Setting A High Bar. . .

And certainly there can be no higher bar than this magnificent mirrored mid-century marvel! 

The front of mobile bar is adorned with a mirror painted with vibrantly-colored symbols of all sorts of pleasurable pastimes, from cards, dice, checkers, and chess, to, of course, adult libations. 

The mirrored door pivots, revealing racks and shelves for all your finest beverages and barware. 

The inside of the door carries the label "Bar Tugas Modele Depose." "Modèle déposé" is French for "registered design," denoting that a specific design has been officially registered with the relevant authorities, barring unauthorized copying or use. In 1944, Joseph Tugas and his wife Ginette founded the company Meubles Tugas in Béziers, France. Joseph gained fame for his mobile bars with the specially designed pivoting door, which Meubles Tugas produced in a variety of sizes and styles. 

An early catalog page from  Meubles Tugas demonstrating the pivoting door.

This extraordinary bar is the epitome of early mid-Century modern furniture. Stretching from 1945 through the 1960s, and influenced by European movements such as the German Bauhaus school and Scandinavian design, mid-century modern is characterized by the simplicity of its style, the extensive use of natural materials, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and clean, uncluttered silhouettes. The movement also took advantage of new materials and manufacturing processes, combining and contrasting natural materials with man-made materials such as chrome, laminate, and mirrors. The top of the bar has an etched mirror framed by chrome railings.

In fact, the sides and back are all covered with mirrors, so that no matter where you move this convenient and compact bar, it blends chameleon-like into its surroundings. And it would certainly blend into any home decor, from traditional to art deco. Other than a crack in the mirror on the left side and a some small scattered surface wear to the wood, this unusual and unique bar is in extraordinary condition for its age.

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

12706-4044

The Road to the White House. . .

. . . has never been quite this colorful. Entitled "The White House," this vivid watercolor features the simple eponymous white structure surrounded by expressionist bold brushstrokes of aqua, blue, and violet.

This kaleidoscopic painting is by Austin artist Randolph B. Howard. Born in Midland, Texas, Howard entered the University of Texas as a music major studying piano. However, a broken hand and encouragement from an art professor turned Howard toward drawing and painting. He graduated from the university with a Bachelor of the Arts and then traveled for the next six years, earning money by designing and selling tee-shirts for rock and roll bands. He then attended the Pratt Institute in New York City, receiving his Master of Fine Arts. In 1990, Howard received a visual arts fellowship grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in recognition of his painting. He has painted in a variety of styles and media, including bright abstract watercolors such as this one, full of vibrancy and motion. Currently Howard, who maintains a studio in Austin, is concentrating on landscapes painted in encaustic, a mixture of oil paint and wax. The painting is signed and dated by Howard and has Howard's studio label on the back.

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

16914-76

Utterly Disarming. . .

This charming sculpture depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, about to break the bow of her son, Cupid, across her knee, while the winged boy pleads with his mother to stop. 

Cupid was god of desire and whomever he struck with one of his arrows, whether mortal or deity, was seized with overwhelming passion and desire. The image of Venus disarming Cupid by breaking or taking away his bow was a popular scene in classical art and is drawn from Metamorphoses, the most famous work by the ancient Roman poet Ovid. In the poem, Cupid accidentally scratches Venus with one of his arrows. This results Venus falling madly in love with the mortal hunter, Adonis. After Adonis dies in a hunting accident, Venus punishes Cupid for exposing her to the torments of love by taking away his bow.

Of heavy metal with a golden bronze tone, this antique statue is superbly sculpted and cast.

 

The base has the partial signature of "Duchoiselle," a French sculptor active from 1840 through 1890. Though little is known of his life, he created a wide variety of sculptures in bronze, ranging from classical and historic subjects to detailed depictions of Native Americans. He also credited with ceiling reliefs for the Louvre and the Paris Opéra.

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

1677-1585

Striking Oil

The idiom "striking oil" means to have sudden success or to have found something valuable. You will certainly feel as if you have struck oil with the marvelous mid-century modern cocktail set adorned with oil derricks and trimmed with gilt bands. The set includes a pitcher, six low-ball or old-fashioned glasses, and a matching serving tray.  It will certainly add a true taste of Texas to your next cocktail party or you could use it to reenact your favorite episodes of "Dallas" and get in touch with your inner J.R. Ewing.

