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