Nothing Low about this Lowboy

A lowboy dresser is a long, waist-high chest of drawers. This vintage example is a marvelous mid-century modern creation by Bassett Furniture. The dresser's minimalist sleek lines and tapered legs exemplify the streamline styling of this period. As it typical of Bassett furniture from the 1950s and 1960s, this piece combines fine wood veneers and quality craftsmanship with a wood-grained formica top; the formica top was considered a modern and practical alternative to wood veneer, as it was durable and resistant to scratches and moisture.

Bassett Furniture was founded in 1902 in Bassett, Virginia by J. D. Bassett, Sr. (for whom the town was in fact named), as a way to utilize scrap wood from the family sawmill. Joined by his two brothers and brother-in-law, the family furniture company thrived and in 1930 became Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. The company is in fact still largely under family control. Ever innovative, the company was an early adaptor of mass production, while still maintaining high quality, and catering to consumer tastes, such as adding upholstered furniture in the 1930s and introducing popular mid-century modern designs in the 1950s and 60s. Faced with foreign competition from countries such as China, which decimated the American furniture industry, the company, under John Bassett III, fought back, streamlining the operations to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The company survived and continues to manufacture furniture made in the U.S.A.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

Easy on the Eyes

This handsome vintage cabinet. . . 

. . . is an early version of a home entertainment system.

The television is the "Easy-Vision" model manufactured by the Hoffman Radio and Television Company. 

In 1941, H. Leslie Hoffman, a florescent lamp salesman, purchased the bankrupt Mission Bell Radio company, and around 1948, the company began manufacturing televisions. as well. The company lacked the resources of established businesses such as Phlico or Zeneth and needed sources of inexpensive materials. Early televisions required protective safety glass on the front of the screen to prevent injury in case the picture tube imploded; Hoffman used yellow Plexiglas manufactured for aircraft, as it inexpensive and available in large quantities. This gave the television screen a yellow-green tint, but the creative Hoffman claimed that the tint reduced eye strain, marketing his televisions as "Easy Vision."  By 1950, his company was the largest west coast producer of televisions. The company was part of the first coast-to-coast color broadcast in this country when, on January 1, 1954, the Tournament of Roses Parade was broadcast in color. Hoffman also founded Hoffman Electronics Corporation, which manufactured a wide range of consumer, industrial and military products. He died in 1971, and six years later the board of directors sold the businesses

Not only does the television provide "easy-vision," but easy listening as well, as there is a pull-out record player in the drawer uber the television screen. The alcove next to the screen could be used to store the records. 

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

168380-46

 

The Layered Look

Entitled "Layered Lines," this 2018 artwork is by contemporary artist Michael Rausch, using vivid colors and a combination of acrylic paint, wax, and resin to create complex texture and dimension. 

Rausch, a native of Portland, Oregon, divides his time between Portland and Palm Springs, California, with his husband, Dale Scott. Scott himself made sports history when, in 2014, while a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire, he came out as gay. Scott and Rausch met in 1986 in Portland and were married in 2013 in Palm Springs. The mayor of Palm Springs officiated the ceremony. After retiring from the MLB in 2017, Scott published a memoir of his over thirty years in pro baseball entitled The Umpire is Out: Calling the Game and Living My True Self.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16576-225

 

A Toast with the Most!

With New Year's Eve just around the corner, these shimmering sterling silver wine goblets will certainly add special sparkle to your champagne toast!

Underneath they carry the rising sun mark of Asahi Shoten of Yokohama, Japan. Active in the early-to-mid 1900s, this company was known for its high-quality sterling silver flatware and tableware, with Japanese motifs or in sleek Art Deco western style. The company usually used higher grade silver in its creations. This piece is marked "Sterling" and "950." Typically sterling silver is denoted by the assay number "925," indicating that the item contains 92.5 percent silver. These glimmering goblets carry the assay number "950," meaning that they are 95 percent silver.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

3-22571

 

Chime In!

Which is exactly what this beautiful and collectible wall clock will do, chiming every quarter, half, and full hour. By the Gazo Family Clock Factory, this model is called "Capistrano" (the California-based company names its various clocks after locations in the San Diego area). 

The Gazo Family Clock Factory began as a family hobby, with the son, Ed Gazo, who was stationed in Germany with the United States Air Force, buying antique German clocks and shipping to his father, Lou, in California, where he restored and sold them. The hobby expanded into a clock repair shop. In 1972, Ed was honorably discharged and returned to California. He and his father worked together repairing and restoring antique clocks, but were finding it difficult to locate the parts they needed. Subsequently, the Gazo Family Clock Factory was formed. 

The company contracted with skilled Mexican craftsman to hand carve the elaborate wooden cases, which were then shipped to California for finishing and the installation of the solid brass movements. 

The high-quality movements were purchased from Germany and the dials and pendulums were etched with ornate designs based on those found on antique clocks. 

Some models included musical chimes, such as Schubert's "Ave Maria," and the company also produced music boxes. The high-end clocks originally sold from $1,300 to over $12,000. Gazo closed in 1989. Total production for the company was approximately 10,000 clocks, making Gazo's hand-crafted clocks scarce and collectible.  

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

17063-2

 

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff

 To separate the wheat from the chaff means to sort out the good from the bad. And this rare and unusual hand-carved wooden norag bench or seat is certainly a good thing indeed!  

This bench once sat on top of a base holding multiple round metal blades. 

Used for centuries in Egypt, a team of animals would pull the norag in circles over harvested wheat, barley, or other grain, separating the kernels from the outer husks. The driver sat in the seat or bench, guiding the team. Sometimes the seat was plain and utilitarian, but in many cases it was elaborately carved or decorated, demonstrating the importance of this tool to farmers.

The example in our trove is ornately carved on every side

The back of the bench has graceful Arabic calligraphy.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

16300-18

Yearning for Yurman?

 If you have a yen for jewelry created by famed designer David Yurman, we have a collection of pieces by this maker currently in our trove, including this sterling silver and pave diamond ring.

The ring alternates diamond-set bands with twisted cable wire, the latter used in Yurman designs since 1982. In 1997, Yurman became the first major designer of fine jewelry to set diamonds in sterling silver jewelry with the introduction of the Silver Ice collection. This ring reflects both of these Yurman innovations.

Inside the ring is stamped with the David Yurman initials and "925," the assay mark for sterling silver.

The David Yurman Company was founded in 1980 by David Yurman and his wife, Sybil. Both partners had an extensive background in art. Among their many artistic endeavors, David made sculptures using direct welding, a technique developed by Picasso in which a torch is used to melt and shape bronze rods, while Sybil experimented with raku pottery. They traveled in artistic circles on both coasts, eventually meeting in New York City in 1969, where David had set up his sculpture studio. They became major figures in the American studio craft movement, which sought to elevate crafts to fine art through innovation and experimentation, and collaborated on designing wearable art. In 1971, Sybil wore a bronze necklace sculpted by David to a gallery opening, resulting in multiple orders for the piece. Subsequently, in 1973, the Yurmans founded Putnam Art Works, designing unique artisanal jewelry pieces. They married in 1979 and founded their company the following year.

All posted items are for sale at Next-to-New, but things can sell quickly!

17125-33