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. 

Happy Halloween

A 1960's Danish ceramic so bloody good...it's scary!

Distressingly Gorgeous

Studio pieces created by Swedish artisan Claes Theil in the early 80s. The result of a technique called "Carbon Crystalline" glazing gives their textured surfaces a beautiful pitted gunmetal quality. 

Your Ship Has Come In!

We couldn't be more thrilled to announce the arrival of our biggest European shipment to date! Literally hundreds of items collected from all over Scandinavia representing the best of 20th century design from Denmark, Sweden and Italy. Now is the time to experience the full breadth of our massive intake of especially luscious pottery from names such as Rorstrand, Ekeby, and many more.

Material World

Stephen has a history with the designer fabric showroom called "Schumacher". Once upon a time he did display for this tony source for upscale materials. We are pleased to have some of our glass objects used as accessories to their current windows.

Box Deluxe

Who would have guessed the country and date of origin to be Japan, 1920's. Sterling silver striations make this piece seem so contemporary in design. Style is indeed timeless.

London By Way of Denmark

We strongly believe this 15.5" Holmegaard to be either a one-off, as in prototype, or at the least a very rare shape from the renown Carnaby collection of designer Per Lutken. Danish glass at its finest.

Halloween-y Yes Indeedy

In fact...Vintage Barbini.

Flippin' Beauty

Fantastic glass by Archimede Seguso, c. 1950's. Stripes of white and copper that look great from top to bottom. This would make for one fancy candy dish.

Another 40s Find

Recently rediscovered from our archives is this Blenko vase in cobalt blue. Short and paper-weight heavy featuring floating controlled bubbles...it's an effervescent piece of glass.

What's in a Name?

A large scale piece of history...One of the few designs that was given an actual name ( "Spool") by Blenko designer Wayne Husted at the time of introduction, 1948.  

See original catalog:

http://www.blenkoarchive.org/Blenko_Catalogs/1958_07.jpg

South of the Border Surreality

Mexican artist Salvador Teran's work from the 50s is highly sought after. Just look at this amazing example of inlay which incorporates brass and copper imbedded in malachite. The tableau shows an abstract primitive cave drawing of man hunting gazelle. Wild! This humidor (wooden lined box) goes down as one of the more challenging photo subjects I've attempted to capture. Be sure to click the above shots to expand for better viewing, but this one really needs to be seen and held in person.

Do You Like Donuts?

Another iconic American glass company is Bischoff. Like Blenko, it was founded in West Virginia. There truly was something in the water. Several companies thrived in this part of the U.S. due to the perfect silt conditions for glass making. Bischoff is no longer in operation, closing its doors in 1984...making the pieces all the more collectable.

You Go Swirl

Pink, White, and todays' all important Purple. Murano and marvelous.

You Can Hold a Candle to These

A pair of pairs. 

Candlesticks made in Italy in either the 50s or 60s. The golden twosome seem formal, while the blue cased pair have a more poppy feel.

Just in Time for Halloween

A large pumpkin colored fluted vessel by Barbini...bright orange and gold with the signature controlled bubbles.

Golden Era Glass

Smokey brown glass with real 24k gold hand-painted details. Made in Italy in the gilded era of the 1950s.

We're So In Vogue (Australia)

Vouge Living Australia recently published an editorial featuring one of a pair of lamps purchased by stylist Betsy Morgan for her Manhattan townhouse. The news has reached all the way around the globe to glossy pages down-under.  We love an intercontinental design story.

Barbini Bowl

They just don't get better than this. Barbini , 50s, in aqua and copper.

Awwwwww...

...just look at those dimples! Empoli from the 1950s...a grey/green cased piece---indented in all the right places.

Fantastic Fantoni

A name to look for in Italian ceramics is Fantoni. You'll recognize the distinctive signature, writ large, when you find an authentic piece such as this oversized ashtray.  The hallmarks are all here:
A)the heavy, gloppy multi-tonal glaze
B) the scraffito (etched) surface
We don't encourage smoking, but we do support collecting great examples of form over function!

Don't Be Afraid of The Dark

An amazing array of black and gray glass makes for a chic vignette.

Powerful Tower

At 26" tall, this is the most monumental model for a German Television Tower we've seen. Brand new to our collection, this was hand-lathed in the 1950s for the architect at the time, engineer Professor Dr. Ing. Fritz Leonhardt. The purpose of such models was to present to the city planners a tactile plan for possible construction. Not only is this piece identifiable as the tower that would eventually be built in the city of Stuttgart, but the actual structure became the first TV tower to be made out of concrete. As a result, it was a major inspiration for towers that followed all over the world. This is truly a museum quality artifact of modern design.

Seeing Things in Black & White

Due from Empoli. So very sixties, they put the "Mod" in modern!

Save The Labels!

 I've said it before, but the original label only adds value to a vintage piece. Never remove the labels since it identifies the manufacturer and therefore its country of origin. If you are a purist, simply turn the label to the back when displaying your piece...as above. This piece is from one of the most important families of glass blowers in all of Italy, The Vistosi's of Murano.