This ultra-retro cocktail set was created by Lotus Glass Company. Established in Barnesville, Ohio, in 1911, as the Lotus Cut Glass Company, the company changed its name and focus as the fashion for cut glass began to fade after WWI. It began decorating glass blanks purchased from other companies, such as  Cambridge, Fostoria, Heisey, Imperial, Lancaster, Tiffin, Viking, and Westmoreland. In 1928, Lotus introduced silver plate decoration on its glassware and later began using 22 and 24 karat gold. Lotus started using a silkscreen process in the 1950s, which allowed it to create a wide variety of graphic designs The company closed in December of 1995. 

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

857-3542

You'll Want to Experiment With. . .

. . . with this authentic antique laboratory cabinet. Whether adding an unusual accent to your kitchen, looking for a unique wine cabinet, or you just need more counter space in your secret laboratory under the extinct volcano, this wonderful oak cabinet may have just the right chemistry for your decor.

The cabinet still has its original zinc countertop. Zinc was favored in laboratory settings because it is a nonporous metal with natural antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is durable and easy to clean, although it could be scratched. Decades of use have given the zinc top a subtle marbled patina.

The drawers are numbered and have locks (although the keys have been lost to time). The cabinet doors also once locked. 

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

17028-14

Inspired!

That is what you will be sitting at this elegant, extraordinary, and unique antique writing desk with its matching chair.

Of beautiful warm wood, this desk shows the influence of the art nouveau period, an artistic movement from the 1890s through 1910s that looked to nature for inspiration and is exemplified by undulating lines.  Art nouveau was a reaction against staid academic art and the overdone and eclectic Victorian decor that jumbled together influences from disparate cultures and eras, from the Middle East to Gothic cathedrals. The term, meaning "New Art," was first used in the 1880s, but was popularized by the opening in 1895 of the Maison de l'Art Nouveau, an art gallery in Paris. Art nouveau furniture was influenced by the earlier British Arts and Crafts movement, which was also a rejection of overly ornate and imitative Victorian decor. As much as social as a decorative movement, Arts and Crafts denounced industrialization and the denigration of craftsmen, creating hand-crafted pieces of natural materials with form that fit function and understated decoration. 

The top of the desk is hinged and lifts up, revealing a place to store books and papers. Atop the desk is a carved penholder and a metal ink pot so that one's writing materials are always conveniently at hand for when inspiration strikes.

Both the chair and desk are adjustable, allowing for custom comfort while you write.

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

8402-7665

A Bird in the Hand. . .

. . . is worth two in the bush. But with this beautiful bird-bedecked vase you get both, plus a dainty and demure damsel.

This vase is from the porcelain manufacturer of Rosenthal. Founded in 1879 as a porcelain painting company by Philipp Rosenthal in Germany, Rosenthal  later expanded into manufacturing its own porcelain products. Following WWII, Rosenthal became renown for its focus on modern design and collaborating with contemporary artists and designers. One of its best known, and beloved, collaborations was with famed Danish artist Björn Wiinblad (1918–2006). Wiinblad was hired as a designer by Rosenthal in 1957 and worked with the company for almost 50 years. This vase is one of the designs Wiinblad created for Rosenthal. It features all the hallmarks of Wiinblad's art, such as sinuous lines in sensuous curves, a full-figured lovely lady with sultry eyes and a serene expression, and subtle splashes of bright colors. 

As a child, Wiinblad wanted to be an artist, but his father insisted that he learn a skill and in 1935, Wiinblad trained as a typographer, He was not an ardent student, often spending his time writing poetry or drawing. In 1940, Wiinblad started studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. There he met fellow student Lars Syberg, who introduced Wiinblad to ceramics. After graduating in 1945, Wiinblad debuted with an exhibition of his decorated ceramics, as well as his drawings and illustrations, at a small gallery in Copenhagen. The exhibition was a success and the pottery factory Nymølle hired Wiinblad as a designer. Nymølle's goods were affordable for many Danes and ceramics decorated with Wiinblad designs became fixtures in homes throughout Denmark. Wiinblad also continued creating illustrations as well as working in theatre design and opening his own pottery workshop. Over the years, Wiinblad won many awards and honors.

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

15600-861

Yessiree, Bob!

