On The Hunt

Bronze Hunter with Big Cat, French 1920s signed by artist.
Fantastic for the mantle.

29" x 19" high

Gemmo Gems

From German company Heinrich comes this graphic selection of hand carved and gilt (24k gold) pieces of Bavarian porcelain in modernist patterns. Great displayed in groupings for added op-art effect.
Tallest among these is around 12"

Surreal Enamel

The tableau at the top is a clear homage to the surreal paintings of Italian artist Giorgio de Chirico. Notice the appearance of Roman architecture in both our framed enamel-on-copper art and again in the example of his own oil painting above. The enamel has provenance in the form of a handwritten inscription on the back that simply reads "Roma 1953" and the sweet remnants of a vintage Christmas label.
19" square (including frame)

Crowning Achievement

A monumental (24") example of West German studio pottery, by cermacist Hans Welling. From the Royal White Line for Cermano. A regal looking piece indeed.

D & Delighted

In what has become an annual event...we were pleased to participate once again in a window display at the D&D Building for Patterson, Flyyn & Martin (a division of Shumacher). We just received the items back from a successful trip uptown and the exposure was wonderful. We've had several customers comment that they discovered us through seeing us in the lobby display. 
Thanks to window wizard Patrick Mele for the continued collaboration.

Adventures in Glassblowing

From the hand of Franco Moretti, a wonderful citrus colored vase, luminescent in copper dust...a technique known as Aventurine.
Just under 11"

Pure Geometry

This is one of those bowls that just needs to be appreciated from underneath. Marked Italy and most likely Bitossi, 1950s. The color combination is a masculine mottled grey and cool blue. The design is a celebration of triangulations!
5" high, 9.5" in diameter

Compote Companion

Reunited and it feels so good. I recently featured the Italian compote to the right, and now we have the bowl to match. Obviously by the same hand, and in equally immaculate condition. Some collector should really take both and keep this couple together! Bitossi, 1950s.
7" high. 11" in diameter

Large & Lunar

A lava glaze in a particularly pleasing color palette which gradates from turquoise up top to a periwinkle/grape mottled mix, and finishes with a smooth chocolate brown base. Cool and cratered and oh-so-very German 70s. Created by Cari Zalloni for Steuler.
20" tall

Happy Anniversary

Today, October 5th, 2012 marks the 15th Anniversary of the opening of The End of History. As it turns out, there is no end in sight!

What a Drip

Black and white at its most chic...a studio ceramic pattern called "Roulette"  by Liesel Spornhauer for Schlossberg, Germany, 1950s
12" tall

Silver Stunner

Like all enthusiastic bloggers, I am not above the occasional hyperbolic statement. With that said....This is one of the most STUNNING pieces we have ever received in our shop!!! Silver overlay atop black Bavarian porcelain. Marked with both the Rosenthal logo and the name Johann Haviland. That would be the grandson of David Haviland (one of the first Americans to import porcelain created in Limoges back in the mid 1800's). Johann carried on the family tradition by setting up business in Germany in 1907. This piece was from the period after 1933, when his company was bought by Rosenthal.
8" high and 8" wide

Murano Macaroon

With cupcakes practically passé, the sweet spot for desserts among those in the know are the traditional French Macaroon. Why on earth do I bring this up on a blog about 20th Century objects?

The photo on top speaks for itself. 

This vintage design from Murano's Cenedese reminds me strongly of the revivalist dessert, albeit in Scavo glass and no less than 10.5" in diameter! Mouthwatering orange in color, and essentially a lidded glass box. Delicious!

Splatter Masterpiece

This take on the Jackson Pollock aesthetic as translated into glass comes from a Venetian glassblower who, like many before, was literally born into the craft. Born in 1965, Enrico Cammozzo was trained by his father and mentor in the traditions and secrets of the glass blowing techniques. This piece is outstanding in its craftsmanship...it appears to contain an entire gold bar's worth of gilding. Given its design and clear age to the label, we are placing this from the 80's, meaning Enrico would have be just in his early 20's at the time of its manufacture.
huge at 17" tall

Murano-Orb

Not quite a paperweight, this is what might be described as a modernist glass sculpture. From Murano's Cenedse factory comes this footed yellow sphere with a teal bubble floating at its center...oddly futuristic & certainly fantastic.
7"

Going Greek

A scavo glass piece in the classical Greek Urn style, signed by Alfredo Rosi, Murano, c.1980. A battle scene decorates one side while a Grecian Goddess figure and Greek Key motif dons the other side. Black glass, with the most subtle opalescent hue - not to mention that distinct 'just-dug-up' texture.
16" tall

Hole in One-of-Kind

Just flown in from the West Coast - our latest acquisition is the work of our sole contemporary artist, sculptor BJ Las Poñas. Another example of his singular approach to modern sculpture...Bronze and Copper Welded panels with a striking blue/green patina. Dramatic in scale at 54" tall with a 16" foot at the base. His mid-century leanings are always there, but his unique hand is evident in all his works.

Effervescent Glass

The term 'Soda Glass' is sometimes used, but a more elegant descriptor is the Italian word Pulegoso. Too many bubbles to be mere 'Bullicante', this is a rare example of a Seguso Vetri D'arte lamp from the 1950s...in a gorgeous olive green. Check out the mind-boggling display of seemingly billions of bubbles captured in the photo below.

