Twinkling Tanzanite

If you want to bring some special sparkle to someone on your holiday shopping list, this gleaming gold ring set with a richly colored tanzanite is the perfect present. Or, if you are looking for a glittering gift for some lucky lady born in December, tanzanite was declared the December birthstone by the American Gem Trade Association in 2002. This ring would also add zing to any holiday outfit or New Year's ensemble.

The oval stone is set in 10 karat gold and framed by a sparkling halo. Tanzanite is variety of the mineral zoisite and is renown for its deep blue and violet coloring. Discovered in Tanzania in the 1960s, it was christened "tanzanite" by Tiffany and Company after the country in which it was discovered. Tanzanite is found only in a small area located in Tanzania.

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

10851-138

Fantastic Fossil Vase

This extra large vase is part of the fossil series created by Kjell Engman for the famed Swedish glassmaker Kosta Boda. The body of this unusual and artistic vase resembles mottled silvery gray stone.

A glass medallion with the frosted image of a trilobite is applied to the front, looking like a fossil embedded in rock. Trilobites were one of the earliest known groups of arthropods, first appearing 521 million years ago. They died out around 251.9 million years ago, leaving behind their fossilized exoskeletons.

Kosta Boda is famous for its fine glassworks and its creative avant-garde designs. Its history can be traced back to 1742, when a glassworks was founded in Kosta, Sweden. Although the company originally  made utilitarian glass, beginning in 1898, it began to hire its own glass designers. Kjell Engman is part of this tradition, joining Kosta Boda in 1978. He is one of Sweden’s leading glass artists and examples of his work are in the Swedish National Museum of Art and Design.

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

16049-398

Thrashing it Out

We get a lot of unique art in our trove, but this large stencil and acrylic work may be one of the most unusual. It is by Thrashbird, a Los Angeles-based street artist of unverified identity. He works in various mediums and is especially known for his stencils and posters. Thrashbird typically uses urban structures for his street art, such as billboards, walls, and abandoned buildings. His works satirize social media and selfie culture, consumerism, and society's obsession with technology. Thrashbird's most recognized image is a character entitled "The Clone," a silhouette of a slender figure, its face obscured by a hoodie, hunched over a cell phone and ignoring the world around it. He has been called one of the most exciting contemporary street artists to watch. His work has been included in street art auctions, including the 2016 Street Art and Contemporary Art sale at Julien's Auctions alongside works by Banksy.

The work is Thrashbird's interpretation of the cover of the May 1974 edition of Esquire magazine, which featured a Norman Rockwell inspired image of a young graffiti artist. The cover article, "The Faith of Graffiti," was written by Norman Mailer.

Thrashbird featured his version, this time painted on the side of a building, in his Instagram account. The artist wrote, "I have always loved the original image, to me it invokes feelings of nostalgia and wonderment of the time. I'm a great admirer of #normanrockwell as well and the image reminds me of his work."

On the back of the back of the work is a label authenticating the piece. The piece is described as "Aerosol, acrylic, & resin on wood," and was originally priced at $2,995.00. But our price is currently only $795.00!

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

12708-2851

Merry (Christmas)-Go-Round

This intricate example of German woodcraft is called a Christmas pyramid. Each of the graduated tiers is centered around a rotating axel, with a multi-bladed fan atop. When the candles are lit, the warm air causes the fan to rotate and the miniature figures turn as if on a merry-go-round. These pyramids, called "weihnachtspyramide," trace their origins to the Erzgebirge region of Germany, which has a long tradition of woodcarving, including the production of toys. Some historians think that the Christmas pyramid predates the Christmas tree. The ancestor of the Christmas pyramid was the 18th century lichtergestelle ("light stand"), constructed of four poles and decorated with evergreen boughs, which were tied together at the top, and lit with candles. As the lichtergestelle was eventually replaced with the Christmas tree, Erzgebirge artisans refined the lichtergestelle, crafting it from wood, decorating it with tiny scenes, and adding a spinning motion.

The Christmas pyramid incorporates scenes from the nativity. On the top tier, angels herald the birth of the Christ child.

On the next tier, the first of the rotating levels, an angel appears to the shepherds watching their flocks, One kneels in awe while the his fellow shepherd follows the sheep.

The third tier depicts the shepherds journeying with their flocks.

The bottom tier depicts the arrival of the Magi, bearing gifts as they circle Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger.

In Germany, outdoor Christmas markets may feature a giant Christmas pyramid, but you don't have to travel all the way to Germany to see one. Every year, Fredericksburg, Texas displays a 26-foot high version during the holiday season.

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

230-9787