Monday, August 31, 2009

Back To Schollert



White glaze over red clay, c. 1950's. What appeals to me about Danish ceramicist Christian Schollert's works are the exactitude of his lines. So symmetrical are the designs that they harken the machine age.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Big Apple


Another one for the bizarre but fun file. An Italian cased glass lidded bowl shaped as an apple? In turquoise no less! Measuring 8" in diameter and 4" tall (including stem). It would be sweet as a covered candy dish.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Amorous for Amber Glass


Just a little grouping for those who love the earth tones.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Light as a Feather


This sweet little confection is by Fratelli Toso, Murano Italy, c. 1950's. It stands at 4.5". Fabulous for anyone who collects vintage perfume bottles or for someone who simply enjoys the little things in life.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

What's Black & Blue...


...and READ all over? My blog's readership has been increasing by leaps and bounds lately. I'm now read in at least 26 countries! Here is a beautiful selection of mostly Italian black cased glass and Murano bowls for the whole world to see.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Speaking of Glowing Reviews...

Heather's Habitually Chic Snap-Shot

Heather Clawson, Blog Star

We were honored yesterday by our inclusion on one of our very favorite blogs. The wonderful Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic™ paid us a visit and shared her enthusiasm for our shop with the many fabulous fans of her popular site...under the title Color Me Happy! Stephen and I have been following her stylish musings from her early entrée into the blogosphere and we couldn't be happier to be on her designer-radar! To Google her is to find a million and a half mentions. She is consistently among the top rated bloggers in the "Lifestyle" category and she has come to represent the type of success and meteoric rise a blog can bring. Habitually Chic™ is the kind of habit one need not break!

Link Below:
http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2009/08/color-me-happy.html

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Glowing Review!


This Murano Bowl is absolutely phosphorescent! This florescent yellow glass screams to be seen.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Fancy Redundancy


Gotta love a piece of Italian pottery that features other pieces of pottery or glass as decoration. This black and white nod to Fornasetti may be intended as an umbrella stand, because of its height, weight, and the cut out handles on the side.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Tray Chic




We describe this 1960's lacquer tray as "Mary Quant Goes Kyoto". I love how the floral motif spills over the lip of the tray. It comes with it's original wooden box. Pop art meets Imperial Japan!

Red Skies at Night


Heinz Münnich (1921-1978) was born in Dresden, Germany, the son of an artist. He graduated from the University of Arts in Hanover. Today, the name of Münnich is very well known among art experts and collectors. His works have been exhibited in the "House of Art" at Munich since 1934. Known equally for his realism in depicting the Swiss Alps and for his later semi-abstract paintings such as this vibrant cityscape, 1968. His technique involves the use of a heavy palette knife with extraordinary effect.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Delicious Italian


20" Tall, with a great neck! Marked Italy, RAYMOR. 1960's

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Tallest of All


At 20.5 ", this is literally the biggest piece of Scandinavian pottery we currently have. Also made in Sweden c. 1950's by Arthur Andersson for Wallåkra. His heavy, large pieces were most likely intended as Floor Vases. The unique salt glaze of his stoneware gives it an almost metallic finish.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Larger Still


This week I'm highlighting some of the bigger pieces, in terms of size and importance. This piece stands 15" tall. Designed by Arthur Andersson for Wallåkra, Sweden. This unique vase features an earthy salt glaze and an organic pod-like shape.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Large and Lovely


This heavy stoneware vase has a light cross-hatched pattern and a mottled mustard colored glaze. We know it to be from the hand of Gerd Bøgelund for Royal Copenhagen because of a distinctive initial 'gb' incised on the bottom. The Height is about 12".

Monday, August 17, 2009

Another Grey Day...


Actually it's 90 degrees and sunny in NYC, but I had to share this GREY cased glass grouping. Italian from the 60's and among the rarest color-way.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Mad About Mad Men?


The Mad Men look can be found here at The End of History! Don't miss the premiere of Season 3 tonight on AMC @ 10pm!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Two Seasons


Autumn and Spring are represented here in hand sculpted terracotta, c. 1920's. Stamped "Made in Italy" and signed Barolini. Where Winter and Summer ended up is anyone's guess.

Friday, August 14, 2009

(Not So) Secret



From the forthcoming September 2009 Issue of Metropolitan Home:
Secret Source
Design impresario Giulio Cappellini (show here with his latest collection) loves to shop at The End of History in New York City's West Village for its vast selection of 1950's and '60's glass (which he used in Poltrona Frau's SoHo store).

Thursday, August 13, 2009

What a RELIEF!


Designed by Manfred Frey circa 1970 for the West German company Kaiser Porcelain, these vintage vases have the odd and intricate pattern of Ammonoid Fossils in detailed relief.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

FLAVIO of the week



One of the most exciting shapes of stopper bottles is this streamlined statement from Flavio Poli for Seguso, circa 1950's. The needle-nose tip seems to never end.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Danish Delights


A group from Royal Copenhagen's Fajance series, created in the 1960's by commissioned artist Jette Gerber. We love the abstract blossoming tree motif and brown + periwinkle is a favorite color combo.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Recommended Reading


From our friends at Taschen Publishing comes this excellent introduction to Gio Ponti (1891–1979), the quintessential Italian interior architect, designer of furniture, accessories and Domus Magazine founder and editor. Ponti was the walking definition of the Renaissance Man!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

It's a Grey Day


This signed hand-blown smoked grey bowl was designed by Per Lütken and made for Holmegaard in 1961. It measures an impressive 15" x 14", the biggest we've seen.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Let's Get Cracking



These giant crackled vessels stand at 16 1/2". The lava-like surface quality is reminiscent of a volcanic floor. Made in the 1950's by a West German company called Jasba, likely under the design direction of Cilli Wörsdörfer. These would make dramatic lamp bases or a major statement on a massive mantle.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Under The Sea




Just Andersen, one of the best known metal masters to come out of Denmark created this solid bronz piece in the 1930's. Given the fantastical subject matter of the mermaid and mythical sea creature, I suspect it was made for one of the many World's Fairs where his work was featured. It measures at just over 12" in diameter.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Lavender Lovely



Masculine meets feminine in this pair of Italian lamps. The opalescent purple Murano glass positively glows at the center of the classic marble column base.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Purple Reign


The chosen hue of Royalty, purple remains an elusive color in design. This Murano piece imported by Raymor in the 1950's is a great example of the impact the color purple makes.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Dark Matters


Here is an example of a Murano bowl in an unusually dark color palette. The base is black glass and the metal elements are a mix of copper and gold with a hint of chartreuse. Rarified and radient!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Effervescent...


It's form is a sort of amorphous pear-shape. There is a satisfying weight to this small but substantial champagne colored Murano bud vase with controlled bubbles.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

I Conch Believe This



Beautiful from every angle, this conch shell from Murano is a summer stunner. Great for the beach house, or for those who wish to escape to the sea right in their own home. Probably Barbini.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Let's Go to the Movies



Great interior design can be found at the movies. Pillow Talk is a Doris Day classic, while Down With Love pays homage to the golden era. I tend to watch mid-century period pieces for the set design as much as the storyline.