Finely Incised Fish

Another under-water theme - this one decidedly more modernist. Made by the always whimsical Mari Simmulson for Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1950s. This art pottery is made specifically for hanging...wire hook built right in.
9.5" x 7"

Really Rare Bang

A bit of Japonisme - apparent in the vine-like flourishes from the coveted Arne Bang with a copper lid attributable to Knud Andersen,  1940s.
precious at just 5"
Note: The shop will be closed until the weekend.

Sea Glass

Bohemian glass deluxe from the venerable Moser factory dating back to the late 19th century. Hand painted enamel on crystal, hyper-realistic in its depiction of the sea's submerged flora and fauna.
11"
Note: We will be closed this week Monday - Friday, resuming regular business hours Saturday and Sunday 12-6

Couture Candlesticks

This pair of elegantly rendered Venetian candlesticks have a fluidity that defies physics. Created in Murano by Seguso in the 1960s in a gorgeous smoky grey and clear glass base, capped with gilt candle holders. They feel like flowing fabric to me as well, red carpet ready gowns - made of glass.
11.5"

Barbini Bookends

A fabulous pair of Murano glass spheres by Barbini circa 1950. They have the look and heft of extra large paperweights and, yet, the with flat surfaces that tell us they were intended as bookends. Gorgeous in copper and a light teal.

Due by Londi

A pair of covered vessels for Bitossi in a pattern we adore called Finestra - which translates from Italian to mean "Window Pane". Perhaps designer Aldo Londi saw reflections in the glass and translated the patterns into these stripes with lines of gold.
Covered Jar 8" x 8"
Box 4" x 8" x 2"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Murano Trees from Mid-Century Italy

Heads Above the Rest

 Africa by way of Germany in the manner of Italy, 1950s

12" tall

Modern Mayan Masterpiece

As purveyors of fine vintage wares, we rarely find a piece of contemporary glass to be excited about. Chuck Boux is a living American glass artist based in Florida. One of his most distinctive etching techniques is similar to the tradition of cameo glass - a process he refers to as a double overlay. He tells us this was made at least 15 years ago. In 1989, when Boux was 38, he took glass blowing classes at the Experimental Glass Workshop here in New York City. He seems able to adopt any number of design aesthetics and here he has created an elaborate Mayan style battle scene titled “The Sack of Tenochtitlan” - realized in vibrant coral and indigo. He has also made custom pieces for the New York Yankees, Time Warner Communications, and The Smithsonian.

12" x 10"

Royal Re-Issue

An iconic vase by Georg Jensen titled "God of the Winds" designed for Royal Copenhagen circa 1904-1906, and re-issued back in the early 90s. Look closely and and can see a wind swept figure time-traveling through the ages.
14" height x 6 1/2" diameter

Baby, It's Cold Outside

A polar bear from the Art Deco era- Heubach Porcelain, Germany, 1925

11"long x 6"high

Snake Charmer

Another incredible take on the enamel on copper technique -Mind boggling how the (unknown) artist achieved such a realistic rendering of a snakeskin pattern. So chic and timeless....but likely from the 70s. Diane von Fürstenberg would love this, no doubt.

9.5" in diameter

Bacchanalian Box

Ando Jubei, created a particular type of Japanese cloisonne called "Moriage" - a miraculous meeting of enamel and copper. This distinct style of craft became influential... helping defin the look of the global "Arts and Crafts" movement throughout the early part of the 20th century.This grape themed keepsake box is likely circa 1900.
top = 4.5" x 6.5", height is just 1"

More Stunning Segusos

Two extraordinary Murano vases from Seguso, perhaps as early as the 40s, given their opalescent surfaces and classical forms.
Top 11.5"
Bottom 11"

Grand Prize Piece

In 1958 Suguso won the grand prize for "Genuine Venetian Glass" at the world's fair in Brussels, Belgium. This blush pink and gilt vase bears an original foil sticker commemorating the achievement. This is just one of a treasure trove of recent acquisitions from an impressive collection of important Murano glass...more will be featured here in the days to come!
5.5"h x 6.5"w

Tiny Bubbles

Pulegoso, a technique first developed in the 1920s by Napoleone Martinuzzi in Venice, Italy is a process by which the addition of bicarbonate of soda, gasoline, or other substances are added to the melt in order to create this million bubbles effect. This emerald green and gold piece was created in the 1950s in that same tradition by the factory Seguso.

