Ultra-Mod Candelabras

A pair of mod masterpieces (both around 9.5" tall )...gilt ceramic bases topped with enameled copper discs from the designer Sascha Brastoff. I'm just now discovering this amazing character.

He made a name for himself during Hollywood's golden era and went on to become a sort of Jonathan-Adler-prototype.

BELOW is link to a fascinating blog entry I came across with some juicy biographic history:
http://moviemorlocks.com/2011/05/12/in-search-of-sascha-brastoff/

Bavarian Bombshell

Pretty pastel leaves decorate this piece of pottery from the West German factory Wächtersbach.

The lovely motif is called "Uschi" pretty, no?

Gilt Giddy-up

Another example of an extremely fine equine from Bitossi. This time in its rarest of finishes...gold leaf! Plus, this horse is in pristine condition, due to the fact that it was only recently discovered in a local warehous after arriving from Europe around 60 years ago and sitting patiently awaiting reemergence.
13"

Punk Rock Compote

A covered bowl incised with what looks like golden safety pins from the golden era of Bitossi.
8" tall

Grey Matters

Milky minimalist midcentury glass, so chic for its absence of color. Over-sized at 8" in diameter and 3" in height. Likely Seguso.

Show Stopper

Smoky grey glass from Carl Erikson, circa 1950s...triple-gourd with the most spectacular three-tiered stopper.
18.5"

Stunning Still Life

An Italian plaque wired on the back for hanging circa 1950s. A mix of glaze techniques gives this piece plenty of texture and visual interest.
8" x 13"

Try Tri-Colored

Scandinavian teardrop pendants with all the original teak fittings, but newly re-wired. The colors are super-saturated (almost primary) orange, yellow and blue. A great ambient illumination for above a dining table or hanging in a mid-century entryway.
Lengths adjustable to your needs 

Eye Candy

A stunning sommerso geode bowl from Seguso, so reminiscent of those old fashioned 'Red Hots' cinnamon candies...just yummy.
About 5.25" Square

Amber Amassed

An entire collection of Greenwich Flint-Craft bottles in a deliciously rich dark amber called "Burnt Honey" by designer Thomas Connally in the 1960s, Indiana, USA.
The tallest among the group measures 22"

Another Pair of Gems

Faceted & fascinating are these two octagonal shaped stunners from Venice in the 1960s. The sommerso color-combinations in these are fantastic. The top has a grape-like purple paired with the brightest turquoise while the smaller piece contains emerald green with a twist of lemon-yellow.
Diameters are around 5" and 4" heights around 2"

The Maltese Falcon

A must-have for any fan of the 1941 film or the original detective-novel from 1930. Made in the late 60s in Sweden.
Measures just under 10"

More Blackamores

Another incredible pair of candlesticks from the venerable Venice factory of Ballarin. Slightly smaller in scale than those featured in the banner above, but so vibrant in coloration. An incredible feat of glass blowing techniques. Sculptural and baroque, to say the least.
13" tall

Happy Father's Day

Let's Shake Things Up! A variety of silver plated and crackle-glass barware attributable to Josef Hoffmann for WMF, Germany, circa 1950.
l to r: 8.5", 7", 9", 7.5"

Op-Art Opulence

This trippy piece clearly captures the Op-Art aesthetic of the moment. Prismatic optical effects and a sterling silver rim. Germany, 1960s.
8" tall, 5" diameter

Chartreuse Deuce

An atomic age Aldo Londi coffee table set. The covered box measures 6" high and 7" in diameter, while the matching asymmetrical tray is 9" at its widest. We've seen this lava like style Italian ceramic from Londi before, always with the most arresting, nearly florescent designs.

Dashiki Chic

From the late 60s/early 70s, that cusp in time when civil rights entered the world's consciousness. As art, this movement is well represented in this Norwegian ceramic plaque, featuring a modern loving couple, very much embracing their black beauty.

What a Gem(mo)

"Gemmo" is the name of a very special type of 50's porcelain from the German company, Heinrich. The artisans employed an ingenious technique wherein they would hand-cut designs into the surface of the porcelain with a diamond wheel, then gild the grooves with 24k gold and then fire the piece...with brilliant results. A great collectible, tiny but impressive at 4" high.

Rare Bavarian

Porcelain hardly ever comes in this large a scale. Two feet tall and decorated in a leaf and bamboo motif, very 60s pop in its sensibility. From Thomas, Germany.

Feeling Bubbly

Cobalt blue has made a great comeback when it comes to interior designers and their clients desire for the blue hue. A great vase can be found in the royalist of blues above. American-made from Blenko in the 60s.
10" tall

Cased Cubed

Another 1950s Empoli piece, this time of the cased variety. Teal, the color I am most currently obsessing over. Crafted in the shape of a cube, and 9.5" tall.

I Love Olive

Three from Empoli, Italy, circa 1950s

l to r: 13", 22", 14"

Raspberry Parfait

A tasty heavy stoppered bottle from mid-century Murano, Italy, circa 1950.
9"

CooCoo for Kokos

Hjördis Oldfors was an important designer at Upsala-Ekeby from 1952 to 1959. These pieces are part of a series called "Kokos" short for kokosnöt or coconut...for reasons obvious. Delicate and intricate at once, the yellow glaze is found both in its interior and inside the meticulously incised linear design on the outside. We have had these pieces in the past, but there is something so special about is elegant shapes, they are worth a return visit.  The asymmetrical small bowl measures around 6" in diameter and is 3" at the tallest. The larger bowl measures around 8-9" in diameter and 6" high.  That's it in a nutshell!

