Bohemian Rhapsody

We now have amassed what can officially be dubbed a collection of this crazy complex porcelain design from Rosenthal's Studio Line, circa 1960s. Close inspection reveals the million-times repetition of an asterisk-like flower motif, creating a whirlwind storm of grooviness. We like to refer to this as the 'wrapping paper' pattern.
large vase = 10"
pair of short vases = 5.5"
Lidded box = 5"

Two by Baumann

Hans Theo Baumann for Rosenthal, Germany, 1960s

top is 10" in diameter

btm is 7.5" in diameter

both have a matte black exterior w/ a 1.5" lip

Keepin' it Real

A feature in this month's Real Simple magazine on how to successfully mix patterns in the home featured a couple of our loaned items. The Italian turquoise pagoda-sytle lamp (center) and the the Bavarian bird vase (above) are courtesy of The End of History. We love the idea of an eclectic mix. If an accessory is good, it will work in any room.

Eye-Candy

Another fantastic example of orange and light purple creating a mouth-watering mix. From Barbini, circa 1950s, comes this bowl shaped like a giant piece of hard candy. Layers capture a reflective smattering of silver leaf.
Large at 8" in diameter

Oh Brother

From the renowned Murano house of Fratelli Toso (a family run factory established by 6 actual brothers with the surname Fratelli in 1804) comes this 1950s stoppered bottle. Off-white with generous gold leaf and the undeniably alluring color combination of orange and lavender.
18" tall

Plum Perfection

Power to the purple! Italian from the 50s, made in Empoli, cased glass in that plummy color we love. Unusually grand in scale at 21" tall and a foot in width.

Mad About Mad Men

It will come as no surprise that I am thrilled about tonight's return of Mad Men to television... after such an extended time away. The stories are intriguing and the costumes beguiling, but the main draw for me is, of course, the spot-on art direction. The production design is detail-perfect and the deluxe set decoration stunning in its depiction of the 60s.
 Photo credit: Art Streiber for Newsweek

A Horse of a Different Color

We've seen this Bitossi horse many different color-ways, but Daffodil Yellow seems right on time! The more common coloration is the Rimini Blue, seen in the background, yet the yellow is a real stand-out in our spring window display.
He measures 11" to the top of his mane, 10 " from nose to tail

Italian Teal Trio

This whimsical trio of teal colored lidded jars look as if the circus has arrived. Gorgeous as a group, they make for a lovely collection.

Shelf Life

Along with the windows, we've refreshed the interior as well. This well curated group of gilt porcelain illuminates a shelf in an opulent display of gold and white.

Spring Has Sprung

'Twas the first day of spring... and we just had to bring the color back upfront and center in our latest seasonal window displays.

Styled by June, Styled by Daniel

My true profession has always been in television...and tonight my latest project premiers. @ 9:30 pm VH1 will air the first episode of "Styled by June"...staring celebrity stylist June Ambrose and featuring my very own set decoration...with plenty of vintage glass pops of color from our shop!

For more of my production work ...check out my portfolio:
http://danielmaniel.introduction.io/

Basket Vase

Italian gilded ceramic vase with a basket weave design in the great color combination of teal and lime!
16"

Trunk Show

An unexpected elephant form from the much heralded Arne Bang. Considered a serious master of his craft, it is quite rare to see a figurine so charming as this precious pachyderm from the 1930s. Just 4" high

Africa by Way of Italy

Our Italian ceramic (on left) is a fantastic 50s reproduction from Ceramiche Baldelli of a bronze sculpture of note from Nigeria. The late 16th/early 17th century bronze head (on right) from Nigeria's Benin Kingdom's depicts Idia, its first Iyoba, or Queen Mother. Used to decorate her palace memorial altar, it originally had inset iron pupils and a stylized iron "frown," emphasizing her power and strength of will.

Ceramic 14"

Bronze Photo Credit: Lauren Hansen-Flaschen

Text from a 2008/9 exhibit at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Aqueduct Design

One of the better known names in West German Pottery is Carstens Tönnieshof. Here is an example of what looks to me like an aqueduct motif. Mustard yellow dots contrast nicely with the teal interiors. Carstens produced ceramics in the city of  Freden an der Leine, Germany, from 1945-1984.
The taller measures 16", and the smaller 12"

Drive By Design

This 1958 film was created by GM to promote the idealized American lifestyle associated with the Chevrolet brand. It's easy to see why we hold that era of so dear. So many beautiful and timeless images, like the ones found here, are what informed the times and hence created a culture of product design consciousness that prevails today.

For the full 8 minute version see link below:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1958?start=239.5

Part 2 and 3 have some great lifestyle and modern architecture footage as well!
http://www.archive.org/details/American1958_2

Part 3:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1958_3

Mid-Century Circuitry

A surprisingly Tron-like pattern from Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, circa 1950...or is it from the future?
Butter yellow glaze on the exterior, matte milk chocolate interior, with a hint-of-mint glaze makes this design a most unusual mix.
9.5 X 6.5

Modern Primitive Masterpiece

Around 1948, upon completing art school, Jørgen Mogensen became an apprentice at Royal Copenhagen, where he assisted the great Knud Kyhn and Axel Salto. There he made a name for himself, working for the company for decades to come. This piece is decorated in his own unique sort of hieroglyphics, his initials are seen in some panels along with his signature abstract birds, trees or, given the period, perhaps mushrooms. The material is a heavy stoneware and the mottled surface is a "Sung" glaze. This square shaped vase was created at Royal Copenhagan in 1962.
9.5" tall

Copper Keeper

Created by Salviati in the 50s, one of the venerable Murano factories. 14" in diameter with the original foil sticker intact. It looks as if it is about to take flight...

At the End of the Day...

A Venitian technique we are accustomed to seeing employed on a significantly smaller scale, 'end of the day' glass is usually seen as an ashtray or bowl. A excellent example of early recycling, this design process collects left-over shards of glass from the workday's production and quite literally melds them together, creating a terrazzo effect. Monumental in size, and obviously quite heavy, this lamp stands as a testament to the 'end of the day' technique and is an impressive 41" tall. Closer inspection reveals the treasure trove of hidden gems in its make-up.

Another Hang-up

This wall hanging is a classic ceramic in the tradition of German "Fat Lava"...in that it is an incredibly textural and multidimensional bas-relief. Generous amounts of copper dust highlight the still life of contrasting bottle figures on an earthy backdrop.

The manufacturers mark is pressed into the reverse side, and I have just now discovered it is an original by an accomplished artist in many mediums named Helmut Friedrich Schäffenacker (1921-2010).
Piece measures 15" tall and 5" wide

Doves of Peace

An icon first popularized by Picasso in 1949, the symbol of the 'Doves of Peace' has been reinterpreted in art ever since. At least that's my take on this mid-century hanging ceramic plaque from Germany.
14" X 10"

Bottle of Sunshine

A beautifully bright, almost florescent, yellow bottle vase designed by Joel Phillip Myers for Blenko in 1969. A great bottom-heavy weight and impressive height (@ 22" tall), this is piece of glass that demands attention.

Sound Design

Gold sound waves are what this pattern reminds me of...and it's music to my eyes! Cobalt blue porcelain decorated with gilt transfer in a Rorschach-like pattern from Heinrich, Germany.
Lidded Jar is 4.5"
Medium Vase 8"
Square Vase 11"

Earning Our Stripes

The cuteness factor is above and beyond with this Italian ceramic Zebra from the 1950s. Sitting pretty at 17" in length and 10" to tip of its ear.