Pinball Wizard

He's a pinball wizard

There has got to be a twist

A pinball wizard's

Got such a supple wrist

"Pinball Wizard,"  1969, Peter Townshend

You too could be a pinball wizard or put on your own production of the rock opera "Tommy" with this fun and funky "Future Spa" pinball machine by Bally Manufacturing Corporation. Created in 1979, Future Spa was the first pinball game by this company to use a continuous background sound.  

The unique recessed back-box lighting and prismatic diffuser behind the "Future Spa" logo sought to create a holographic effect. Bally's marketing declared that, "Future Spa will awaken your pinball senses." 

The Bally Manufacturing Corporation was founded in 1932, and quickly became a leading pinball maker. By the late 1930s, the company began to manufacture mechanical slot machines. During WWII, Bally turned to manufacturing munitions and airplane parts. Afterwards, the company continued to manufacture and innovate pinball machines and gambling devices, as well as designing and manufacturing vending machines. By the 1970s, Bally expanded into video games, including three of the most iconic, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Ms. Pac-Man. Bally also began acquiring casinos and other businesses and in 1988 sold its arcade game division.

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

15901-21

Extraordinary Seascape by an American Master

This vividly colored study of a seascape is a work by renown American impressionist painter Curt Walters. 

Walters is a plein-aire (outdoors) impressionist painter whose works features landscapes and city scenes from all over the world, but he is most famous for his depictions of the Grand Canyon. Born in New Mexico in 1950, Walters moved to Taos to work and study with several artists. Subsequently, Walters moved to Sedona, Arizona, close to the Grand Canyon, which features so prominently in his art. In fact, in 1997, "Art of the West" magazine declared Walters to be the “Greatest Living Grand Canyon Artist." Walters has used his artistic skills to help preserve this national treasure, donating his works to the Grand Canyon Trust for fundraisers.

However, Walters has also captured the beauty of other sites in North American such as the landscapes of Colorado, the Canadian Rockies, and the rugged California coast. His travels through Europe, Bali, and Jordan have also inspired paintings. His skilled brushwork and brilliant colors have won him numerous awards, including the Nona Jean Hulsey Buyer’s Choice Award in 1998, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019 and the Frederic Remington Award in 2004 and 2005. In 2011, "Southwest Art" magazine named Walters as one of the Forty Prominent People in the Western Art World. His works are found in public and private collections throughout the world, including the Gilcrease Museum (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Autry National Center of the American West (Los Angeles, California), Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Forbes Magazine Galleries (New York, New York).

Walters is also the subject of a 2018 documentary, "Painting the Air: The Life and Art of Curt Walters." 

Screen Time

This antique screen is a lovely example of the Japanese art of Shibayama. Shibyama features an intricate inlay of a variety of carved materials, such as mother-of-pearl, bone, or coral, on a background, often of contrasting lacquer or wood. Instead of being flush with the background, the carved pieces are slightly raised, giving a three dimensional effect. This lovely and luxurious two panel screen features an elegant dressed woman and a little girl among flowering branches, birds, and butterflies. 

Most of the delicate and detailed inlay is carved from shimmering mother-of-pearl, with the figures' faces and hands sculpted from bone.

 

The shibayama panels are on dark lacquer, framed by red lacquer painted with a stylized floral design. The wooden top and bottom of each panel are intricately carved as well. The top edge features an adorable Japanese dormouse about to feast on some tempting fruit. 

The shibayama technique was developed in the late 1700s in the town of Shibayama. The technique was used on a wide variety of items, from tiny netsukes (carved toggles used to fasten a pouch or container to a kimono sash) to large room screens. The craft reached its peak during the Meiji era (1868-1912), during which Japan moved from an isolated feudal empire to a more modern, industrialized nation. This period saw a flourishing of Japanese art and crafts, as the government not only encouraged artisans, but actively promoted Japanese art for export, such as at the Paris World Exposition in 1867. 

