Happy New Year, 1960

Who says they were simpler times?

Image:
http://www.plan59.com/

Happy Almost New Year

Come and get these vintage party favors for your New Year's fete. Make some NOISE!

Gold Medal Winner

This is an extremely rare "Flambe" urn made for Rörstrand/Lidkoping from the Unique ALP-series by Gunnar Nylund & decorated by Oskar Dahl in the early 1930´s. This series came about as a direct competition to Gustavsberg's Argenta series. The classical athletic motif may be a reference to Olympians, for 1932 was an Olympic year, officially called Games of the X Olympiad, it was held in Los Angeles, California. The kneeling figure is waving the Swedish flag while the other male form has what appears to be laurel decorations. This is the kind of piece that would have been made for special exhibition and would be shown as a proud example of superior craftsmanship. Just look at the fine detail and gilded highlights! These urns are rarely seen outside of important auction houses in Sweden.

Weighty Subject

A particularly fancy Murano Paperweight, Italy 1950's

What a Drip!

There is texture upon texture on this skinny mid-century vase. Fluted, ridged and dripped glazes in a color combination of red, black, grey, & yellow. It's a model of modernity, Italian style.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2 Penguins from Bitossi , 1950's ...Hey, how did they get out in the snow???

Jack Frost-y

It's Christmas Eve and I must admit I've been waiting all year to share these extraordinary works. Produced by Michael Andersen & Sons around 1940, the design is referred to as a "Transmutation" Glaze and reminds me of the" Jack Frost" that occurs on windows during cold Winter days such as these. So innovative a technique, especially for the time period in which they were made, that the family owned studio won international attention and acclaim.

Regal Gift Box

Royal Copenhagan box designed by Kari Christensen at Alumina prior to 1969

Cubist Ceramicist

The pattern on this small dish (5"x5') by Ingrid Atterberg for Upsala-Ekeby, c. 1963 is called "TRI". It would be nice under someone's TREE.

You've Been Served

It's the time of year when we are entertaining the masses...and this HUGE Italian ceramic platter would serve you well. At no less than 15" square, there is plenty of room for many a Christmas cookie. There is a cool sort of modern twist here that makes this design so delicious.

Let It SNOW!

Parts of NYC got up to a foot of snow, while much of the Eastern Seaboard received up to 24". So I was inspired to find a piece of Danish pottery with a snowy motif to share on this sunny holiday shopping day!

Swell Swag

Here's a string theory...your tree would look even better with some vintage mercury glass garland!

White Christmas

A gift idea for someone with great bedside manners... how about this hand blown Italian pitcher, wherein the lid doubles as your drinking glass!

Venetian Illumination

This is by far the most monumental single Murano lamp ever to grace our shop. Made up of 4 separate hand blown pieces of pitch black glass with 24k gold inclusions in the signature Barbini bullicante (bubble) pattern. Measuring 29" tall and over 13" wide, we are talking a major statement-making light source.

MORE is more

Thanks to More Magazine for featuring our wares in December's gift giving guide!

Danish Delights

Chamotte earthenware bowl and small vase with impressed decoration and a beautiful translucent blue/green glaze, c. 1957, my guess is that these were made by Annelise & Per Linnemann-Schmidt for Palhus, Denmark. You can really get lost in the glaze and design.

Gorgeous Four

A wonderful collection of small vases designed in the 50's by Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand, Sweden. What makes this group stand out from the myriad works produced under this master's direction is the high gloss nature of the glaze. His work is more often monochromatic and matte. Also of note is the painterly color pattern...probably influenced by Carl's love of expressionism, while the shapes seem a nod to his study of Chinese antiquities.

That's My Jam

A 1940's era Arne Bang vessel made especially for marmalade or jam. The bonus is that it comes with an era-appropriate sterling silver spoon in the classic "acorn" motif by Georg Jensen.

Go to Town

Made in Italy by Bitossi, circa 1950's. This pair of cityscape ceramic lamps are hand painted in a delightful palette that says European seaside. What a lovely view!

Holmegaard for The Holidays

Scandinavian Glass including Holmegaard, Elme, and Kastrup.

RIBBON Candy

These delicate glass confections are from the factory of Fratelli Toso, 1950's. The ribbon-like quality is termed 'Latticino'.
Tasty!

This one's for The BIRD

This lil' birdy is from the fifties.

Have a BLUE Christmas

Italian Stopper bottles and their ilk...in many a shade of blue for you and yours.

It's CLEARLY Christmastime

Ornaments made during WWll were often made without silver interiors, due to the shortage of metal for the war. The result was these wonderful clear bulbs...a collectible category unto themselves.

You'll Pine for These

(Re)introducing the masterful work of Swedish ceramicist Per Lilienjren. We are fortunate enough to have acquired more of his mind boggling ingenious designs. Last year we had 3 pieces which sold within weeks of arriving in our shop via our friends in Denmark. We are told that because of the intensity of the labor, these are among the last of this meticulous style of pottery he has produced- some 10 odd years ago.


Each piece is hand-thrown pure white stoneware clay. With a small knife he carves each individual shape (he calls them "leaves"). We estimated around 1000 marks on the tallest vase seen here (around 10"). To organize the pattern symmetrically he draws guidelines with a pencil. He starts carving at the top of the vase and works downward, needing to cut rather quickly before the clay becomes too dry. The method is challenging and demands strong technical skills and incredible patience. Often he works all day and night, going into some kind of meditative state while carving. Well, we certainly are entranced!


Each piece needs to dry before the first firing. The glaze is then applied and fired a second time. Then, yet another coat of glazing before its fired for the third time. JUST SPECTACULAR.

Glass of Christmas Past

Here are some more of my favorite vintage ornaments.

Ornaments for Days...

We've amassed quite an impressive selection of vintage ornaments for sale -dating from the Art Deco period through the groovy '60's. Here's just a few examples with more to come in the days ahead.

Widows To Our World

Christmas has arrived at The End of History. Here are our holiday windows ...and believe me when I say that photos do them no justice. Please come see them in person, as the elves worked ever so diligently on them. The detail shot features lovely collectible Murano Christmas Trees.

Not So Mellow...

YELLOW! The main piece in the middle is by Wayne Husted for Blenko, 1950's.

Citrus Christmas?

Does someone you love live for all things ORANGE? Here's some juicy options for orange gift giving!

Go Green!

Today our selection is mostly Italian hand blown glass from Empoli 1930-50's.

We've Got The Blues

Over the next few days, in order to share the extent of our vast collection, I'll feature various color stories...beginning with BLUE.

Silver Suggestions

How about something shiny on this Black Friday? For those reading this outside of the US, that ominous term refers to the day after Thanksgiving and the official start to the shopping spree that is the American Christmas season. Here I offer two 1950's geometric Mexican silver trays (the triangle shaped one has cute little legs) and a Sterling Silver box- by Vera Ferngren, Sweden, c. 1960. I'm thinking it's possibly a humidor, since it's interior has some sort of wood lining. Great gift ideas all.

Giving Thanks...

Thank You to all our customers & blog readers! Here's the artwork featured in an ad dated 1955 for Douglas Airline's DC-7. The tagline was "Whatever your reason for getting there faster...you go faster by far in a DC-7".

Thanks also to http://www.plan59.com/, the website which gets credit for originally housing this image, not to mention an amazing source for hi-quality vintage repros and prints.