The End of History: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Golden Years

As evidenced here, Bitossi has proven to be the most glittering producer of mid-century Italian ceramics. Decorated with the genuine ore, each of these textured treasures shine with that bit of bling from the golden era of Italian ceramic artistry.

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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Hang In There

A fantastic pair of cased glass Murano hanging lamps by Vistosi in Brazilian national colors, circa 1960, each 30 inches tall. These are the largest Vistosi cased glass shades we have ever seen.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

French New Wave

Created in Valluris, France in the 1950s by ceramic artist Maurice Bessone, this delicious set of 4 ceramic glasses are perfect for sipping lemonade on the Côte d'Azur, in fact they even have lemon-yellow interiors.
7.5" each

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

More Gorgeous Gambone

Another piece by the genius Guido Gambone - among the best known and most celebrated ceramicists in Italian history.

This singed piece was made in his studio in the 1950s. The deeply saturated colors - shades of electric blue, midnight black, and cobalt are a visually arresting combination on a simple, modernist form.

just under 12" x 6"wide

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Art Deco Lionesses

A superb grand French Art Deco ceramic sculpture of two Lionesses. In perfect condition with a light celadon crackle glaze. Signed LEMONE, 18 inches wide and 12 inches tall, circa 1930.

Art Deco Lion

Every day at The End of History we receive packages from one of our favorite places, France, just in is this wonderful example of French ceramic art from the 1920s.
In 1903 Alphonse Cytere founded an art ceramic studio in Rambervillers which produced ceramics often designed by prestigious artists of the Ecole de Nancy such as Bussiere, Gruber, Jeandelle and Majorelle. Rambervillers was known for it's unusual iridescent glazes on organic forms. At 6.5 inches wide this is small and powerful piece.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Fantoni Pair

A perfect pair of mid-century vases by Marcello Fantoni for Raymor. Made in Florence in the 1950s for the American market. Sold as a pair, 14 & 6 inches tall.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Gorgeous Gambone

Guido Gambone (1909-1969) was one of the greatest Italian ceramic artists of the 20th Century. Here we have a large and exceptional vase from the 1950s that showcases his artistry in a sublime modernist form and glaze. Recently acquired from a private Swedish collection,18 inches tall.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Polka Dotted Deruta

A marvelously mod moment from Deruta, the classic Italian company generally known for more traditional fare. Teal - a hot color trend in both fashion and interior design alike - there is the added glitz factor of a gold wash.
20" x 12"

Friday, June 19, 2015

Game of Urns

A large and magnificent 19th Century bronze and marble French or Italian urn modeled after a Greek or Roman form. Originally purchased by a wealthy British tourist on the Grand Tour circuit of Europe's great classical sites 150 years ago. Our example was recently acquired from the sale of an important English collection.
Spectacular condition and patina, 18 inches tall, unmarked.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Fanciful Fantoni

A beautiful example of the mid 20th Century work of Marcello Fantoni of Florence, hand painted abstract, one of a kind design, 9.5" tall.

Night Owl

An Italian hand carved ceramic owl - made by Aldo Londi for Bitossi in the 1960s. We have only come across one other, and it was in a more expected gold finish - the silvery metallic glaze makes this a rare bird indeed.
6 inches by 6 inches

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Nautilus Realness

One of the most elegant forms in nature lovingly reproduced here in gorgeously glazed stoneware - from the hand of creative designer, Gunnar Nylund for Rorstrand, Sweden, 1950s.
Huge at 15" tall and 7" wide. I imagine it would work perfectly in a seaside manse in Malibu or the Hamptons.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Hollywood Mid-Century

From the noted Venetian house of Cenedese comes this super-chic jet black Murano glass and gilded bronze table box, retaining the original Cenedese paper label, just over 4 inches square and just under 3 inches tall, a small and powerful representation of the perfection of classicism.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

1000 BC

A large and important Olmec jade ceremonial celt (an axe or blade) dating from 1200-300BC.
Amongst Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmec and Maya jade was one of the most valuable and rare commodities and the steel of neolithic civilization, as the hardest substance known to them it made it an ideal tool or weapon.
The value of jade went beyond its material worth. Perhaps because of its color, mirroring that of water and vegetation, it was symbolically associated with life and death and therefore possessed high religious and spiritual importance.
Our example comes from a private New York collection and has documentation showing provenance and legality. 13 inches tall without the custom museum quality stand.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Fratelli Twosome

Purchased together during a well traveled tourist's 1950s trip abroad to the island of Murano - these two stoppered bottles came from the famed Fratelli Toso shop in Venice, Itlay. Although the colors differ ever so slightly - the taller leans more teal, while the wider feels more robin's egg blue - these cased glass decanters will remain together as we can only see selling these as a pair. Their clean lines are decidedly modernist, lending to the harmony of the pairing.
18.5" and 13.5"

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Chartreuse-erie

From the Italian house of Bitossi came the truly definitive example of the hue known as chartreuse...that almost electrified yellow/green that was all the rage in mid-20th-century & now feels so right again. Here is trio of gorgeously graphic beauties - from Aldo Londi - each pattern unique, but all featuring that mottled chartreuse base tone.
6", 9", 8.5"

Monday, June 8, 2015

Ceramic Abstraction

A monumental modernist abstract ceramic mid-century sculpture. Matte grey surface, unsigned. 31 inches tall.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Alvino Bagni Rides Again

A rare and beautiful Italian 1950s ceramic sculpture by Alvino Bagni, an abstract horse and rider in his signature underwater glaze. Perfection at just over 17 inches tall.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Danish Art Deco

Here we have a large and important 1930s stoneware vase by the noted Danish studio of Herman A. Kähler. We have never seen this floral classically Art Deco design before and at 12 inches tall this wonderful piece makes quite a statement.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Splatter Art

Bavarian Porcelain Trio - with black splatter relief

Sgrafo Modern, Germany, circa 1960s

6.5", 10.5", 12"

Scandinavian Pottery Vase

Knabstrup, Denmark, circa 1960s, 8"

left: Italian Ceramic Vase, 1950s, 8"

right: French Pottery Scraffito Vase, 1950s, 14"

The enduring allure of Abstract Expressionism can be found in decorative objects of all types & materials, from all corners of the globe.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

My Little Pony

Here's a blue mid-century Bitossi horse by Aldo Londi that's a first for us. A charming and unusual primitive shape, this little pony is 10 inches tall.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Molten Murano

Signed Sergio Rossi - Murano circa 1970s

Could this glassblower be related to the luxury shoemaker of the same name?

Unusual and beautiful molten fluidity captured in glass. Jewel toned Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire discs float in a sea of gold leaf. 16 inches tall