August 10th, 2009
For those who live in the Boston area, you might be interested in checking out our 1950s enameled copper that we just acquired from a local estate. The woman was an enamelist, and inside a cabinet was over 100 exquisite bowls and plates that have been stored for over 50 years.
The selection includes both her work and others that she collected. Every piece is as perfect as the day it was made. Unfortunately, we can’t add these to our website because of the vastness of the collection. Individual prices range from $14 to $30. – Terri
Tags: 20th century, accessories, vintage
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July 28th, 2009
Panasonic recently launched an online museum which features some of the company’s products and corporate history over the last 90 years forward. Here you can learn about such design innovations as the 1972 Toot-A-Loop radio. Check it out here. – Terri
Tags: japanese design
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July 24th, 2009
Although Abodeon specializes in vintage Scandinavian and studio crafted jewelry, we’ve also featured antique Mexican sterling for over a decade. If you’re considering acquiring a piece, here’s a simple way to determine its general age.
Pre-1948. Mexico’s silver renaissance began in the 1920s, so most of the jewelry found today is from this time onward. Until 1948 silversmiths commonly stamped jewelry with their maker’s mark and Sterling, or the fineness of the silver. “Mexico Silver” or “Silver Made in Mexico” is also seen. These pieces are usually 925 sterling and above in their purity.
Pre-1948 “Silver Made in Mexico” + 1948-1979 Eagle Mark
1948-1979. An eagle mark (frequently mistaken for a bell) is added to to the hallmarks. Instituted by the Mexican government in 1948, the inside number on the eagle is either the city or the maker’s number. The system failed because some silversmiths used fake or borrowed stamps and numbers to avoid fees.
1980-Present. In 1979 the eagle was replaced by a letter (dash) number system. The first letter indicates the city (T is for Taxco, M is for Mexico City, etc.). The second letter is the first initial of the silversmith’s last name. The numbers are the silversmith’s number assigned at registration. For instance, if the number is 25, the silversmith was the 25th person to register at the city’s assay office.
Exception: Mass-produced Mexican jewelry is often without the letter/number marks. These pieces are frequently stamped Made in Mexico and Sterling, or Mexico 925. When in doubt, look at the mark. Newer pieces are stamped with modern fonts in addition to lacking the wear and patina of older jewelry.
I’ll post more on the jewelry and silversmiths of Mexico at a later date. Happy Friday! – Terri
Tags: 20th century, jewelry, vintage
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July 22nd, 2009
Located in Berlin, Schubladen does some incredible things with old drawers from dressers, filing cabinets, etc. The studio makes new pieces (big and small) designed with drawers salvaged from furniture that obviously would have ended up in the landfill.
The conspicuous disparity between the scarred and weathered wood, and the pristine cabinets is marvelous. I’m tempted to hunt for a stock piece of furniture with open shelving that I could try to retrofit.
You can visit the SchubLaden site to view more of their work. FYI, SchubLaden is the German word for “pigeonhole”. An apt name, isn’t it? – Terri
Tags: furniture, german design, recycled
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July 21st, 2009
1990 Copper Mirror with Bronze Bird by Bert Kurfeu
THEN: Mirrors maybe one of our oldest accessories, but it wasn’t until the 16th century that Italian glass makers on the island of Murano perfected the art of silvering blown glass with mercury. As it was a guarded state secret, the workers and their families weren’t allowed to leave the island by threat of death. Henry II introduced the industry to France by having a Murano glass blower kidnapped, and by the second half of the 17th century both France and England were competing with Italy in the production of high quality mirrors. Around the mid 19th century it was determined that the mercury fumes were killing the glass workers (duh). An alternative method was gradually introduced using silver nitrate and ammonia.
NOW: In addition to their obvious function, mirrors lighten dark corners, help expand the appearance of small spaces and can be a striking focal point in any room. As decorative accents, the options are endless. Shown are a few examples that cross the boundaries of art and decoration.
Don’t limit yourself to only contemporary styles. Highly ornate, antique mirrors can provide an unexpected contrast and look right at home in modern settings. You’ll also have the pleasure of knowing that your friends can’t order an identical one from Crate and Barrel. – Terri
1950s French Leather Mirror by Jacques Adnet
1976 Cast Plaster Mirror by Richard Etts
1960s Trapezoidal Teak Mirror with Shelf, Denmark
Tags: accessories
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July 20th, 2009
The career of California ceramics designer La Gardo Tackett (1911-1992) had a chance beginning due to an unlikely friendship between an LA graphics designer, Lou Danziger, and a New Jersey meat packer, Max Lawrence, who shared a love of modernism. In 1949 while Tackett was teaching at the California School of Art in Pasadena, Danziger told Lawrence about Tackett and his students making planters and sculptures that looked like “white doughnuts, halved avocados and stacked pyramids”. Lawrence’s wife decided to view their work and the rest, as they say, is history.
