The Big Bang

One of the greatest names in Danish ceramics is Arne Bang...and as of late, we've got the goods. Recently arrived from Copenhagen are these wonderful examples of stoneware from his own studio made in the 1930s and 40s.

Cityscape Vase

An Italian ceramic from the 50s painted with city scenes, likely of Florence, including its famous Duomo (see top photo).

Cityscape Plates

Italian architectural ceramics, c. 1950s

Norway? Yes way!

Typically a category of collectable one might expect from Italy, however our mid-century ceramic box actually hales from Norway. Great Op Art design makes this piece a real trip.

Black Forest Vase

Like a scene from "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" this tall 1960s West German vase features stark black and white branches and a lava-like nubby texture. UPDATE: Just discovered more info on this fab piece. It is from a company called  Scheurich and was designed by Alex Marx

Another Special Swede

Rare Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, 1950s

Oh So Swede!

All made by the precise hand of Swede Sven Hofverberg, circa 1950s. These wafer thin ceramics are light as air, yet heavily decorated with the most beautiful opalescent mother-of-pearl glazes. They are a wonder to hold and behold!

Mottled Marvles

Two vessels by Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950's. What an intriguing approach to glazing. It seems as if the color is bleached away giving the surface a cool speckled effect.

What a Bust

We've seen her before, but not quite like this. Made in Denmark by the family owned ceramic company Michael Andersen & Son, this little lady is mostly white and features their signature 'Persian' glaze on its base and hair. We've met her in a moody matte black, but this version is serene and angelic.

There's Something Fishy Going On

Designed by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen, 1960s

Titled 'Poisson d'Avril' by Rabiusla, France 1960s

Although the photo betrays its enormity, this fish dish is a huge 25.5" long!

The Future of Magazines

We are proudly part of the premiere issue! Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (full disclosure...my sometime employer) has just this week launched the 1rst issue of a magazine expressly for view on your iPad! It contains exclusive content not available anywhere else and is truly an immersive experience. Multi-media in nature, the pages literally come to life with moving images and interactive videos and myriad ways to delve deeper into articles with interactive recipes and photo galleries. Our merchandise is found in the feature on collecting, where you will see some of our beautiful all white German Porcelain that we gladly lent for editorial use.

The European Runway

Although I love to highlight individual pieces, I need to step back every once in a while to show you just how many items we actually have in one place. Out of necessity, Stephen had to create this chrome and glass 'Runway' display in order to accommodate the sheer number of new pieces recently shipped in from Scandinavia.

Flavio of the Week

 Flavio Poli for Seguso, circa 1950's. An indigo and pink sommerso and an impressive 26" to the tip of the stretched stopper.

The Joy of Saxbo

Created in Denmark by Eva Staehr Nielsen for Saxbo, in a very 1940s blue/green glaze. The design is an elegant raindrop motif... or at least that's how I see it.

Two from Toft

There is no Danish master of the ceramic craft more adept at graphic appeal than Thomas Toft. As shown so beautifully in stark brown and white above, these 50s vases are prime examples of the modern-primitive aesthetic.

Mutual ADLER-ation Society

Two stylish tomes confirm what we already know...Being happy will always be chic!
Jonathan Adler's "Happy Chic -Colors"and "Happy Chic -Accessorizing" both contain many an item either lent to or purchased by the maestro of mass market mid-century himself. We are so proud to be featured in these books and our large turquoise vessel even made the cover! Inside, we get an official "Shout Out" where it's the first time my photos have been published outside of our own blog!

The clown face collection was made possible by years of dedicated searching from our own Stephen Saunders.

A mixed array of our vintage glass helps illustrate the beauty of decorating by using all the colors of the rainbow.

Gorgeous Greens

3 from Carl Harry Stålhane for Rörstrand, Sweden, 1950s. The sublime lines are unmistakable and the color saturation and high gloss are examples of craftsmanship no longer seen in contemporary ceramics.

Designed vs. Signed

Some pieces are not only designed by a famous artist, but are "unique" and therefore bear the signature of its creator. Such is the case with this wonderful vessel by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg, Sweden, 1961. The coloration of this piece gives it the look of a well patinated bronze, when in actuality it's an intricately hand-crafted ceramic. It is thrilling to know a vase is an original and marked as such.

Getting to the HEART of the Matter

It seems to my eye that the Swedish vases by Gertrud Löngren for Rörstrand from the 1930s are a modern take on the artichoke and predate the iconic Danish lamp by at least two decades. Rare and delicious indeed!

Crazed Mosaic

This has to be one of the most unique pieces of mid-century Italian pottery to make its way to the states! 21.5" of olive colored pottery with a multi-tonal & intricately crazed crystalline surface. The tiny fractures in the glass glaze gives the front of the vase infinite interest. A design literally frozen in time.

It's a Zoo in Here

An entire coterie of animals by Knud Kyhn for Royal Copenhagen. The mottled surface of this Danish stoneware is called a Sung glaze. Wild!

Maximum Minimalism

I know I have been obsessing over the monumental pieces as of late, but the sheer size of these pieces never cease to amaze! This vase was made in the 50s by one Åke Holm, likely in his own studio or perhaps for the famous Swedish ceramic factory Höganäs. This vessel is 17" tall and 48" square around...That's 4 feet! It has a sort of off-white chalky color and texture. 

Modern Totem

This ceramic reminds me of the Memphis Milano movement to emerge from Italy in the 80s, however it is actually a 60s relic from Sweden's Rörstrand. Designed by Ole Alberius.

Under The Sea

Anna Lisa Thomson created this underwater fantasy piece for the company she was most often associated with- Upsala Ekeby Gefle...as it was known in the 40s. A most unusual piece with many different angles in which to appreciate its aquatic tableaus.

More BIG News

Another monumental example of Wallåkra. This fantastic piece of Swedish pottery from the 40s is even wider at 45"! Incised Vallakra on the bottom...the eponymous name for both the region and reffering to the type of clay used in crafting this amazing piece.

Massive Masterpiece

This is one huge piece of Wallåkra pottery from Sweden, 1940s. At 24" tall its height is great, but it is its girth of 43" around that is most impressive. Speaking of impressions...the repetitive incising gives this work a charming bohemian quality.