The End of History: October 2016

Thursday, October 27, 2016

French Brutalist Glass

This monumental and heavy acid etched sculptural bowl was designed by French/Italian artist Cesar Baldaccini (1921-1998) for the illustrious French glass manufacturer, Daum in the 1970s, 12 inches wide.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

British Bronze

William Plunkett (1928-2013) made a memorable and lasting contribution to postwar British design in the the 1960s as an artist and furniture designer, some of his designs are still being manufactured today. Working in a Modernist idiom but in a highly individual style, he combined engineering skills with sculptural flair to create striking metal-framed seating and tables that won a string of design awards.
Our sculpture is a one of a kind bronze abstract piece signed and dated 1963, 23 inches tall.

William Plunkett on one of his signature designs the WP01 lounge chair, designed in 1966 and manufactured by his own firm.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Big in Italy

A monumental Italian ceramic mid-century table lamp by Antonia Campi. Her works can be found in many museum collections including MoMA in New York, the Staatliches Museum in Munich, the Museum of Modern Art in Philadelphia, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Cerro Museum in Laveno, Italy. An all over yellow crackle glaze and sensuous biomorphic shape make this giant lamp one of the most spectacular lamps we've ever seen, 42 inches tall.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Stripy Fratelli

Sometimes it's all about standing out in a crowd - like this stunning cobalt and white confection from the 1950s. Created in Murano by Fratelli Toso, this stopper bottle has a playful, circus-like, quality...a popular look in the mid-century. Personally, I love how the pattern in the glass accentuates the glass blowing process. You can see the piece being stretched into shape while still molten, and as it cools, the design is set for eternity.
21" to the top of the stopper

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Funky Cool Mdina

No one does abstract art glass better than Mdina - the Malta based glass factory founded by Brits Eric Dobson and Michael Harris. The company, Mdina Glass, became an active glassmaking company in 1968 and its unique style remains among our favorites. This piece is an unusual shape, a heavy, almost paperweight quality bulb vase with four facets, making the base more square than round. The sophisticated color mix is signature to the company's aesthetic.
7.5"

Friday, October 7, 2016

Genius Sculpture

Titled "Rooster" & acquired from the artist's own estate, this bronze sculpture is by the late, great, Robert Metzner, circa 1970, who in his near century on earth achieved more than a dozen mere mortals. Aside from his art, which can be found on display at UCLA, Caltech and in private collections, he was a great inventor. He held patents on all sorts of audio equipment from transcribers used by the US Army during WWII, to school audio equipment used by teachers and students nationwide. His Metzner Starlight Turntable is still praised and collected by serious audiophiles. If that was not enough, he also invented the first modern gas/electric hybrid automobile, the prototype which is now at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. This is a chance to own a brilliant sculpture by a true genius.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Celebrating 19 years in business! Thanks to all our followers, Interior Designers, Prop Stylists, Magazine Editors, and Private Clientele for the nearly two decades of support and for joining us on our design journey. There seems to be no end in sight to The End of History!

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Monumental Masterwork

An interesting observation from my years as a blogger is that sometimes the camera adds 10 colors. This giant showpiece from the studio of Carl-Harry Stålhane for Rorstrand has a more monochromatic appearance in person...that is not to say less stunning than pictured, just more nuanced and subtle. What the photo reveals is the many layers of color intrinsic to Stålhane's process. This 20" piece would have been glazed many times to achieve this depth of color and texture. By texture, I mean visual, not tactile, because through a method of pumice rubbing, the surface is as smooth to the touch as glass. Amazing that it can survive that many trips to the kiln - as well as remaining modern in form some 60 years later.

Monday, October 3, 2016

A Knight in Shining Armor

An exceptional and very large one of a kind Murano sculpture by Ercole Barovier from the 1950s. Black and gold glass, 14 inches tall.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

For the Love of Larson

8" tall and 8" wide

A name synonymous with Swedish ceramics is Lisa Larson. The still living artist is a national treasure best known for her admittedly silly, but iconic feline figurines. However, she's also created other, more evolved, wares for the home such as this late 20th century vase seen above. Marked with her clear signature and '96 - dating this vase from the Gustavsberg Ceramic Studio.
Similar themed works can be seen in the portrait of the legend at work in her original studio at Gustavsberg, shown below in the 1950s.