Show Stopper

Moss colored green decorative decanter designed for Blenko by Joel Philip Myers in 1965

...the real identifying factor being the great finial-style stopper.
13" tall

More Power to the Flower

Small (4.5" tall) but hardly insignificant. Playful flowers hand painted on earthy red clay from Danish pottery makers Zeuthen - Keramik.

Bamboo for You

An international symbol of luck, Bamboo is the inspiration behind these vintage cased glass vases. UPDATE: They are probably Swedish (the polished rims of the blues lead us to think they are Scandinavian...someone suggested Åseda).
l to r:  9", 6.5", 8.5"

Mancioli for the Mantel

Created by Mancioli for importer Raymor - A Pop-Art pair that's just perfect for the modern mantel.
12" tall

Electric Leopard

Another West German find in electric blue and turquoise. A stand-out in a store of thousands of items, I've observed many customers literally drawn to it. Its bold color just beckons the eye.
11"

Windows to Our World

Grey and Gold decorate our store windows. Best viewed in person, trust me, and really spectacular at night!

Graphic Goods

A sensational sampling of some of our best vintage Bavarian matte white porcelain vases from groovy West Germany.

Creamy Barbini

An Italian covered compote of note - with that particular mix of Modernism and Baroque. The 1950s were such a transitory era in design, a time when such a fabulous hybrid of themes could co-exist. Creamy off-white glass with a light speckling of gold.
13" tall

What a Drip!

West German and wonderful. Purple drips over a opalescent pink and beige underglaze. Great shape and scale at 13" tall. Likely by Sheurich.

Orange You Glad?

An incredibly rare Barbini bottle from the 50s. So rare in fact, that we have come across only 2 in the last 14 years. The unusual flat shape (photographed above both head on and in profile) is precisely what makes it so unique!
26"

Something Fishy

Dark brown pottery decorated with inlay of genuine Sterling Silver filigree courtesy of Gustavsberg. This fish vessel is from a line called "Facett" by famed Surrealist Sven Jonson (a sort of Swedish Salvador Dali ) whose paintings are part of the permanent collection of many a museum, including MoMA here in New York.
11"

The Elusive Fuchsia

We had a stylist in just the other day searching for accessories for a fashion shoot. Among her desired colors for glass was hot pink, a color we just never see in vintage glass. For whatever reason, it remains among the rarest colors in the spectrum...that is until today, when one arrived. Isn't that ironic? Don't ya think?
Made in Italy, 10.5"

Showboating

A most unusual shaped bowl from the Seguso glass factory, Murano 1950s/60s. We think it has a boat-like look to it, and yet, very futuristic and modern at the same time. Great stark contrast is displayed in the use of clear and black.
6" X 6"

Recommended Reading

A new tome for the professional stylist and shopaholic alike. Penned by Sibella Court, one of our favorite Stylistas and a long time client...we are proud to be included in her great shopping guide!

Am I Blue?

In 1959, a West German pottery company called Ceramano was founded with the intention of creating high quality ceramics of exceptional design that reach beyond the mainstream. Here is a rare version of a Ceramano vase style called the "Adria", designed by artistic director Hanns Welling. An object of such vibrant cobalt blue, its creation seems likely influenced by the iconic works of contemporary artist Yves Klein. 
Height: 8.7 inches

Neo-Gothic Transferware

Intricately gilt porcelain by Swiss designer Hans Theo Baumann for Germany's Rosenthal Studio Line, circa 1960s. I can't decide whether his repetitive patterns remind me of great Gothic architecture or whether it is really more of a Moorish motif. Either way, these are dark and delightful modernist masterpieces.
Tall Cylindrical Vase 16.5"
Pair of Parallelograms  8", 7"

The One That Got Away

This ridiculously cute creature lasted in our store window all of one hour before its future owner had to have it! Made in Italy, this is a great example of a collectible ceramic Zebra in pristine condition. A rare large size @ 18" X 18"

Silver Serviced

Freshly polished for your pleasure - Sterling Silver from the 50s. All Mexican-made with the exception of the triangle in the foreground (American, Reed & Barton). So just how did the town of Taxco, Mexico become a hotbed of modernist silver design? Due to its proximity to the silver mines and the influx of large European companies such as Christofle and Puiforcat (who set up shop there during the Second World War) the intercontinental influence on local design became apparent in the more streamline designs of local Mexican Silversmiths.

Also just in...Great Britain goes Bauhaus with this Thomas Wilkinson & Sons electroplated Silver coffee and tea set, circa 1920s

Mottled Perfection

What makes this floor vase so spectacular is the mottled surface - a mesmerizing speckled mix of Taupe and Teal. Scheurich Keramik, West Germany, 1950s

22" tall

Enigmatic Enamels

Gorgeously graphic Enamel on Copper plates, circa the 1960s.
4" in diameter

Flower Power

Jacob Bang for Nymølle, Denmark, circa 1950 - a time when Bang held the title of Art Director for the company. If you recognize the surname, one would be correct to assume Jacob is related to the other Bangs of note, such as the famous ceramicist Arne Bang and Holmegaard Glass master Michael Bang. The raised flower detail is a timeless and joyful motif.

6.5"

3-of-a-Kind

These three are among the most unusual glass vessels to be found from Empoli, Italy. Oblong vases, made mid-century, of molded cased glass in oh-so-60's colorations like Lime Green, Aubergine, and Avocado. The pattern reminds me of some sort of Sci-fi circuitry. Strange and chic at the same time.

German Expression

This bohemian piece is an optical wonder, the result of both hand-cut and acid-etched techniques. A trippy sort of abstract honeycomb effect captured in purple glass. German, 1960's, by Erich Jachmann for WMF.
7.5" tall

Flavio of the Week

Purchased directly at the Murano factory showroom by its previous owner in the 50's, this Flavio Poli piece makes it way to our shop awaiting its next lucky owner. Ruby red glass with a touch of yellow in the Sommerso base...the most impressive design element, of course, is the 17" height, thanks to the elegant needle-nose stopper.

Strictly Top Shelf

A spectacular array...as actually displayed in-store. A great example of what makes our store a destination for local design stars and international tourists alike. Selection! Selection! Selection!

Simply Stunning

Editorially speaking, we adore a lush photo spread, especially when our vintage wares are featured prominently. Real Simple is a magazine that really loves us and the feelings are mutual, given the elegant outcome of this flower arranging story in the current issue (July 2011). Shot in the style of a Dutch Master painting, our vessels enhance the subject matter - gorgeous arrangements in equally beautiful vases.

Back to Square One

Jet black and orange are not just for Halloween any more! This elegant Murano bowl is so saturated and rich in color... not to mention orange continues to be a hot decorator hue for the contemporary home. 

4" square X 2.5" high

Happy Fourth

RED = Riihimäki   (11")

 WHITE = Italian (7")

+ BLUE = Italian (9")

Momma and Baby Barbini

More gilty pleasures from Barbini, the venerable Italian family owned glass factory. Fancy finery in impressive sizes:
26.5", 21"

Metal Group

Home design is always in step with the worlds of fashion and beauty, so it makes sense that the metallic trend continues to prevail. This trio is so shiny that some may mistake them for actual ore, yet they are all three Italian ceramics from the 50s/60s, heavily decorated with copper, bronze, and real gold.
l to r: 8.5", 9", 7.5"

Cool Cubist Box

An anonymous piece of decorative art...Teak and Enamel Jewelry Box, 1950s. A closer look reveals an abstract bar scene. Look for bottles and small glasses in this tasty tableau. The inside contains three sections to store your valuables and baubles.