Sublime Skyline

I have always been a fan of this particular style of abstract oil painting. There is a great naive quality that is so of that mid-century moment. The artist was one Frank Barry (signed front and back)...not famous, but certainly accomplished in this style. The scene is of the New York City Harbor.
Oil on board and in the original grey-washed frame.
Measures 20" x 28"

Folkloric & Fabulous

Bavarian porcelain with the most gold I've ever seen on one piece, not to mention the most unusual subject matter. It looks like an abstract Samurai figure...or is it more tribal? Created by Hans Achtziger for Hutschenreuther, 1960s.
11" x 8"

British Beauties

Between the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the upcoming summer Olympics in London, all the world's abuzz about Great Britain. New to our shop are these vintage ceramics from a Brit-Based company called Denby, from Derbyshire, England, est. 1809. These vessels are from 1961 and are of a pattern called Glyndebourne, in reference to gardens in East Sussex surrounding the famous manor and opera house of the same name, hence the botanical designs.
12", 11"

Our Latest Hang-Up

From our sole contemporary sculptor,  BJ Las Poñas, comes this gilt bronze wall hanging. A fresh from the studio musing on his world travels, specifically the Miro Museum in Barcelona.
Able to be hung horizontally or vertically, as seen.
36" X 16"

Zoomorphic Ceramic

In an obvious homage to ancient cultural objects (see below), Italian maestro Aldo Londi of Bitossi created this charming vessel during our more recent history, likely the 1950s.

This is a museum reproduction of a bovine figurine, the original dating back to 800BC.

Our piece mesures 8.5" in length and 5" tall

Retail Therapy

Recently one of the best read design blogs, Apartment Therapy, featured a "House Tour" of East Village hair stylist and salon owner Wendy Kidd. She works with interior designer Jim Fairfax of Fairfax Studios. Several pieces were from our store...including the spectacular hourglass lamp seen above.

See LINK Below:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/wendys-livework-salon-171447

Striation Sensation

I often talk to clients about form over function. So many of our pieces are objects of great beauty with decoration as their main purpose. Then there are those that serve a duel design role, such as this vintage Cenedese vessel circa 1960. It is lovely to look at, with its subtle golden striations, yet as useful a vase as one might desire. Tall enough at 13.5" for long stems and with a 6.5" square shaped opening...great for a generous display of flowers.

Square Deal

A rather rare pair of square shaped glass bowls from the renowned Murano factory, Seguso, circa 1960s. The opaque piece is reminiscent of granite and the clear is rusty in color.
7.5" square and 5.5"square

Pear Shaped

What a Pear! This is a rather large glass fruit from the 50s. What I find most intriguing is the hand-typed label "Made in Italy" for Ethan Allen (of all companies)!
9"

Stephen Sells Sea Shells...

... & Seahorses for that matter. It is Memorial Day after all - and we are hoping you are enjoying the unofficial start to the summer season! This trio of porcelain vessels would look fantastic in your seaside home. Made by Bareuther & Co., Bavaria, 1960s
8.5", 7" (center)

Historical Glaze

The importance of this piece can not be underestimated. Created by Patrick Nordstrom in 1925 in his own studio. The glaze with its multi-layered, drippy, textural quality was quite advanced for that period.  He brought this technique with him to other Scandinavian companies such as Royal Copenhagen and it became the basis for the "Sung" glaze - a trend towards Scandinavian design reinterpreting Asian techniques- followed by many of his contemporaries.
4.5"

Muted Masterpiece

An early work of A. Wolfsen for Bing & Grøndahl, Denmark, 1920s, features a gorgeous motif of horse chestnuts and leaves. The design and coloration is indicative of the "Arts and Crafts" movement.
9"

Technicolor Tower of Pisa

This cheerful Italian ceramic reminds me of the famous tower, albeit without the "leaning". Orange and  turquoise - the classic color combination so evocative of the 1950s
11"

Sterling Stripes

It never ceases to amaze when we see a style vase so unique...Purple glass with sterling silver overlay. 1950s, Germany.
7"

Have a Ball (or Two)

This sweet emerald green bottle has a playful ball stopper that mimics the shape of the equally spherical base. Made in Italy, 1950s
14.5"

Silver Service

Don't let the line's "Denmark" name confuse the fact that this complete 6-piece silver plated coffe/tea service is from the esteemed American company Reed and Barton. Designed by John Prip in 1958.

RE: Blogged

One of biggest fans is the accomplished Architect, Decorator, and Furniture Designer, Barry Goralnick. He is always so complimentary when in the shop and took his fandom to the web with today's entry on his own design blog.

See Link Below:

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1909192

http://barrygoralnick.com/blog/2012/05/look-at-that-vase-just-look-at-it/

Sticking Our Neck Out

Cute is the new chic with this Italian ceramic Giraffe from the 50s. She (yes, we gave it a gender - just look at those lashes) sits pretty at 11" tall.
UPDATE: I am humbled and amused that an expert has corrected me...This is in fact a MALE. Thanks to reader "Ellamennopee" for the insight.