The End of History: July 2015

Friday, July 31, 2015

New Selection at Dover Street Market

Today we are very happy to introduce a new curated collection of European mid-century cased glass in lush shades of green from our stock, the largest selection of vintage cased glass for sale in the world, at Dover Street Market in New York. http://newyork.doverstreetmarket.com/

Monday, July 27, 2015

French Abstraction

This small hardwood tabletop sculpture was created in the 1970s by French artist Michel Daön.
Just under 12 inches tall.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Golden Rope

A magnificent example of a Barovier & Toso Cordonato (golden rope) vase from the early 1950s.
In 1950 they showcased this technique they created at the Venice Biennale.
One of the oldest continually operating glass studios in Venice, they were founded in 1295 as simply "Barovier". It was not until 1936, that the Barovier family merged with the Toso family's Fratelli Toso Glassworks, to form Barovier & Toso. 11 inches wide and 8 inches tall.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Take a Seat

“I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china.”

Oscar Wilde

An exceptional pair of late 19th Century Japanese blue and white porcelain garden seats. Hand painted for the export market, 19 inches tall and just over 11 inches wide.
They could still be used today on your terrace or in a garden, inside the home they would make a very chic pair of end tables.

The Royals of Royal Copenhagen

A rare and monumental lidded jar by Ricard Bocher for Royal Copenhagen, signed and dated 1952. The jar depicts three royal personages, each with a golden crown and a white dove on horseback with a squire leading the way. 13.5 inches tall.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Studly Vase

Some vases are actually quite masculine in form. A great heavy piece of smokey grey glass with a studded surface design - created by Horst Tüselmann for Ichendorf, Germany c. 1970
9" x 6"

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Cleopatra's Bowl

A stunning vintage Zaccagnini blue & gold representation of Cleopatra holding a large golden bowl, dating to the 1950s and a part of their Egyptian line. She is a rare and spectacular piece of mid-century archeology, substantial at just under 10 inches tall, hand modeled and in perfect condition.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

What's In Store

We are very excited to unveil a brand new retail partnership. The End of History is now selling a carefully curated selection of goods at the very chic Dover Street Market - the international shop owned and operated by Comme des Garçons carries a distinctive array of avant-garde fashions and accessories specially created for their customer base of tastemakers and international jet-setters.

We are showing on the first floor, sharing the jewelry case - placing our vintage wares in the appropriate context of rare gems.

Be sure to make a trek to 30th and Lexington to see the spectacular collection up close.http://newyork.doverstreetmarket.com

Thursday, July 16, 2015

The Signs are Bullish

A beautiful Wedgwood bull figure designed by Arnold Machin in 1945 for the legendary English manufacturer. Covered in gold representations of all the zodiac signs. 14 inches long and in mint condition.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Rarest Bitossi

The influence of the great Abstract Impressionist, Jackson Pollock, is evidenced, yet again, with this duo by Aldo Londi for Bitossi. The sgraffito checked surfaces are splattered with a panoply of colors from orange to yellow to black and, of course, chartreuse, to match the glazed interiors. Small but significant, 7 inches and 5 inches in diameter- Sold as a pair

Sunday, July 12, 2015

We've Been Framed

We recently acquired this flawless collection of, almost certainly unused, Venini picture frames from the estate of a prominent California art collector. The larger ones are 12 by 9.5 inches, and the smaller ones, 9 by 7 inches, and they date to the 1940s. Green, red and gold to hold your precious memories or even a small scale Picasso. On your grand piano or your Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann desk, these are the only frames you'll ever need.

Ladies With an Attitude

Here we are pleased to present one of the most spectacular and large scale pieces of Italian mid-century ceramic art acquired in our 18 year history.
A massive wall mounted triptych in the style of Amadeo Modigliani with a striking representation of five beautiful young women in tones of grey on a rich yellow background and an overall crackle glaze.
The central panel is huge measuring 18.75 by 16.25 inches and each of the side panels are large in their own right, measuring 16.25 by 6.25 inches each.
The signature on the front is illegible and they're stamped Italy on the back. Of all the thousands and thousands of pieces of beautiful post war Italian ceramics we have sold since opening our doors in 1997, these ladies are my all time favorites.

BONUS VIDEO:

Friday, July 10, 2015

Birds of a Feather

What's better than a Bitossi bird box? Two of course! Chocolate brown lids atop striped white bases. Not neccesarily sold as a pair - but, they seem so happy together.
Italian, 1960s
10" from beak to tail

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Danish Blues

A spectacular and very large bowl by Marianne Starck for Michael Andersen & Sons of Bornholm Denmark circa 1960. just under 16 inches in diameter.

Marianne Starck was one of the top Ceramicists who contributed to the success of Michael Andersen & Sons Pottery. She started with the Factory as Artistic Director in 1955 and remained until its closure in 1993

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Urn It

Jasperware was first introduced by Josiah Wedgwood in 1774 and one of the masterpieces of 18th Century English ceramic art, the Athena Vase, was created soon after that.
At a time when all of Europe was enthralled with the treasures being unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum this style became know as the Adam Style in Britain after three Scottish brothers who became the leading practitioners of this strict interpretation of Pompeian architecture and interior design. The most famous of the brothers was Robert Adam (1728-1792).

Osterley Park in London, the Etruscan Dressing Room. Designed by Robert Adam late 1760s.
Our example was made as a part of Wedgwood's Masterpiece Series in 1977 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the introduction of Jasperware and is one of 200 made, 9 inches tall.It comes with it's original certificate.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Fierce Find

This striped creature won't stay caged for long. A masterwork of Murano glass-blowing from the Barbini factory in the 50s - a tony tiger if there ever was one.
16 inches - head to tail

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Gigantic Gunnar

An unbelievably large hand carved vase from the 50s, by the hand of the great Gunnar Nylund for Rorstrand. Mottled minty green with raised floating cubes. Neo-classical meets modern, in the best possible way. This vessel is around 28 inches tall and weighs a ton - understandable given its clay is stoneware. Recently acquired from a private collection in Sweden.