Graphic Platter

An abstract leaf design is how I see the pattern (called "Nairobi") on the ceramic plate above. Created by Mari Simmulson for Upsala Ekeby, 1959.
11" in diameter

Alive with Deadstock

JUST ARRIVED: A treasure trove of never-been-used hand blown Empoli glass from an importer called Balboa. This is just the tip of the iceberg of items we acquired en masse from a collection that remained packed in its original straw! This group was destined to be sold by a New York specialty shop of the period called Paul's of Manhattan...as the original stickers can attest. We can only imagine why they never made it. Did Paul's go out of business? For whatever reason, they remained in storage, but are finally available 60 years after they were made. An abundant selection like this is pure opulence!

Bowled Over

One of my favorite patterns of vintage Bitossi is by Aldo Londi, the maestro in charge of design during the company's heyday of the 1950s, is called "Finestra" or "Windows" as translated from Italian. The reflective nature of the real gold decoration is probably key to the name.
12" in diameter

Deco-Rate

Another pair of American-made ceramics. Busts, one Asian male and one female, bowing in unison. Art Deco in design and measuring in at 14" tall, they are perfect for the mantel.

Let's Get Cracking

When it comes to ceramics, we primarily stick to foreign fare. This is the rare case where a populist American name in pottery actually appeals to us. Royal Haeger made this surprisingly sophisticated pair of long necked vases (22") in the 50s. The surface design is a sort of crackled travertine pattern revealing a copper or rose gold metallic under-coat. Quite elegant with dramatic proportions.

Massive Las Poñas

The single largest piece of sculpture by our sole contemporary artist, BJ Las Poñas, has just arrived. The monumental nod to modernist form stands 6 feet tall including the 24" cube base. The sculpture itself is a one-of-a-kind, constructed of welded bronze panels, hammered completely by hand and finished with a custom patina.

Minty Barbini

A beautifully designed cylindrical box. At just 7" tall, it's a nécessaire of sorts, just the right size for the dresser or bedside table. A creamy green with a touch of gold.

Big Blue

A gem-like faceted bowl in a royal blue and yellow sommerso. A statement making size at 4"high and 7" in diameter.

Orange... Just in from Florida

We've just this morning received our annual shipment from one of our important dealers who canvasses the state of Florida from Palm Beach to Miami. Among the treasures recently acquired is this Barbini stripy bottle from the 50s, when the Murano company had a penchant for playful circus tent inspired designs.
21"

Etruscan Goes Pop

...by way of Heinrich, Bavaria. We've titled this design as "Horse Chases Ostrich" or is it "Ostrich Chases Horse"?
9", 12", and 13"

On Golden Cords

A prime example of 'Cordonato d'Oro', a design technique created for the Venice Biennale circa 1950 by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso. This majestic vase is 15" tall the the top of the gracefully curled tips.

China by way of Bavaria

A gorgeously decorated vase that one would swear was an Oriental antique. But, turn it over, and its mark tells us that it's actually an Asian-themed homage to the very culture that mastered the art of porcelain production to begin with. This mid-century take on the porcelain craft is a pattern line called "Junnan",  made by Kaiser, Germany. China, 'Not made in China'!
14"

The Mighty Thor

...as in Thorkild Olsson for Royal Copenhagen. A parakeet atop a branch decorates this white porcelain lidded box from 1942.
5"

Fish Story

A surreal underwater scene (Isn't that fish bobbing with a hook in its mouth?) designed by Arno Malinowski for Royal Copenhagen in 1942, the same era its creator also worked for Georg Jensen where his repertoire included jewelry.

The back features a spray of seaweed occupied by shellfish.

5" to the tip of the oyster-shell handle

Glossy Glass

A great glossy magazine spread in this month's luxe.
photo: Joshua McHue

When working with the well-known Interior Designer Jamie Drake, one knows color is going to play a key role. Among the many pops of color to be found in Paige and Todd Kramer's apartment is a gorgeous group of vintage sky blue stoppered bottles from our shop.

Robb Reported

There is a excellent online resource called Robb Report which highlights new and noteworthy luxury goods and services...and we have just been added to their roster of high end shopping destinations. Included is a lovely slideshow of photos (one of theirs is featured above) and a lengthy interview. 

This is an excerpt below:

So where does Saunders find his colorful treasures? “Twenty years ago when I started collecting, a lot of these pieces were being sold at yard sales because people thought they were junk. Now, I send pickers to antique markets across the country and overseas because they have become so popular; and I think my shop has really contributed to that,” he says. “I am allowing people to rediscover things. I buy things that I love and re-present them as the luxury goods they once were. Everything goes through a period in which it’s unfashionable, but now that it has come back for the second time, it’s here to stay.”