30" (with shade)

Architectural Accessories

A stunning set of three geometric objects for the table top. White ceramic forms in strikingly simple shapes, made in Italy in the 60s by Mancioli for Raymor. This is the kind of decoration could mix well in either a traditional home or in a modern space as well.
9.5", 10", 13"

Emerald City

At 3' tall, this towering vision in emerald green ties as the tallest piece of Empoli cased glass we have ever seen. The giant stopper itself (below) is what makes it so monumental - a real statement piece!

Ultra-Cool Compote

Blood orange in color with gilded sgraffito...grand in scale at 9" tall and 10.5" wide. Bitossi, 1950s

Funky Cool Mdina

Another masterwork for the Mdina Glass Studio from the 70s. Notice the signature gold, brown, and teal globular interior juxtaposed with the circular 4 cut and polished surfaces. Organic and geometric at once. Signed and dated 1975.
8" tall

Optical Allusion

The term cut crystal vase brings to mind, perhaps, a Victorian era wedding present. Not in this case! Orrefors created pieces with great modernist lines and optical effects. That is why we love this tall (10" with a 7.5" diameter) object of magnifying magnificence!  UPDATE: Originally designed in Sweden 1931, we believe this is a reissue from the 1970s. From a kind reader...This is the vase "Thousand windows" by Simon Gate... "Tusen fönster" in Swedish.

Another German Giant

Because size really does matter...another oversized vessel from the West German pottery factory Carstens. Almost as wide as it is tall...19" x 17"!

Greek God

A 1950's reproduction of an Ancient Greek bronze of the great God Poseidon. Heavily patinated and sitting on a marble base, this is a mid-century take on antiquity - at its very best. There's a reason why classical never goes out of style.
10" tall

Our Latest Hang-up

A ceramic plaque from the German studio of Helmut Friedrich Schäffenacker, circa 1950. An abstract, almost Picasso-esque, approach to bottles and stemware.
16" high, 6" at its widest

Glossy Glass

Late last spring a wonderful opportunity to be a part of fashion history occurred when renown set designer Steve Halterman and prop stylist Meghan Czerwinski came into our shop to borrow our fancy glass wares for a fashion spread in the premiere issue of Carine Roitfeld's much buzzed about "CR Fashion Book".  I was lucky enough to assist on the shoot, which was themed around Elsa Peretti and shot on-location at Halston's storied Manhattan townhouse. Above center left is a vintage Seguso silver leaf vase, center right a Swedish mercury glass lamp and smoky grey glass bowl. Bottom shot is the actual Seguso bowl as featured on the coffee table. CR Fashion Book is on newsstands now.

Photo credits from CR Fashion Book:  Bruce Weber (cover), Kacper Kasprzyk (editorial)

Graphic Gilding

A very mod moment in German porcelain. Surprisingly, these seemingly similar pieces are all from a variety of Bavarian factories.
l to r: 8", 8.5", 10", 7"

Gorgeous Gem

Faceted bowls are a mainstay with us...and this version is a fantastic fall-colored find. Layers of rust and amber seem to float in a clear prism. A nice chunk of heavy Murano glass, very masculine.
4.5" tall, 8" wide

Textured Trio

If you're looking for texture, you can't do much better than German studio pottery from the 50's and 60's. The tallest chocolate brown piece in particular has a gorgeous cork-like surface quality. The green and teal treasure has a great floating box design, while the back left vessel is a series of free-form ovals and grids. All are wonderfully rutty and grand in scale.
l to r: 19", 22", 24"

Good Geode

Layered glass polished to a flat surface in the manner of a natural gem stone. In nature they are sedimentary structures formed from volcanic rock. In our world, they are created on the Italian Isle of Murano. This rare example is a muted masterpiece of taupe, grey, and even a hint of plum at its center... from the "Alabastro" line by Archimede Seguso, 1950s

Deco-Rate

Imposing figures these...French Art Deco sculptures created in the 1920s from white metal (mixed alloys) and cold painted in a "bronze" patina. Classical in their masculine representations of strength, industry, and quite simply a celebration the male form. Grand in scale, the top measures 19" in width and 18" tall, the bottom 29" wide and 24" tall.

Hold a Candle to These

These three two-toned 1960s Murano glass candlesticks are by Antonio Daros for Cenedese. Sold as a set, in a array of eye-pleasing shades from chartreuse to teal to turquoise and aqua-blue.
heights range from 10"- 9"-7"

Dog Days/Dog Rose

A 'Dog Rose' motif from Gerold Porzellan, Bavaria, 1950s. A lovely design for the tail end of these dog days of summer. Ivory porcelain with an almost pointailist quality to the floral transfer and finished nicely with genuine gold trim.
13"

Back to Pompeii

Two newly acquired vintage pieces from a line called "Pompeji" designed by Fabius von Gugel for Hutschenreuther in 1964.
The tray measures 13" x 9" while the lidded jar is 11.5" tall

Autumnal Art

This large and lovely ceramic wall plaque has an earthy quality, perfect for the pending fall season.  Marked Staatliche Majolika Manufactur Karlruhe. As far as wall hangings go, this is a substantial piece of hand made pottery! And as anyone in the still sweltering NYC can attest, the chilly change of weather is a welcome theme.
16.5" x 16"