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

15918-42

Shimmering Sea Life in Golden Glass

This graceful angelfish and appealing seahorse are crafted out of handblown glass accented with flakes of real gold. They are in the tradition of the world renown glass artistry of Murano in Italy, for, in fact, their creators first learned the craft of glassmaking on that famed Italian island.

These delightful denizens of the deep are the creations of the Marcolin brothers during their brief collaboration with Sardinia Crystal in Italy. Josef Marcolin was born in 1933 and his brother Benito Marcolin three years later.  Both studied glassmaking on Murano, moving to Sweden in the 1950s to work with various famous glassworks before starting their own company, FM Konstglas (Swedish for "art glass"). They focused on glass sculptures, combining traditional Murano glass techniques with the clean lines and minimalism associated with Scandinavian design. The factory closed in 1991, the brothers moving to Sardinia, Italy, with the intension of producing a similar lines with Sardinia Crystal. However, by the mid-1990s, Benito returned to Sweden and shortly afterwards Josef moved to Austria.

Both pieces are signed with the Marcolin name and Sardinia, was well as model numbers. 

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3-6870, 3-6869

 

Exhilarating Ertè

This stunning serigraph by Erté is part of his Numeral series in which men, women, and mystical creatures contort themselves to form the digits 0 through 9. 

In this vividly colored silk screen print, deeply embossed with golden accents, a woman and man, or perhaps a goddess and god, appear to dance against a galaxy of stars as they form the numeral "8."

Erté was born Roman Petrovich Tyrtov in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. His father, who was an admiral of the Russian Imperial Fleet and the director of the Naval Engineering School, wanted his son to become a naval officer as well, but Ertè was drawn to art and design. To escape the disapproval of his parents, he traveled to Paris in 1912 to pursue his dream of becoming a designer. It was there that he assumed the assumed the pseudonym "Erté," created from his initials "R" and "T." Erté began his career in the atelier of famed Parsian couturier Paul Poiret and soon was designing costumes for dance companies and performers, from the Ballets Russe to Mata Hari. Drawing from Orientalism, ancient art, and the burgeoning art deco movement, Ertè became renown for his use of rich, decadent colors and flowing fabrics. He also became an illustrator and his elegant exotic drawings appeared on the covers of "Harper's Bazaar, as well as in such publications as "Illustrated London News," "Cosmopolitan," and "Vogue." In 1925, Erté traveled to Hollywood to design movie costumes for the MGM Studios, including "La Bohème" (1926) and "Ben Hur" (1959). The art deco revival of the 1960s brought new attention to Erté's work and he began producing limited edition lithographs. Erté was enthralled by this new media, as it made his art more accessible to collectors. In 1974, Erté signed a contract with Circle Fine Art Corporporation to produce serigraphs, lithographs, and etchings of his earlier designs and illustrations. Well into his eighties Erté continued to create, branching out in bronze and fine jewelry. He died in 1990.

 

The piece is signed in pencil by the artist. . . 

and carries the original gallery label indicating that this piece is 42 out of a limited run of 350. The framed serigraph also comes with authentication paperwork.

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12022-143

Gleaming Guilloche

This week our trove has two treasures, stunning sterling necklaces from the famed Norwegian jewelry design firm of David-Andersen. Formed of graceful stylized leaves, one necklace is in brilliant blue enamel while the other is snowy white. The translucent enamel is applied over a machined background, a technique known as guilloche, which gives the enamel depth and makes it shimmer.

Gold- and silversmith David Andersen founded the company in 1876 in Oslo, 

Norway. His skill and artistry attracted many patrons and by 1892 he opened a second shop. David Andersen’s son, Arthur, took over the company upon his father's passing in 1901. In honor of his father, Arthur changed the name of the company to the hyphenated David-Andersen. Born in 1875, Arthur  graduated from the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in 1893. Under Anderson, the company began producing the enamel jewelry and wares for which it has become world famous. Although the company during its long history followed artistic trends, such as art nouveau, art deco, and modernism, it also took inspiration from traditional Scandinavian design, as well as from nature. David-Anderson jewelry is renown for its simple and refined forms, accented with vibrant enamel. The company is still family owned, now into the fourth generation.