Full Article Link:

http://nyc.robbreport.com/article/great-find-end-history

6-Sided Stunner

Hexagonal is hardly a shape we expect from hand-blown glass...and in my favorite tone of deeply saturated turquoise! I'm giving you the aerial view to appreciate the shape and form and also to reveal the method behind achieving the opacity unique to cased glass. From Empoli, Italy, 1950s.
15" tall

Compote Collective

A terrific trio of Italian compotes incorporating sgraffito and real gold decorations. Groovy!
4", 6", 7" tall

Fair Isle Finery

                                               Robert Wright for The New York Times

The print designer Shayna Kulik inspects porcelain pieces by Rosenthal and Hutschenreuther at the End of History in the West Village. 

We are often humbled to hear that we are a source of inspiration to the creative community at large. Beyond interior decorators, designers of all disciplines have come to recognize the style lab that is our collection of 20th Century goods. We were recently visited by print expert Shayna Kulik, who likens the patters found on many of our 1960s Bavarian porcelain pieces to the Fair Isle motif... which she singles out as a design trend to watch in an article from today's New York Times Home & Garden section. Fashion for the home...indeed!

Select link below to read full article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/garden/fair-isle-patterns-shopping-with-shayna-kulik.html

Streamline Design

An Art Deco treasure of a tray. Ebony and sterling silver, Japanese circa 1920s. At just about 8"x 4" this little wonder would be a lovely surface to place a valuable object or two... perhaps your Rolex or rings.

Shopping Guide Pride

We recently had the pleasure of meeting an up-and-coming fashion designer, Arielle Shapiro, who wrote about us for the Shopping Confidential section of the popular website, Racked. Below is an excerpt of the very complimentary entry:

One of my favorite shops in my West Village neighborhood is The End of History. Having been around for nearly 15 years, they've amassed an exceptional collection of vintage ceramics and glassware from the 50s and 60s and even a small Art Deco section that I can't get enough of. Stepping into this spot, I'm reminded why my greatest influence remains my stylish grandmother, whose impeccable taste continually informs my present work. Given the array of gilded Bavarian porcelain and glass vessels from Italy, Scandinavia, and America in every shape and size and arranged by hue, it's easy to see why decorators shop for their clients there and locals like Jonathan Adler frequent EOH for inspiration.

 For the full article go to link:

http://ny.racked.com/tags/the-end-of-history

Ari Dein [Official Site] 

Fantastical Floral

A fantasy Lilly in genuine cobalt and gold, by the Heinrich porcelain factory of Germany, 1950s.
15"

shot on location at Hudson River Flowers

http://www.hudsonriverflowers.com/main.html

Trunk Show

A pair of pachyderms, mother and child, from Italy, circa 1950, in a delightfully bright shade of glossy red glaze.
6" and 7"

Buddha as a Girl...

Also known as Kwan Yin. Created by Gambone in the 50s, this enlightened version of Buddha is the rare full figurine, deep in pensive meditation.
18" tall

Our Latest Hang-Ups

Two equine themed ceramic plaques attributable to either Baldelli or Fantoni, made in Italy mid-century.

12" X 17"

Crystal Continued

Swedish stemware, circa 1960, from another great name in crystal, Orrefors. Decidedly modernist in motif, these are not your grandmother's glasses! Sold as a complete collection, with 10 of each size (plus a few extra) with the original foil stickers. Take a moment to click & 'select' the photo above in order to expand the shot and truly appreciate the clean cubist design.

sizes range from 3"- 6"

Kosta Crystal

From one of the prolific names in Swedish glass, Vicke Lindstrand, likely for Kosta. A spectacular spherical clear glass vase, cut in an asymmetrical pattern that gives the piece a natural gem-like quality.
5" tall and wide

Superior Designer

One of our most valued clients is the renowned and talented interior designer Steven Gambrel. He has a brand new tome which highlights his illustrious career simply titled, Time & Place. Our wares are well represented in many of the projects found in this essential coffee table book.

Vanity Fair

Glamorous glass from the 1950s, by Seguso - from a time when women created their own designated sanctuary of styling at their vanity or in the powder room.  Here is a heavy lidded jar and a classic oversized perfume. Gold layers and bullicante bubbles add to the luxuriousness of these vintage finds.
6" and 7" tall

Monkeying Around

A very collectable Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, circa 1930. A maternal looking monkey figurine in Kyhn's signature Sung glaze.
6"