Plates celebrate Burton Tower, other landmarks

Students have seen and heard the clock tower.

But have any students eaten off this landmark?

Classic Collegiate Company's Burton Memorial Tower Plate gives anyone with $50 the opportunity to do just that.

"The tower was chosen because it seems to be the icon of the University," said J. Downs Herold, the company's president.

The idea for the plates was sparked when the Downs family sat down for Easter dinner. They ate on an old set of the Wedgewood Company's Michigan Series plates, which were produced from the late '20s to the early '60s.

EMILY NATHAN/Daily Classic Collegiate Company's Burton Memorial Tower plate brings the campus landmark to the dinner table. Plates can be purchased at the Michigan League gift shop.

Herold's son Tim suggested an updated version of the plates, and Herold liked the idea so much he started his own company.

The project was initiated two years ago, with designer Judith Martin and artist Tom Osburn working on the plate.

Martin designed the border of the blue-and-white plates, which features roses, ribbon, rope and the University insignia.

"I wanted to do it by hand," Martin said. "I started with a penciled sketch, scanned it and then used Photoshop for the finishing touches."

Osburn designed the tower image, beginning with rough pencil sketches. It took Osburn 60 hours to complete his final blueprint, with the whole process spanning two months.

"It was really a great opportunity to be involved in the project," Osburn said.

The next plate will feature Michigan Stadium. Osburn is involved in the plate's design, with the final result going on sale in the next few weeks.

"We chose to do the football stadium because it also was not done by Wedgewood, and it appeals to not only University graduates," Herold said.

Herold decided to emphasize the University's grandiose structures, rather than people or physical action.

"He wanted the focal point to be the monuments," Osburn said.

Herold is on his way to retiring as director of short courses and conferences for the College of Engineering. He's planning to devote extra time to his company.

There will be one to two plates released per year, beginning in 1998. Herold doesn't have definite plans for which monuments will be featured on future plates.

"I'm placing suggestion cards in with the plates to find out what plates people want," Herold said.

Herold said he is considering Angell Hall and the Law Quad, but is open to other suggestions.

He also plans on producing a plate for Michigan State, which will display their clock tower.

"Potentially, anywhere with a demand for at least 15 dozen plates could have one done," Herold said.

The plates are available at a number of sites in and around Ann Arbor, including Jacobsen's in Briarwood Wall, John Leidy, the M-Den, Crown House of Gifts and the Michigan League gift shop.

At the League, student employee Anyesa Thomas said people have called about the plates.

"I assume older folks and alumni that like Michigan stuff would be interested in them," Thomas said.

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