8.5" x 4.25"

Tremendous Toft

Thomas Toft was a Danish studio ceramicist with a distinctly modernist style. His graphic approach is visually arresting as evidenced by how incredibly photogenic his pieces are. This piece - the single largest piece we have come by - seems to be a stark representation of leaves and berries, although he often incorporates the repetition the oval shape.
16.5"

Have a Ball

Time to trim the trees with our array of vintage ornaments. Come get 'em while they're here, as we are in short supply of these hard-to-find hand painted gems

Meet The Opalina Twins

Made in Italy by the Stelvia factory, this couple of teal cased glass decorative decanters are a sort of Italian take on the classic Holmegaard Gulvase with ball stoppers. It's always fun to find a matching pair!

Opalina Fiorentina is likely the name of a range of glass from this Empoli based factory.

18" to the top of the ball stoppers

Weird Wedgwood

We love a little bit of English Jasper with a twist. Wedgwood created this black basalt with a Tudor-like design in 1969. This covered box has an odd juxtaposition of modernist lines and traditional relief.
4"h x 5"w

Lalique Magnifique

This is our first foray into the rarefied world of René Lalique. A signed piece from his early days of glass production in the 1920s. The fern-like pattern is called "Acacia".

8"

Holiday House

Last night I attended a lovely affair at an annual charity show house. The Holiday House situated in a mansion at 2 East 63rd Street is open to the public for a fee that benefits the Breast Cancer Foundation. Each area of the home is decorated by a different interior designer of note. Our wares were lent to the very talented Scott Formby who created an "After Party" lounge, converting a passage and closet into a luxurious wet bar.

'Tis The Season

Created for the popular entertaining blog "100 Layer Cakelet", prop stylist and event planner Melissa McNeeley dreamed up a Rankin and Bass themed Holiday Party where our vintage goods were, of course, era-appropriate and perfectly festive. Cheers!
See LINK below:
http://www.100layercakelet.com/2013/12/09/60s-family-christmas-party/

Isn't She Lovely

A petite ceramic lady bust from Belgium, circa 1950s. Living for her flippy, kicky, hair-do!
11" (with base)

Tremendous Terracotta

Titled "Totem" American, 1950s. This monumental piece of primitive art meets abstract expressionism is by the hand of Gerhard Kroll. Of German descent, Gerhard made his home in America graduating from the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, the city he in which he still lives. Milwaukee is also home to his many public works and commissions for hospitals as well as the facade of two North Shore Bank buildings. This a mid-century Midwestern masterwork!
31" including the base

Bleak Beauty

We are feeling surprisingly passionate about this somber subject matter...an eerily elegant moment of Midwestern Americana. Titled "Deserted Intersection", this oil on board work was painted by Frederick William Boulton (1904-1969) in the 1940s. The original frame has a touch of gold in the boarder which illuminates nicely and matches the bits of yellow of the stoplights. We love the quiet simplicity.

22" x 28"

Brutal Bronze

Three angles - one spectacular sculpture. An unsigned solid bronze brutalist masterpiece, likely American, 1960s. Rough and architectural with amazing patinas. Industrial chic, to say the least.
40" tall

Super Citrus Set

A complete dining table set, compote and candles, from Cenedese circa 1970 in a absolutely acid yellow and with internal emerald green bubbles. Sometimes referred to as 'Vaseline glass' - they practically glow in the dark.
candles 8", compote 7"

Gorgeously Graphic

Light grey concentric rectangles repeating in a particularly bold graphic pattern over off-white porcelain by Hutschenreuther, 1960s.
14" x 7"

Mod Nouveau

Bavarian porcelain from Germany's Hutschenreuther circa the 1960s in a decidedly Art Nouveau motif. I love the fact that every surface is decorated, including a black interior. Very unusual for porcelain from this era.
11"

In-Home History

We are very fortunate to work with some of the world's most talented designers. Occasionally someone will share the results of our collaboration with photos of our lovely accessories in their new home. Interior Architect Sue Ventura of Ventura Design allowed us a peek into a fabulous Park Avenue project she recently completed - chock-a-block with decorative objects from The End of History.