Happy Halloween

A 1960's Danish ceramic so bloody good...it's scary!

Distressingly Gorgeous

Studio pieces created by Swedish artisan Claes Theil in the early 80s. The result of a technique called "Carbon Crystalline" glazing gives their textured surfaces a beautiful pitted gunmetal quality. 

Your Ship Has Come In!

We couldn't be more thrilled to announce the arrival of our biggest European shipment to date! Literally hundreds of items collected from all over Scandinavia representing the best of 20th century design from Denmark, Sweden and Italy. Now is the time to experience the full breadth of our massive intake of especially luscious pottery from names such as Rorstrand, Ekeby, and many more.

Material World

Stephen has a history with the designer fabric showroom called "Schumacher". Once upon a time he did display for this tony source for upscale materials. We are pleased to have some of our glass objects used as accessories to their current windows.

Box Deluxe

Who would have guessed the country and date of origin to be Japan, 1920's. Sterling silver striations make this piece seem so contemporary in design. Style is indeed timeless.

London By Way of Denmark

We strongly believe this 15.5" Holmegaard to be either a one-off, as in prototype, or at the least a very rare shape from the renown Carnaby collection of designer Per Lutken. Danish glass at its finest.

Halloween-y Yes Indeedy

In fact...Vintage Barbini.

Flippin' Beauty

Fantastic glass by Archimede Seguso, c. 1950's. Stripes of white and copper that look great from top to bottom. This would make for one fancy candy dish.

Another 40s Find

Recently rediscovered from our archives is this Blenko vase in cobalt blue. Short and paper-weight heavy featuring floating controlled bubbles...it's an effervescent piece of glass.

What's in a Name?

A large scale piece of history...One of the few designs that was given an actual name ( "Spool") by Blenko designer Wayne Husted at the time of introduction, 1948.  

See original catalog:

http://www.blenkoarchive.org/Blenko_Catalogs/1958_07.jpg

South of the Border Surreality

Mexican artist Salvador Teran's work from the 50s is highly sought after. Just look at this amazing example of inlay which incorporates brass and copper imbedded in malachite. The tableau shows an abstract primitive cave drawing of man hunting gazelle. Wild! This humidor (wooden lined box) goes down as one of the more challenging photo subjects I've attempted to capture. Be sure to click the above shots to expand for better viewing, but this one really needs to be seen and held in person.

Do You Like Donuts?

Another iconic American glass company is Bischoff. Like Blenko, it was founded in West Virginia. There truly was something in the water. Several companies thrived in this part of the U.S. due to the perfect silt conditions for glass making. Bischoff is no longer in operation, closing its doors in 1984...making the pieces all the more collectable.

You Go Swirl

Pink, White, and todays' all important Purple. Murano and marvelous.

You Can Hold a Candle to These

A pair of pairs. 

Candlesticks made in Italy in either the 50s or 60s. The golden twosome seem formal, while the blue cased pair have a more poppy feel.

Just in Time for Halloween

A large pumpkin colored fluted vessel by Barbini...bright orange and gold with the signature controlled bubbles.

Golden Era Glass

Smokey brown glass with real 24k gold hand-painted details. Made in Italy in the gilded era of the 1950s.

We're So In Vogue (Australia)

Vouge Living Australia recently published an editorial featuring one of a pair of lamps purchased by stylist Betsy Morgan for her Manhattan townhouse. The news has reached all the way around the globe to glossy pages down-under.  We love an intercontinental design story.

Barbini Bowl

They just don't get better than this. Barbini , 50s, in aqua and copper.

Awwwwww...

...just look at those dimples! Empoli from the 1950s...a grey/green cased piece---indented in all the right places.

Fantastic Fantoni

A name to look for in Italian ceramics is Fantoni. You'll recognize the distinctive signature, writ large, when you find an authentic piece such as this oversized ashtray.  The hallmarks are all here:
A)the heavy, gloppy multi-tonal glaze
B) the scraffito (etched) surface
We don't encourage smoking, but we do support collecting great examples of form over function!

Don't Be Afraid of The Dark

An amazing array of black and gray glass makes for a chic vignette.

Powerful Tower

At 26" tall, this is the most monumental model for a German Television Tower we've seen. Brand new to our collection, this was hand-lathed in the 1950s for the architect at the time, engineer Professor Dr. Ing. Fritz Leonhardt. The purpose of such models was to present to the city planners a tactile plan for possible construction. Not only is this piece identifiable as the tower that would eventually be built in the city of Stuttgart, but the actual structure became the first TV tower to be made out of concrete. As a result, it was a major inspiration for towers that followed all over the world. This is truly a museum quality artifact of modern design.

Seeing Things in Black & White

Due from Empoli. So very sixties, they put the "Mod" in modern!

Save The Labels!

 I've said it before, but the original label only adds value to a vintage piece. Never remove the labels since it identifies the manufacturer and therefore its country of origin. If you are a purist, simply turn the label to the back when displaying your piece...as above. This piece is from one of the most important families of glass blowers in all of Italy, The Vistosi's of Murano.

Harlequin Must-Have

Created in Italy (likely by Bitossi) for American import...the vintage Raymor label still intact. There is a charming crystalizing of glass glaze happening on the left side of the lid.

Golden Era Glass

This Barovier & Toso lidded vessel is a real stunner. Controlled bubbles and an even display of gold dust dispersed throughout. Fancier than any apothecary jar we've ever seen.

Flavio of the Week

Sommerso perfume bottle by Flavio Poli for Seguso, 1950s.

Happy Anniversary!

I was just informed that today marks the 13th Anniversary of the opening of The End of History! My, how time flies when you're having fun. 

"Publishing" News

A welcome addition to the shelter magazine world is not found on the newsstand. Online-only interiors guide, "Lonny" is a wonderfully chic look at the stylish home. In the current issue you will find a feature on Jonathan Adler employee Ben Brouhman's eclectic NY pad. Included in his inspired Hell's Kitchen apartment are some of the glass he's collected from us over the years.

See link below:
http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/1-aug-sept-2010/pages/1#p77

Lavender Luxury

A Barbini bowl most beautiful, circa 1950s, Murano, Italy.

70% Cocoa

Chocolate brown matte and glossy vanilla white glaze mix in this piece from Bitossi Ceramiche, 1950s.

Shrooms For Your Rooms

Many made decorative mushrooms in the 50s and 60s,  but the Italians used a heavier and more mottled technique, giving them a paperweight-like feel.

Double Triples

I now pronounce them husband and wife. Triple gourd shaped stoppered bottles, clearly made by the same hand in Empoli, Italy, circa 1950s.