The End of History

Friday, April 29, 2016

Goods for a Good Cause

We were happy to contribute once again to the 12th annual Design on a Dime benefit - an event in support of Housing Works, which provides housing to formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS. Designer Andrew Suvalsky rallied his favorite vendors to contribute to the room above. We offered up the 1950s Italian gold lamps on the left, the large olive colored stopper bottle, and some the blue and green vintage glass and porcelain objects populating the shelves. The event was last week and a great success!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Towering Achievements

How lucky are we to find a trio of Aldo Londi's 'Seta' series - complete with golden stoppers in mint condition?! Made for Bitossi from 1957-1965. Seta is from the Italian word for silk. Rare to find one with a stopper, let alone three. The monumentally taller duo are around 26" and the center bottle is 17".

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Venice on Hudson

When looking for all things Venetian, no need to book a plane - look no further than The End of History. We've actually sent our gorgeous Murano glass back to Venice to decorate the homes of Italians who can't find the vintage pieces in Italy - as the really good glass was made for the American market or wealthy mid-century tourists and most of it ended up over here.
Top to Bottom:
Italian Ceramic Vase with Venetian Painted Scene 16" x 6"
Small Oil Painting of Gondolas at Night 10" x 14"
Barovier & Toso Gondolier Lamp 41" tall
Assorted Array of Red Murano Goods

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Egyptian Revivalism

Stylized golden details and nods to ancient art and architecture are to be found on these art deco era vessels from Josef Ekberg for Gustavsberg - a fair deduction would find Egyptian Revivalism at play here. Created around 1930 in Sweden, the style would coincide with the Egyptomania design trend that was still raging post King Tut's discovery in the 20s. Notice the shapes and heavy gilt of the handles. The lids are especially decorative and reminiscent of classical Egyptian columns.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Insta-Love

Our collection sold at Barneys New York found new life on https://www.instagram.com/barneysny/ , dressing up a product shoot for Kai Fragrance. The still-life won Barneys' own Senior Visual Display staffer, Brandon Owens, a merchandising contest and showed off our Italian cased glass to great effect!

Monday, April 18, 2016

Gilded Age

Made by living sculpter Claude Victor Boeltz - a self-described "Erosurrealist Master Artist", this dead stock collection was offered to us directly from the family after they became aware of our previous post. This rare group is among the last objects created expressly for Cartier Paris in the 1970s. This signature technique is what Victor refers to as “exploded bronze” - 24KT gold plated bronze, decorated with rare African quartz crystals. The top two are monumental in size 15" x 14" - the candelabra is 22" tall and 12" wide. The smaller sculpture above is 9" x 5".

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Biggest-Bluest-Bitossi

I can not understate the magnitude of this monumental ceramic vessel! Made by Bitossi in their most popular colorway called Rimini Blue, Italy, circa 1970.
Probably a prototype for a lamp base that was never drilled for that purpose, thus remaining an extra special decorative vase - the largest single piece we've seen.
It is a full 46" in circumference and 14" in height.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Seeing Citrus

Michael Andersen & Son, Bornholm, Denmark, 1950s
Bowl: 12" x 4", Vase: 7"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
12" x 5"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
Vase: 13", Bowl: 10" x 4"

Aldo Londi for Bitossi, Italy, 1950s
Box: 8" x 4" x 2"

If there is one color that we feel will always be in style - it's got to be this one.
The pairing up top is most unusual from the family factory of Michael Andersen & Son, while we are less surprised but always delighted to find Bitossi gems in shades of orange and tangerine.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Gorgeous Little Gunnar

The Asian influence is strong here with this just-arrived-from-Sweden stunner. By Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, the proportions are classical Japanese while the mottled glaze techniques are decidedly Scandinavian. It has a subtle fluted pattern and dappled and mottled visual texture. I would describe the color as patina-green - as you would see on a finely aged bronze.
Just over 7"

Monday, April 4, 2016

Box Sets

We have an increasing array of ceramic boxes, made in Italy in the mid-century, many expressly for export. Great for bedside jewels or handsome on a gentleman's desk, & always appropriate for the coffee table.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Mosaic Masterwork

Born in Sicily in 1876, Jean Gerbino made his name in Vallauris, France, perfecting his own technique inspired by the Chinese Neriage - pottery of the 7th Century Tang Dynasty. From his initial offerings in the 1930s, his mosaic-like work was appreciated and awarded many times for decades to come, culminating in his earning France's Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1962. This is the largest example of his work we have seen - this stunningly complex vase stands over 16" tall.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Atlantis

A German bronze bowl dating to the 1920s and titled "Atalantes", German for Atlantis. 11 inches wide.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Birds of a Feather...