That's what you'll exclaim when you see this wonderful whimsical Bob White ware by Red Wing Potteries, Inc. Introduced in 1954, this hand-painted pattern was one of Red Wing's most popular dinnerware lines (some say the pattern got a boost when the "Playboy" February 1956 centerfold featured Playmate of the Month Marguerite Empey breakfasting in bed from a set of Bob White).

 

In 1861, German immigrant John Paul purchased land in Minnesota, planning on farming. Instead, he discovered a vein of clay. Paul had been a potter, and recognizing the value of his find, he used the clay to produce terracotta and stoneware in nearby Red Wing. The early production was mainly utilitarian, such as crocks, jugs, bowls, water coolers, and even sewer pipes. In the early 1930s, the company began producing more decorative and artistic items, with a variety of glazes and shapes, and in 1935, introduced its first line of dinnerware. In 1936, the company was rechristened Red Wing Potteries. It continued the practice of hand-decoration, giving its creations a unique look, and filling the growing demand for quality casual tableware. Charles Murphy, who created the Bob White line, became the head designer for Red Wing in 1941.

However, the company began to struggle following WWII, when inexpensive china and pottery from Japan and other countries began to flood the American market. In 1967, the company closed.

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

857-3435, 3456, 3457, 3458

 

A Grand Entrance. . .

. . . is what your table will make when you set it with this stunning sterling silver flatware by Wallace Silversmiths. The pattern is known as "Grand Colonial" and our trove currently boasts multiple place settings as well as a wide variety of serving and side pieces. 

The pattern was designed by William S. Warren in 1942. It was one of six patterns designed by Warren, which he dubbed "Three Dimensional" because the design is visible from the front, side and back. Five years later, Warren wrote a book entitled "Wallace Beauty Moods in Silver" discussing his Three Dimensional patterns. The understated and elegant design with its scrolled tip and graceful curves echos the fine proportions of Chippendale furniture and the early American colonial epoch.

Wallace Silversmiths was founded by Robert Wallace, the son of Scottish immigrant and silversmith James Wallace and his wife Irene. After completing his apprenticeship at for the Meriden Britannia Company, in 1833, Robert opened his own silver works, producing only spoons. After moving his factory to Wallingford, Connecticut, he produced a variety of flatware and cutlery, both in sterling and in a nickel alloy known as "German silver." In 1871, Robert and two of his sons rechristened the company R. Wallace and Sons Mfg. Co.; they also spun off a new company, Wallace Brothers, which produced silver-plated flatware. Robert died in 1892, and his sons and son-in-law took control of the company, which would become the largest manufacturer of tableware in the world. The company was re-named Wallace Silversmiths in 1956 and continues to design sterling, silver plate, and stainless steel flatware.

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

 

Lend Us Your Ears. . .

. . . and we will adorn them with these beautiful vintage clip earrings made by the Schreiner Jewelry Company, considered by collectors to be one of the top American creators of high-end costume jewelry, with innovative handcrafted designs and creative combinations of stones, often in vibrant colors. Henry Schreiner, trained as a blacksmith, immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1923. He began working for a shoe buckle company, where he learned how to solder and set stones. Schreiner later purchased the company and began manufacturing decorative buckles and buttons, as well as jewelry in the popular Art Deco design. However, he did not officially transact business under the Schreiner Jewelry Company name until a decade later. Before WWII, Schreiner acquired a stockpile of fine art glass stones and metal settings from Europe, allowing the company to continue production during WWII. After the war, Schneider expanded its costume jewelry lines, creating pieces for many designers of the day. The settings were handcrafted, rather than cast, allowing for more complex, yet lighter, designs. Following Henry's death in 1954, his son-in-law Ambros and daughter Terry took over the company. Trained as an engineer, Ambros stepped into design and production. He is considered responsible for many of the innovations that make Schreiner's jewelry so collectible, including the use of inverted stones and custom-made settings, as well as incorporating the stockpiles of pre-WWII Czechslovakian stones. In addition to creating pieces for designers, the company sold jewelry under its own name at high-end stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Ambros retired in 1974 due to declining health and the company closed the following year,

The ornate prongs framing the lustrous faux pearls are typical of this company's detailed designs.