Each necklace is marked both "Sterling" and with the assay mark "925 S." In addition to the company's "D-A" and stylized scales in a circle marks, there is a "W" mark for jewelry designer Willy Winnaess, who worked for David-Andersen in the 1950s.

 

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

12834-1150, 1151

Like Father, Like Daughter

She

Next-to-New currently has two wonderful and whimsical works from outsider artists, father Mose Tolliver, and his daughter, Annie. Mose Tolliver, also known as Mose T., was a self-taught Alabama artist renown for his vibrant and imaginative folk paintings of people, religious subjects, and animals. He was born in Pike Road, Alabama, the child of sharecroppers. His exact birthday is unknown, but is thought to be between 1918 to 1925. In the 1960s, following an accident at an Alabama furniture factory that left him unable to stand or walk without crutches, Mose began to paint, using house paint on pieces of salvaged board or Masonite. A prolific artist, he gained recognition in the 1980s, following exhibitions at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. Mose died in 2006. His works are part of permanent collections throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Smithsonian National Museum of American Art, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Loss Angeles. 

The fantastical fish, boldly painted on board, is signed with Mose's typical signature, including the reversed "s."

Annie Tolliver (1950-2018) was inspired by her father. As a child, she loved to draw, but dropped out of school in the ninth grade to marry and start a family. Originally, Annie worked with her father, painting in his style and using his signature, but in 1990, encouraged by an art dealer, she began to create under her own name. Like her father, Annie often uses salvaged wood and house paint. She is known for her brightly colored imaginative paintings, often with humorous subjects and titles. Annie passed away on March 13, 2018. 

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

3-6011, 3-6012

Fantastic Fenton

This beautiful glass vase in glowing yellow is delicately painted with a chinoiserie landscape bordered by blossoms. It sits on a black glass base molded to look like carved Asian lacquer.  

This set is a scarce work of deco art glass created by the Fenton Art Glass Company in the 1930s. Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank and John Fenton in Martins Ferry, Ohio, the company originally decorated glassware purchased from other manufacturers. In 1907, the brothers opened the Fenton Art Glass factory in Williamstown, West Virginia, producing their own glass and introducing "iridescent ware," now known as "carnival glass." Inspired by the glass artistry of Tiffany and Steuben, Fenton produced a variety of colorful handmade glass objects, many enhanced with hand painting by the company's skilled artists. During the Depression era, Fenton added more practical items to its production, such as mixing bowls. The company ceased glass production in 2011, but its brightly-colored glassware, especially its earlier objects, are very popular with collectors.

The footed base is marked "Pat Pending."

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

3-5946

Astounding Squash Blossom

This stunning sterling silver and coral necklace was crafted by skilled Navajo silversmith, Fatoya Yazzie, renown for her contemporary take on traditional designs. 

This style of necklace is known as "squash blossom," named after the decorations dangling from the sides. Although the squash is an important crop for Southwestern tribes, the Navajo word for these designs means "bead that spreads out." The name "squash blossom" may be the result of a  mistranslation or misunderstanding, but this style of bead has been created by Navajo silversmiths since the late 1800s and the "squash blossom" name appears to have been around almost as long. Some think the squash blossom design is actually a representation of the crown-like tip of a pomegranate, a design element often found in early Spanish clothing and jewelry. The red coral was introduced to Native American silversmiths by European traders. 

The crescent-like pendant is known as a "naja." It originated in Moorish Spain as an amulet to ward off evil and the design is believed to have been brought to the Americas by Spanish conquistadors. 

The back of the naja is stamped "Sterling" and with the artisan's initials, "FY."