Hang together - These plates would look fantastic mounted as above. Modernist cages house these 1950s hand-painted Italian birds, created by Mancioli for F.B. Co. (a mid-century department store I imagine). Titled ingeniously "Bird in Cage".
Each is 10", sold as a set

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Monkeying Around

The pheromones must be attracting the primates. Set designer and prop stylist David De Quevedo was inspired to go a little wild when he discovered our Royal Copenhagen monkey collection for a men's fragrance feature in the March issue of Interview Magazine. Created by Knud Kyhn from the 30s - 60s, Denmark.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

To the Point

These two Italians are real show-stoppers. Above in teal and gold, is the older, more sophisticated one, from the island of Murano's house of Barbini, Venice, circa 1950s. Below is its Arabesque cousin from mainland Italy, a fancier stopper in always chic grey - Empoli, Italy, also 1950s.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Meiji Dragon

After the end of Japanese feudal society in1868 with the Meiji Restoration many metal workers who had supplied the Samurai with adornments for weapons turned to decorative objects for the export market. With Japan united as one country the Samurai had been disbanded and disarmed, this left many of the best metal workers without their usual customers, leading to a burst of creativity in the decorative export trade.
Our dragon dates to circa 1880s and holds a quarts ball in its claws. 6.5 inches tall.
Follow us on instagram http://instagram.com/theendofhistory

Friday, March 18, 2016

Abstract Beauty

Recently acquired from the estate of a prominent Texas art collector is this sublime abstract bronze on a polished slate base. By Canadian/Spanish artist Antonio Grediaga-Kieff, signed and dated 1967, 1 of 15 untitled. 18 inches tall.
Follow us on instagram http://instagram.com/theendofhistory

Monday, March 14, 2016

A Bird Suddenly Appears...

This beauty of a bird has just flown in from Italy, right in time for spring. Made mid-century by the hand of Aldo Londi for Bitossi. In mint condition and in an extremely rare colorway, this fine feathered figurine stands 14" tall.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

70s Salviati

A elegantly simple concave form from the Murano maestros at Salviati - the Venetian house that has existed in Italy since 1859. Dark mushroom grey with white swirls. This piece just says 70s Halston apartment all over it! So chic and modern.
12" in diameter

Monday, March 7, 2016

Hot Off The Press

One of our chic little Bavarian porcelain piece found itself in print on the pages of the latest edition of "T" The New York Times Styles Magazine. A story on men's preparedness featured the small vase as a gentleman's desk accessory - perfect for one's Montblanc pens. The matte black and white transefer has a sort of Rorschach Test feel and is part of larger collection.
5"
Follow us on instagram http://instagram.com/theendofhistory

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Mid Century Lady

A beautiful mid century portrait of a young lady in tones of orange, illegibly signed and measuring 20 by 15 inches, oil on panel with original custom frame. Recently acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Follow us on instagram http://instagram.com/theendofhistory

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Hooked on Classics

Sold as a set: four ceramic coat hooks circa 1950s from the great Alvino Bagni - the girls have a rather glamorous fashion illustration look to them - or perhaps a nod to fellow Italian, Modigliani.
Each measure 8"x 4"
Follow us on instagram http://instagram.com/theendofhistory

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Big Bang Series

This fantastic collection of works from the always desirable Arne Bang literally just flew in from Copenhagen. A mix of simple austerity in form decorated with a naturalist's flair for flora and his one-of-a-kind complex glazes. All date from the 1940s, Denmark.
Range from 4" to 7" tall