What's in Store

It's always intriguing to see how the merchandisers of major stores incorporate our wares into their display schemes. Barneys New York shows us how nicely our vintage goods mix with contemporary decor.

Totally Tubular

A perfectly cylindrical, somewhat futuristic, glass vase created by Cenedese in Murano Italy c. 1960s. Sommerso glass that ranges from olive at the top to teal at the base and crystal clear in the middle. The casing is at least 1/2" thick and the total height is 16"...a spectacular example of new wave minimalism.

Rare Pair

Kastrup bottles in an incredible color we could only describe as 'oxblood red'. Pristine wooden stoppers cap off this rare find from the Danish glass company c. 1950s
18.5", 13"

Charity Begins at Home

We were only too pleased to lend our wares to a good cause...The 41st Annual Kips Bay Decorator Show House benefiting The Boys & Girls Club. This year, the visitor is welcomed as they enter the home by the inviting colors and textures of contributing designer Andrew Suvalsky. The End of History was the perfect choice when Suvalsky wanted to source vibrant glass and ceramic accessories to highlight his playful aesthetic. Located at 161 East 64th Street (between Lexinton and 3rd), this stately townhouse has been filled with the most sumptuous settings...well worth a trip and a great charity to support!

For more information see link below:
http://www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/

Under The Sea

Exploring the depths of German design once again with this gorgeous gunmetal grey vase decorated with a bevy of beautiful sea-life in turquoise relief. Created by Karlsruhe Majolika.  
12" tall

Maximalism Epitomized

A photo sent from our new friend Dee from San Francisco, a valued customer and (obviously) an avid collector . Oh how we love to see our goods in a good home...and there's no such thing as too much of a good thing.

Sticking Our Neck Out

Who doesn't need a tabletop giraffe? This long necked import is an Italian hand made ceramic from the 50's. Love that sly look in its eye!
15" x 15"

Drinks Anyone?

We were simply tipsy to be included in this year's Food & Wine Cocktails 2013. The just published guide to creative mixology is garnished with myriad examples of our glass accessories throughout.
I'll drink to that!

Lion Share

Attributable to Aldo Londi for Bitossi (original Raymor sticker intact) comes this ceramic lion sculpture in a particularly gorgeous olive body and copper glazed mane. Greatly detailed and finely incised, circa 1950's, Montelupo, Italy
13"

Back by Popular Japan

Just arrived from the land of the rising sun are these spectacular mid-century Japanese bronzes... all with their original presentation boxes.  The black vase with the peek-a-boo hole is particularly modernist in shape and the copper colored bronze vase has a hot pink splatter. The ikibana vase is dramatic and charming at the same time...notice the applied gold ladybug.

Artisans: Top left (9") is by Itasaka Tatsuji and the copper vase (9.5") is by Tachikawa Zentro, Ikibana (9") is by Sakaguchi Yoshio

Opalescent and Magnificent

A compote of such excessive elegance that it literally glows-in-the-dark. But, once again, it's all about scale - 15.5" in diameter and over 12" high. Opalescent glass is rare, but a piece this enormous is a pure feat of masterful glass blowing - from the venerable Cenedese factory, circa 1960s

BONUS: Being detail oriented, I just had to mention the gold glittered rim!

Game of Thrones Platter

A mid-century take on a medieval motif...pottery meant to look like patinated metal, wrought in West Germany (or is it Westeros?) This is one to hang on the wall of your geek-chic pad.
13"

High Praise in Print

In the brand new imprint called Departures Home + Design from American Express Publishing, one of our favorite clients and high society decorators, Kitty Hawks, reveals us as one of her favorites in her Black Book of New York sources. She refers to us as "A treasure trove of midcentury glass and ceramics from all over the world." Thanks Kitty!

Tremendous Fratelli

Shot in context to illustrate the sheer mass of this giant glass lamp from Fratelli Toso, 1950s  The dimensions are around 40" to the top of the shade and 16" wide! The coloration and cross-hatch pattern makes it feel nautical and authentically Murano with its hint of gold.

Mint Julep Jewels

In recognition of today's Kentucky Derby...a trifecta of mint condition minty green stopper bottles from Empoli, Italy, 1950s
All measure around 25" tall

Greece by Way of Germany

Porcelain from mid-century Germany by a company called Krautheim. I'm loving the mix of shiny and bisque (matte) materials...not to mention the leopard festooned warrior looking fetching upon his almost certain death. The transfer is a dark chocolate brown over an off-white surface.
20"

Towering Teal

Another grand statement, this time from Gunnar Ander for Lindshammar, Sweden. Huge at 20" tall. Original sticker intact.

Tipping The Scale

Beyond the fantastic color and classic shape...the story here is all about the tremendous size. We rarely see Empoli glass vessels reach this monumental height of nearly 20" tall. A vast vase truly worth putting on a pedestal!