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

15878-3

Hail! Fairy Queen. . .

adorn'd with flowers,

Attended by the smiling hours,

'Tis thine to dress the rosy bowers

In colours gay

"The Return of May," Felicia Dorothea Browne, 1808

This enchanting fairy, framed by delicate flowers, foliage, and flittering butterflies, is an example of elegant enameled glassware that became popular in the late 1800s. Against the soft rosy background of cranberry glass, an artist skillfully painted layers of white enamel, creating the effect of a carved cameo. In fact this style of enameled glass was produced to compete with the more costly cameo glass. Cameo glass was typically made of two fused layers of glass, a lighter (usually white) outer layer over a contrasting darker shell; the piece was then cut and etched to create a cameo-like design. 

The subtle shading and layering gives the images a three-dimensional effect. 

Underneath, the vase is faintly acid-etched "FLORENTINE ART CAMEO." This was one of the lines registered by Lazarus and Rosenfeld, a British company that specialized in high-end glassware, china, and pottery. In 1883, they established their glass refinery in Kamenické Šenov in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic).  The refinery ceased operations in 1934.

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

15885-1

Mission Accomplished. . .

. . . is certainly what the proud future owner of this magnificent mission settee set would say when this outstanding oak furniture comes to grace his or her home. 

Dating from the 1910s, these beautifully crafted chairs and matching settee are done in American mission style. The American mission style, although referencing the missions of colonial California, actually evolved from the Arts and Crafts movement. Beginning in Britain in the 1890s, the movement  was a reaction against the over-ornamented and faux-historical style popular in Victorian England, advocating instead for balanced and unembellished designs crafted from natural materials. The American mission style is known for its solid and sturdy furniture, with simple lines and fine craftsmanship that underscores the natural beauty of the wood, typically oak. The unpretentious and understated style fits well with any decor from traditional to minimalist to mid-century modern. 

The set is attributed to the Michigan Chair Company, founded in 1890 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company came to produce chairs and accompanying occasional pieces in a wide variety of styles and woods. It first introduced a line of mission chairs as early as 1898, but by 1909 began creating more period revival and ornamented designs, such as Colonial, Elizabethan, Chippendale, and French. The company is still in business, although it has not produced furniture since 1970, instead offering custom solid hardwood steam bending.

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15825-2

 

Superb Pitcher

Summer is the time to enjoy a tall cold glass of iced tea or lemonade and this stunning sterling pitcher is just the the thing for serving your guests such refreshing libations.

Underneath, it is stamped "Sterling 925," but its hand-hammered design gives a clue to this shimmering silver pitcher's origin. . . .

The shoulder of the pitcher is adorned with in high relief with stylized flowers. Known as "Aztec rose," this pattern appears widely on vintage Mexican sterling, from flatware and serving pieces to jewelry. The roses are rendered in repoussé, meaning that they were shaped by hammering from the reverse side. The skilled silversmith then added further detail by engraving or stamping lines in the leaves and petals.

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15735-242

 

Casting a Lovely Light

These large lavishly decorated porcelain pieces are from China and are known as wedding lanterns. The  piercings or reticulations worked into the extravagant designs would let out a glowing light, On each edge of the hexagonal lanterns is a stylized bat. Bats were revered in China as symbol of good luck and happiness. In Chinese, the word for bat is "fu" and is pronounced the same as the word for good fortune. Bats, like the ones on these lovely lanterns, were often depicted in red, the color representing joy. Dangling from each bat's mouth is a representation of a red paper lantern, a symbol of joy and peace. Below the bat in red is a stylized symbol called "Shou," representing longevity.

Each lantern comes in two pieces, a candlestick base with the matching shade. The fact that these delicate pieces survived intact and together all these decades certainly suggests that they are indeed imbued with good fortune!

Every inch of the surface of each lantern is covered with elaborate enamel designs. On each side is a round medallion, either portraying a bird perched near a lushly blooming peony. . . 

. . . or a young boy at play.

Peonies represent wealth and prosperity. The bird is a magpie, is a symbol of happiness. 

In traditional Chinese culture, having sons to carry on the family name was vital. Depictions of young boys at play were signs of good fortune. No doubt these lanterns were intended to bless the happy couple with many sons.

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

15784-237, 238