Black & White Continued

Swedish ceramics by Mari Simmulson for Upsala-Ekeby, 1950's.

Seeing Things in Black & White

This weekend I'll feature pieces in the always chic black and white design family. Friday's beauties are these rare ceramics made by Hertha Bengtsson- manufactured for Gustavsberg, Sweden, c. 1950's. Most of her work consists of pretty florals, while these are examples of bauhausian geometrics.

Czech This Out

UPDATE: I had originally identified this piece as Finnish, but thanks to an observant and knowledgeable reader we have been informed this is most likely Czech glass from the 60's/70's and further research tells me it's called "Sklo".

Looky-Likey

Verner Panton Textile

Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelain Vase

There is clearly a connection here. Our 1960's Rosenthal vase was either designed by the great Verner Panton, or pays direct homage to his groovy sensibilities. Terrifically Trippy!
UPDATE: It has recently come to my attention that this is in fact by another giant of the Op-Art movement, Victor Vasarely!

FAIR Thee Well

In honor of yesterday's opening day of the US Open, I give you one of the most iconic and enduring symbols of the 60's...The Unishpere. The stainless steel, 900,000 pound structure stands 12 stories tall and is located in Flushing Meadows Park in the Borough of Queens, New York City. The Unisphere, commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age, was conceived and constructed as the Theme Symbol of the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. The Theme of the World's Fair was "Peace Through Understanding" and the Unisphere represented the theme of global interdependence. It was dedicated to "Man's Achievements on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe." Very The End of History! Designed by landscape architect Gilmore D. Clarke, it is the world's largest global structure.

Back To Schollert

White glaze over red clay, c. 1950's. What appeals to me about Danish ceramicist Christian Schollert's works are the exactitude of his lines. So symmetrical are the designs that they harken the machine age.

The Big Apple

Another one for the bizarre but fun file. An Italian cased glass lidded bowl shaped as an apple? In turquoise no less! Measuring 8" in diameter and 4" tall (including stem). It would be sweet as a covered candy dish.

Amorous for Amber Glass

Just a little grouping for those who love the earth tones.

Light as a Feather

This sweet little confection is by Fratelli Toso, Murano Italy, c. 1950's. It stands at 4.5". Fabulous for anyone who collects vintage perfume bottles or for someone who simply enjoys the little things in life.

What's Black & Blue...

...and READ all over? My blog's readership has been increasing by leaps and bounds lately. I'm now read in at least 26 countries! Here is a beautiful selection of mostly Italian black cased glass and Murano bowls for the whole world to see.

Speaking of Glowing Reviews...

Heather's Habitually Chic Snap-Shot

Heather Clawson, Blog Star

We were honored yesterday by our inclusion on one of our very favorite blogs. The wonderful Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic™ paid us a visit and shared her enthusiasm for our shop with the many fabulous fans of her popular site...under the title Color Me Happy! Stephen and I have been following her stylish musings from her early entrée into the blogosphere and we couldn't be happier to be on her designer-radar! To Google her is to find a million and a half mentions. She is consistently among the top rated bloggers in the "Lifestyle" category and she has come to represent the type of success and meteoric rise a blog can bring. Habitually Chic™ is the kind of habit one need not break!

Link Below:
http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2009/08/color-me-happy.html

Glowing Review!

This Murano Bowl is absolutely phosphorescent! This florescent yellow glass screams to be seen.

Fancy Redundancy

Gotta love a piece of Italian pottery that features other pieces of pottery or glass as decoration. This black and white nod to Fornasetti may be intended as an umbrella stand, because of its height, weight, and the cut out handles on the side.

Tray Chic

We describe this 1960's lacquer tray as "Mary Quant Goes Kyoto". I love how the floral motif spills over the lip of the tray. It comes with it's original wooden box. Pop art meets Imperial Japan!

Red Skies at Night

Heinz Münnich (1921-1978) was born in Dresden, Germany, the son of an artist. He graduated from the University of Arts in Hanover. Today, the name of Münnich is very well known among art experts and collectors. His works have been exhibited in the "House of Art" at Munich since 1934. Known equally for his realism in depicting the Swiss Alps and for his later semi-abstract paintings such as this vibrant cityscape, 1968. His technique involves the use of a heavy palette knife with extraordinary effect.

