Mike Ellis is quietly, but surely helping spearhead a revival of interest in Twin Winton designs and products. I recently had the chance to talk with Ellis about his new book Collector's Guide to Don Winton Designs. He told about first meeting Don and at the church they all attend. Although he knew that Don was a designer, he didn't realize the scope of his work.
He didn't realize Winton also designed cookie jars until he looked at a Sailor Elephant cookie jar at home and found out it was a Twin Winton. Later he found a cow "planter" for 25 cents. He showed it to Don, and his "planter" is now back to being a cookie jar with a new lid and reglazing.
At one point in time Don and Norma welcomed Mike into their garage. He found a treasure trove of Twin Winton items, including drawings and old designs. While convincing Don about their worth and value as history, he became more intrigued. Mike also contacted Joyce Roerig for information, purchased her books and asked a lot of questions. Roerig encouraged him to write a Twin Winton book and helped him get started with leads and information about the best way to go about it. Two weeks later he had a contract from a publisher.
Mike talks about the quiet genius of a man that Winton is. How different pockets of the world know about him, but few know just how wide spread his artwork and designs were produced. From the cookie jars that we know about, to the Mickey Mouse Disney telephone to a sculpture listed at the Smithsonian Institute, Don Winton's designs are known worldwide. People just don't know they are "Wintons". His commissions include the Virginia Slims Tennis Tournament, the P.G.A Tournament, the John Wooden National Basketball Award and the National Gymnastics Championships. Don both sculpted and designed The Grammy Award and The Country Western Music Award. The Presidential libraries of Reagan and Nixon have been commissions, as well as Prime Ministers of Israel. He also touched the entertainment field with busts of David Sarnoff and Willliam Paley.
"The Collector's Guide to Don Winton Designs" is the first comprehensive guide to Don Winton's life and art.