Within months the couple began mass-producing the ceramics and Architectural Pottery was born. When the catalog was released in 1950, architects began ordering the pieces. MoMA selected most of the items for its 1951 Good Design exhibition. Tackett became famous for his hourglass-shaped designs. Student John Follis was hailed for his circular and peanut-shaped planters that rested on simple stands. The pots, which were also used in the Case Study houses, became a part of the American modern landscape. Architectural Pottery closed in 1969 and in 1999 the San Diego company, Vessel USA, began manufacturing many of the designs from the original drawings.
Through his own design studio, La Gardo Tackett created a wide range of tabletop items that were made in Japan for companies like Freeman Lederman and Schmid International. His early 50s Eggheads for Schmid were distributed by Richard Morgenthau, who operated Raymor. The Eggheads, which are hollow and have a cork underneath, were marketed primarily through Playboy Magazine as bedside condom holders. – Terri
Tags: 20th century, pottery, vintage
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July 14th, 2009
While upgrading to the latest version of WordPress, our blog data base was inadvertently erased (!). After taking a few deep breaths, I’ve reloaded a few of the recent posts. Onward and upward. Enjoy! – Terri
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July 14th, 2009
In 1921 Guido Bitossi founded the ceramics company Manifattura Cav. Guido Bitossi & Figli in Montelupo, Italy. Aldo Londi became the creative director after WWII, and was the guiding force until the 1980s. Londi designed thousands of forms in addition to the patterns and techniques that were applied to them. His 1950s Rimini Blu collection is the most recognized with its striking layers of blue and turquoise glazes, and many of the pieces are still in production today. Bitossi was distributed in the U.S. by Raymor, one of the most influential importers of modern decorative arts in the mid 20th Century.
Architect Ettore Sottsass designed lines for Bitossi from 1950 through the 1990s. Other notable designers include Marco Zanini, George Sowden, Piero Fornasetti, Karim Rashid, and Arik Levy. Bitossi continues to combine traditional and new techniques with an attention to hand-finishing along with their signature use of enamels and mix of colors. Today Bitossi operates as Ceramica Bistossi under the business name Flavia.
Sadly most vintage pieces are marked with only a hand-inscribed style number and Italy. On pieces imported by Raymor, the letters BIT are sometimes on the paper label. Newer ceramics have Bitossi and Made in Italy printed in ink. – Terri
Tags: 20th century, italian design, pottery, vintage
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July 14th, 2009
If we had a cat, we might have to consider these bentwood beds made by Akemi Tanaka in Brooklyn, NY. Designed with a curving shape for comfort and security, they’re an attractive (albeit a little pricey) alternative that blends in with your decor while giving your feline a nice place to curl-up.
Each holds up to 35 lbs., and is available in maple or walnut veneer with a selection of fabric options for the removable cushion covers. Although it states that the beds are also appropriate for small dogs, our chihuahua Toby would loudly disagree.
Akemi is selling these online through the Supermarket, an online website that allows designers and craftsmen to market their products directly to the public. – Terri
Tags: furniture, pet
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July 14th, 2009
Above is a photo of a late 1950s Italian pendant light that hangs above our dining table. It came from a home that had a dazzling array of high-end modern, including a 3-color Triennale floor lamp designed in the 50s by Gino Sarfatti for Arredoluce, Italy. (We sold that lamp and kept this one. C’est la vie.)
I was struck by the resemblance between our vintage example and the Random Light (below) designed by Bertjan Pot for the Dutch firm Moooi (which means beauty in Danish). Both are constructed in a similar way using epoxy-dipped fiberglass yarn. The main difference is that the Random Light is coiled around an inflatable orb. The Italian versions were formed around balls of mouth-blown glass which were broken once the yarn had set. I like the fact that it has an inner white glass cylinder as opposed to an exposed bulb.
Another example of what goes around comes around. Or to quote Ecclesiastes, “There is no new thing under the sun.” – Terri
Tags: 20th century, dutch design, italian design
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