The End of History: April 2016

Friday, April 29, 2016

Goods for a Good Cause

We were happy to contribute once again to the 12th annual Design on a Dime benefit - an event in support of Housing Works, which provides housing to formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS. Designer Andrew Suvalsky rallied his favorite vendors to contribute to the room above. We offered up the 1950s Italian gold lamps on the left, the large olive colored stopper bottle, and some the blue and green vintage glass and porcelain objects populating the shelves. The event was last week and a great success!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Towering Achievements

How lucky are we to find a trio of Aldo Londi's 'Seta' series - complete with golden stoppers in mint condition?! Made for Bitossi from 1957-1965. Seta is from the Italian word for silk. Rare to find one with a stopper, let alone three. The monumentally taller duo are around 26" and the center bottle is 17".

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Venice on Hudson

When looking for all things Venetian, no need to book a plane - look no further than The End of History. We've actually sent our gorgeous Murano glass back to Venice to decorate the homes of Italians who can't find the vintage pieces in Italy - as the really good glass was made for the American market or wealthy mid-century tourists and most of it ended up over here.
Top to Bottom:
Italian Ceramic Vase with Venetian Painted Scene 16" x 6"
Small Oil Painting of Gondolas at Night 10" x 14"
Barovier & Toso Gondolier Lamp 41" tall
Assorted Array of Red Murano Goods

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Egyptian Revivalism

Stylized golden details and nods to ancient art and architecture are to be found on these art deco era vessels from Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg - a fair deduction would find Egyptian Revivalism at play here. Created around 1930 in Sweden, the style would coincide with the Egyptomania design trend that was still raging post King Tut's discovery in the 20s. Notice the shapes and heavy gilt of the handles. The lids are especially decorative and reminiscent of classical Egyptian columns.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Insta-Love

Our collection sold at Barneys New York found new life on https://www.instagram.com/barneysny/ , dressing up a product shoot for Kai Fragrance. The still-life won Barneys' own Senior Visual Display staffer, Brandon Owens, a merchandising contest and showed off our Italian cased glass to great effect!

Monday, April 18, 2016

Gilded Age

Made by living sculpter Claude Victor Boeltz - a self-described "Erosurrealist Master Artist", this dead stock collection was offered to us directly from the family after they became aware of our previous post. This rare group is among the last objects created expressly for Cartier Paris in the 1970s. This signature technique is what Victor refers to as “exploded bronze” - 24KT gold plated bronze, decorated with rare African quartz crystals. The top two are monumental in size 15" x 14" - the candelabra is 22" tall and 12" wide. The smaller sculpture above is 9" x 5".

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Biggest-Bluest-Bitossi

I can not understate the magnitude of this monumental ceramic vessel! Made by Bitossi in their most popular colorway called Rimini Blue, Italy, circa 1970.
Probably a prototype for a lamp base that was never drilled for that purpose, thus remaining an extra special decorative vase - the largest single piece we've seen.
It is a full 46" in circumference and 14" in height.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Seeing Citrus

Michael Andersen & Son, Bornholm, Denmark, 1950s
Bowl: 12" x 4", Vase: 7"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
12" x 5"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
Vase: 13", Bowl: 10" x 4"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
Box: 8" x 4" x 2"

If there is one color that we feel will always be in style - it's got to be this one.
The pairing up top is most unusual from the family factory of Michael Andersen & Son, while we are less surprised but always delighted to find Bitossi gems in shades of orange and tangerine.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Gorgeous Little Gunnar

The Asian influence is strong here with this just-arrived-from-Sweden stunner. By Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, the proportions are classical Japanese while the mottled glaze techniques are decidedly Scandinavian. It has a subtle fluted pattern and dappled and mottled visual texture. I would describe the color as patina-green - as you would see on a finely aged bronze.
Just over 7"

Monday, April 4, 2016

Box Sets

We have an increasing array of ceramic boxes, made in Italy in the mid-century, many expressly for export. Great for bedside jewels or handsome on a gentleman's desk, & always appropriate for the coffee table.