accessories is an individual work of art created by highly trained master craftsman.
The beauty of Herend porcelain is intended for use and enjoyment as well as artistic appreciation. With its durability and ease of care, each piece is a treasure for the connoisseur, with a legacy as enduring as the cherished European tradition of its creation.
Since 1826, Herend (pronounced HAIR-end) has produced some of the world's most distinctive and outstanding porcelains. The manufactory name is derived from its home in a small Hungarian village not far from Budapest, one of the great capitals of Europe.
The traditions of ceramic production have a very long history in this region. Artifacts found in the area confirm the early production of earthenware, and the 16th century potteries in Buda produced impressive examples of majolica wares. Herend's own history began in 1826 when Vinzenz (Vince) Stingl invested in a small porcelain-making facility, not foreseeing its amazing evolution from a cottage industry into a world-renowned luxury brand.
The modern reputation of Herend began in 1839 when Moric Fischer took over the firm. He initially focused on reproduction pieces for families who wished to replace valuable pieces of old Sevres, Meissen, and oriental tableware patterns.
Herend’s first entrée into the American market came in 1853 with their medal-winning submission to the New York Exhibition of Industrial Arts. In recognition of Fischer's role as a pioneer of Hungarian industry, in 1866 he was elevated to the nobility with the title Moritz Fischer von Farkashazy. His grandson Jeno took over in 1897 and initiated a second wave of innovation, leading to further successes at international exhibitions.
Upon Jeno's passing in 1926, the factory continued under the leadership of Counts Andras and Moric Eszterhazy. Since then, Herend has continued to update their facilities without sacrificing the traditions of the highest quality hand-painting inherent in all Herend porcelain.