Operatic Opulence

Like an elaborate Wagnerian vision...this costumed diva in gold decoration on Bavarian porcelain is a 60s-does-Deco creation from Germany's Hutschenreuther factory. UPDATE: Although the background appears true black in this photo, in reality it is a deep (nearly black) forest green.
12" high and 8" oval in diameter

Our Latest Twins

Vintage wares from the now defunct, but soon to be revived, English company, Isle of Wight Glass. The initial word of their closing was particularly heartbreaking news for Stephen, our tireless proprietor, as that British Island is his childhood homeland and we happen to acquire these classics whenever they become available. Beautiful teardrops with gobs of gold and silver leaf are hallmarks of this renown company's famed Fish Vase - as this shape is referred to.
6.5"

Tall Italian

At 40" to the top of the drum shade, truly the single biggest Empoli glass lamp we have had to date! The custom Lucite base adds glamour and sets the stage for this dramatic lighting.

Dry Goods

We've just received a fantastic collection of rare early Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand, Sweden, circa 1930s. The top photo are our latest acquisitions, a gorgeous Art Deco grouping to add to the three above...bringing our grand total to 8! The periwinkle speckled surface is referred to as a "dry glaze" and gives these vessels an elegant matte luster.

Tallest of all is 15"

Nesting Instinct

1950s Danish Modern teak and tile-topped tables. These three seem to speak a language all their own. The tiles have a kind of abstract "Runes" alphabet motif...but maybe that's us just reading into it.
heights are 20.5", 18.5", 17.5"

Pretty in Pink

A ladylike grouping of the ever-elusive pink Italian glass from Empoli. For whatever reason, this is a tough color to find in the vintage market. Adding to their feminine appeal are the opalescent accents to be found in the feet and pull.

16", 13", 11"

Dark and Stormy

A unique piece with a rutile and temouku glaze - this is an important late career ceramic from Carl-Harry Stålhane's own atelier c. 1973. Almost Abstract Expressionist in design, this shows a new found freedom that came as a result of a departure from Rörstrand after some 40 years of dedicated partnership.
12" tall

Earning Our Stripes

A spectacular example of Barovier & Toso's Zebrati glass technique. This zebra print vase is truly wild - loaded with gold leaf and vibrant purple stripes. The effect is so stunning, it's quite literally dizzying.
12" x 12"

Plummy Perfection

A rare shape in an even rarer color. This American-made Blenko decanter was designed by Joel Philip Myers in 1965. It's a fact that very few examples of this form exist in this "Plum" coloration...making this a must-have for the serious Blenko collector.
19"

Treasure(d) Box

Merlot colored Swedish ceramic trinket box with sterling silver inlay from Gustavsberg's "Argenta" line. An unusual color for this series as we are accustomed to seeing the typical minty green. The silver has a nice aged patina to it, making this quite possibly early 20th Century.

Top measures 3.75" x 2.75"

Just in from Berlin

A friend of ours, who lives in the always hip German city of Berlin, flew in to New York City this week and was kind enough to hand-deliver this pair of porcelain vases. A unique combination of techniques are at play... stucco-like matte white surfaces (referred to as "bisque") are juxtaposed with illuminated chrome and orange-glazed rings. These were made by the Bavarian factory KPM in the mid-60s and have a marking that reads Royal Porzellan.
9", 7.5"

Peking Pair

Two 19th century Chinese vases in an archaic "Gu" form. Someone told me this color glass is referred to as "Duck Fat Yellow" - a bit off-putting and yet entirely accurate. Does that place these from the "Duck Dynasty"? Sorry, I couldn't resist! But, in all seriousness, these are likely from the Qing Dynasty, circa 1850s.
6.5" each

Coveting Cobalt

Not unlike fashion, certain colors can come in and out of favor. After some time, we are once again coveting a particular hue of blue - that deeply saturated shade known as cobalt. Above is an eclectic selection of that electric blue...assembled just for you.
The tallest of the Italians is 23"
The two smallest are Swedish by Elme and measure10"

Lucious Lucite

The pineapple is the internationally recognized symbol of hospitality. So, what would be better to welcome guests at a sophisticated soiree than this Italian acrylic ice-bucket from the 60s? I'm absolutely loving the golden crown of leaves on the lid. Just the very definition of fabulous (a word I try not to overuse).
15"

The Birds

A spectacularly large sculpture - a flock of fancy birds from Barbini, circa 1950.  Parakeets have never looked lovelier than rendered in blush and gold Murano glass.
 22" tall

Recommended Reading

New York-based interior designer Maria Gabriela Brito embraces color, color, and more color...so we are pleased as a fruity punch and none too surprised to be included on her list of must-shop stops in Manhattan. The just published "Out There" from Pointed Leaf Press is a lifestyle guide to enhancing your surroundings by upping your fun factor. Whether it's contemporary art or vintage textiles, much like our design philosophy, Maria has a fearless approach to mixing it up!

Tropical De-light

Raymor commissioned this lamp above in the 1950s - designed by Alvino Bagni for export from Italy. Likely more affordable than a Warhol "Flowers" silksceen (below) from the 60s!
30" with shade

Today's Catch

Above is a playful and very sought-after underwater scene set in glass by Alfredo Barbini for Cenedese, circa 1950s. I especially love the controlled bubbles designed to look as if they are coming out of their mouths.
10" x 6"

Further underwater...we discover this elegantly minimalist Murano angel-fish, no doubt from one of the finer factories in Venice.
11" x 8"