A Tall Glass of Orange

The Classic Barbini Bullet Lamp in a vibrant citrus hue, circa 1950's

Our vintage lamps are always rewired for safety-sake and often feature our own glamorous custom lucite base.

Golden Era Glass

Two prime yet very different examples of what I would consider centerpiece-worthy works from the Italian maestros. The top piece is likely from Salviati given its delicate lightness and fluidity. The bottom footed bowl is heavier in the hand and features bolder fluted lines making it attributable to Barovier or perhaps Barbini. Both 1950's, Murano.

Top bowl is 10.5" in diameter, Bottom bowl is 13" across

Two Toned Triumph

Alvino Bagni Vase, likely late 50's, from his own studio for import by Raymor

Caged Heat

Just how did the Italian artisans create the signature quilted look found in these hand blown glass pieces? The argyle effect is achieved by blowing the the molten glass into a wire "cage" of sorts and quickly removed prior to cooling, thus creating the cross-hatch design.

A Horse is a Horse, of course...

Of course unless it's a mid-century Italian horse sculpture. OK, I admit I've used that line before, but what makes this piece different from the rest is that it is a much more a literal reproduction of the type of horse produced in China during the Tang Dynasty than we are accustomed to seeing. Modernist interiors often add a dash of the exotic, and this would be a perfect touch of the Orient.

Springs Eternal

This mint-green Art Deco vase featuring dramatic spring-like details was created for the famous "Les Grand Magasins du Printemps" department store in Paris by L'Atelier de Ceramique de Sainte-Radegonde in Touraine, France, in the 20s 

Fantastique at any angle!

Pass The Basalt

A great example of what we like to term "Mid-century Rococo". Made in England in the 60s by the venerable Wedgwood comes this illuminated covered container from their Black Basalt line.

Nailed It, Again!

Another discovery in the nail sculpture genre is the name Ron Schmidt, somewhat prolific in the 60s and 70s, this is a great example of his signed 3-D wall art. Brass tacks, indeed. 22" square.

Be Still my Heart

There is something so surreal and fun about a piece featuring a scene of other pieces...a 'still life' if you will. Created at a Finnish factory called Kupittaan Savi, a company which produced well designed and colorful domestic goods. This plate, measuring under 4" inches square, is signed AE on the back indicating an otherwise unidentifiable artist who hand-painted the piece. A fine little 50s find from Finland.

Rare Beauty

An athletic female figure by the great Harald Salomon for Rörstrand, Sweden 

Finished with a pearl grey and subtly mottled blue glaze   

#7 of only 50 made between 1943-45, 16" tall and 10" across

Pushing the Seasons

This unseasonably warm weather has me thinking of spring and all the pastel colors we have to look forward to. So, I decided to take this Italian stoppered bottle outside for a little sun. Fratelli Toso c. 1950s

Bitossi Most Unique

Another great 50s find. Every lovely polka-dotted detail in perfect shape. Chocolate textured ceramic with candy coated tiles makes this covered piece a delicious Italian dish.

Props for your Approval

Still shots of my prop styling for tonight's premiere of "The Approval Matrix" on Bravo, 11pm.

BRAVO for Us!

Just a sneak peek at my latest TV project as Art Director. Tune in tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 16th) to Bravo at 11pm for the pilot episode of a show called "The Approval Matrix", a televised version of the humorous pop-culture graph you may be familiar with from the back page of New York Magazine. Of course, there is a generous supply of gorgeous props from The End of History for your eyes to behold. Stay tuned for more details and another reminder tomorrow.

Fine Feathered Vase

An etched clear glass vase with a double quill design, Orrefors, Sweden 1960s.
Sven Palmqvist was destined to work in this medium, born in the glass district of southern Sweden, his studies began in his early 20's at Orrefors and continued all over the world, honing his craft in Paris, Germany, Italy and the United States. But it was at Orrefors where he would return and eventually invent many techniques resulting in several awards for his ingenuity. 

“With glass you are able to sculpture with light and with help from the sun you can paint with colours. Glass expresses so much more than other materials; it will never be affected – it is eternal, unchangeable” - Sven Palmqvist

From Gold to Silver

This pair of Art Deco Sterling Silver capped glass capsules are what one would call "Nécessaire," the french term for items one would need for the woman's vanity to encase personal products such as make-up. The austere shape seems perfect for the refined gentlemen's dresser as well. 

The lids feature a fine etched wave pattern. Made by a company out of Birmingham, England called Adie Brothers in 1936.

One More Oro

This time - care of Italy. A lava-like ceramic box perfect for jewelry such as...gold.

The Gold Rush

...Continued

All That Glitters

Bavarian porcelain, one of our latest obsessions, was often heavily decorated with real 24K gold, an illuminating fact to behold. We love the juxtaposition of old and new, "Rococo Modernism" I call it.

Google (Maps) Us!

Google "The End of History" and you will find references to the Francis Fukuyama  essay which inspired our store name, links to an Indie rocker, or a ridiculously expensive distilled beer with the same name. But go a step further and look us up on Google Maps and you will find a portfolio of professionally photographed shots of the store...inside and out.

It pays to have friends in high places. Thanks to an international effort by Google to highlight the independent proprietor, small shops all over the world are receiving this special attention!

Tray Chic

It's sometimes impossible to date certain vintage pieces. Well, the era of this tray gives itself away. British coins from the early 50s embedded in black "Bakelite" (or a similar rare polymer). Some denominations of currency featured are no longer even in circulation. A great item for the nostalgic Brit or perhaps an Anglophile with good taste. Worth every pence!

Bloody Sunday

An important piece from the hand of legendary ceramicist Stig Lindberg. 

Known as a designer of many other medium including textiles and illustration, often more whimsical in theme, this is a signed and serious piece of studio pottery. More organic in tone, perhaps a nod to Asian influence given the color scheme with its oxblood glaze over a subtle celadon undercoat.

Go Green

Gio Ponti would be proud. His influence is apparent in the shape of the lid of this piece. The color of the glass is a particularly luminescent shade of green, like a large mouth-watering Green Apple Jolly Rancher!

Resplendent Opalescence

There is something mystifying about the way this certain type of Murano glass seems to glow with light.

Deco-Rate

Once again our collective globetrotting leads us back to Japan. This time the period is Deco. What makes this Lacquered box all the more special is the pristine condition its in. Such a delicate craft from the 1920's and nary a scratch nor a nick to be found! The interior is the classic Japanese red one might expect.

9" square and 3.75" deep

Italian Drama

Great shapes and textures are found in this bright citrus colored combo. The box is Bitossi and the small vanity-sized cased glass collection are all likely Murano.

Double Your Pleasure

What looks like matching vases are actually bookends made circa 1960 by Carl Erikson at Erickson Glass Works which was established by in 1943 in Bremen, Ohio. Carl Erickson and his brother Stephen, Swedish immigrants from Reijmre, Sweden, a famous glass center, descended from master glass blowers. Carl learned his trade at Pairpoint Manufacturing Company in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he worked for 20 years. From there in 1932, he went to Libbey Glass in Toledo for four years, then a brief stay in Hollywood. The Blenko Glass Company even hired him as a designer and teacher of apprentices. In 1943 Carl and Stephen Erickson bought a defunct glass factory in Bremen, Ohio. The rest is glass history... resulting in the bookends (or vases?)  you see above!