The back of the clips are signed "Schreiner." The clip also features round tip with an open center. This "donut" design was thought to make clip earrings more comfortable to wear and is characteristic of Schreiner earrings. You can also see the soldering, indicating that this piece was hand-built, not cast. 

You can read more about this important innovative American jewelry company in Schreiner: Masters of Twentieth-Century Costume Jewelry by Carole Tanenbaum and Eve Townsend.

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

14862-449

 

Touchdown!

That's what you'll make if you take home this vintage leather football helmet from our trove.

Up through the 1890s, football players had no protection against concussions, other than growing out their hair to provide some padding against head-on collisions. Various sources credit either football player George Barclay or United States Naval Academy Midshipman Joseph M. Reeves with the creation of a leather helmet as a protective device. By the 1910s, the helmet had increased padding and holes in the earflaps to allow players to hear each other on the field.

A significant step in safety was the invention of a system of internal straps by University of Illinois football coach Robert Carl Zuppke in 1917. The straps absorbed and distributed the impact, plus allowed better ventilation. Rawlings, the manufacturer of this helmet, was one of the first companies to adopt what was known as the "ZH" or Zuppke helmet. 

Rawlings was founded in Saint Louis,Missouri in 1887 by brothers George and Alfred Rawlings. Although originally the company sold goods for a wide variety of sports, including baseball, tennis, and football, today they are mainly specialize in softball and baseball gear and equipment.

In 1939, the John T. Riddell Company, a Chicago sporting goods firm, introduced the first plastic helmet. Although the initial helmets could shatter on impact, Riddell quickly improved the design, The plastic helmets were lighter, waterproof, and allowed more padding and cushioning. A decade later the National Football League officially adopted plastic helmets (the delay was caused in part by the scarcity of plastics during WWII).

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

16816-15

All Dress(er)ed Up!

That is just what your bedroom will be with the addition of this distinguished and desirable vintage dresser. Of handsome honey-toned wood, it is an excellent example of American mid-century modern design.

Inside one of the many drawers is the mark of Link-Taylor, which specialized in fine quality bedroom and dining room furniture, beginning in 1950. 

In 1903, the Dixie- Elk Furniture Company was established in Lexington, North Carolina. Beginning in the 1950s, the company decided to divide into four companies, each with its own specialty and product lines. These companies were: Dixie, which made mid-priced bedroom and dining room furnishings; Henry Link, specializing in girls' bedroom furniture; Young Hinkle, a boys' bedroom furniture manufacturer; and Link-Taylor, which focused on luxury bedroom and dining room furniture. Link-Tayor was known for its solid wood furniture made by skilled craftsmen. In addition to traditional styles, Link-Taylor also produced lines appealing to contemporary tastes and its mid-century modern furniture is highly sought after. In 1987, Masco Corporation bought and merged the four companies into Lexington Furniture Industries. 

Solid and sturdy, this attractive vintage bureau just needs a little polish and tender loving care to bring it back to its original beauty.

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

16020-9

Charming Children's Chinoiserie

This fantastic set of antique faux bamboo doll furniture reflects the European fascination with the far East after trade opened with China and Japan in the 1860s. “Chinoiserie” furniture that incorporated Asian motifs became popular in Europe. However, bamboo was too fragile for heavier European furniture, so companies began creating faux bamboo furniture using hardwoods. This period also saw a shift in the attitude toward childhood. Instead of treating children as miniature adults, children (at least those fortunate enough to be born into the more affluent or rising middle class), were seen as innocent beings who must be gently guided and educated, often through play. Little girls were encouraged to play with dolls in order to learn how to sew, keep house, and prepare for motherhood. German and French companies provided these little girls not only with fine quality lady dolls of bisque and china, but also all the necessary accessories, including doll-sized furniture reflecting the popular styles of the day, such as faux bamboo. The French company Choumer and Collet began making doll furniture in 1867 and later contracted with the American toy store FAO Schwarz. Faux bamboo doll furniture was exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition. 

Toy armoires, like this one, featured mirrored doors, as well as shelves for storing doll clothing and linen.

The doll versions reproduced in miniature all the details of the full-sized furnishings, such as beveled mirrors and elaborate drawer pulls.

This diminutive dressing table features a white marble top, a swivel mirror, and even racks on the sides for holding towels. 

The night stand has a cabinet for secreting the chamberpot. 

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

3936-205, 206, 207