Friday, June 27, 2025

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











Saturday, June 21, 2025

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











Thursday, June 5, 2025

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