Delicious Italian

20" Tall, with a great neck! Marked Italy, RAYMOR. 1960's

Tallest of All

At 20.5 ", this is literally the biggest piece of Scandinavian pottery we currently have. Also made in Sweden c. 1950's by Arthur Andersson for Wallåkra. His heavy, large pieces were most likely intended as Floor Vases. The unique salt glaze of his stoneware gives it an almost metallic finish.

Larger Still

This week I'm highlighting some of the bigger pieces, in terms of size and importance. This piece stands 15" tall. Designed by Arthur Andersson for Wallåkra, Sweden. This unique vase features an earthy salt glaze and an organic pod-like shape.

Large and Lovely

This heavy stoneware vase has a light cross-hatched pattern and a mottled mustard colored glaze. We know it to be from the hand of Gerd Bøgelund for Royal Copenhagen because of a distinctive initial 'gb' incised on the bottom. The Height is about 12".

Another Grey Day...

Actually it's 90 degrees and sunny in NYC, but I had to share this GREY cased glass grouping. Italian from the 60's and among the rarest color-way.

Mad About Mad Men?

The Mad Men look can be found here at The End of History! Don't miss the premiere of Season 3 tonight on AMC @ 10pm!

The Two Seasons

Autumn and Spring are represented here in hand sculpted terracotta, c. 1920's. Stamped "Made in Italy" and signed Barolini. Where Winter and Summer ended up is anyone's guess.

(Not So) Secret

From the forthcoming September 2009 Issue of Metropolitan Home:
Secret Source
Design impresario Giulio Cappellini (show here with his latest collection) loves to shop at The End of History in New York City's West Village for its vast selection of 1950's and '60's glass (which he used in Poltrona Frau's SoHo store).

What a RELIEF!

Designed by Manfred Frey circa 1970 for the West German company Kaiser Porcelain, these vintage vases have the odd and intricate pattern of Ammonoid Fossils in detailed relief.

FLAVIO of the week

One of the most exciting shapes of stopper bottles is this streamlined statement from Flavio Poli for Seguso, circa 1950's. The needle-nose tip seems to never end.

Danish Delights

A group from Royal Copenhagen's Fajance series, created in the 1960's by commissioned artist Jette Gerber. We love the abstract blossoming tree motif and brown + periwinkle is a favorite color combo.

Recommended Reading

From our friends at Taschen Publishing comes this excellent introduction to Gio Ponti (1891–1979), the quintessential Italian interior architect, designer of furniture, accessories and Domus Magazine founder and editor. Ponti was the walking definition of the Renaissance Man!

It's a Grey Day

This signed hand-blown smoked grey bowl was designed by Per Lütken and made for Holmegaard in 1961. It measures an impressive 15" x 14", the biggest we've seen.

Let's Get Cracking

These giant crackled vessels stand at 16 1/2". The lava-like surface quality is reminiscent of a volcanic floor. Made in the 1950's by a West German company called Jasba, likely under the design direction of Cilli Wörsdörfer. These would make dramatic lamp bases or a major statement on a massive mantle.

Under The Sea

Just Andersen, one of the best known metal masters to come out of Denmark created this solid bronz piece in the 1930's. Given the fantastical subject matter of the mermaid and mythical sea creature, I suspect it was made for one of the many World's Fairs where his work was featured. It measures at just over 12" in diameter.

Lavender Lovely

Masculine meets feminine in this pair of Italian lamps. The opalescent purple Murano glass positively glows at the center of the classic marble column base.

Purple Reign

The chosen hue of Royalty, purple remains an elusive color in design. This Murano piece imported by Raymor in the 1950's is a great example of the impact the color purple makes.

Dark Matters

Here is an example of a Murano bowl in an unusually dark color palette. The base is black glass and the metal elements are a mix of copper and gold with a hint of chartreuse. Rarified and radient!

Effervescent...

It's form is a sort of amorphous pear-shape. There is a satisfying weight to this small but substantial champagne colored Murano bud vase with controlled bubbles.

I Conch Believe This

Beautiful from every angle, this conch shell from Murano is a summer stunner. Great for the beach house, or for those who wish to escape to the sea right in their own home. Probably Barbini.

Let's Go to the Movies

Great interior design can be found at the movies. Pillow Talk is a Doris Day classic, while Down With Love pays homage to the golden era. I tend to watch mid-century period pieces for the set design as much as the storyline.

Seeing Double

Rare is the stopper that is the same exact proportion as the base. This iconic amber piece is from Greenwich Flint-Craft.