A Brooch Beyond Reproach

This big beautiful antique brooch in shimmering sterling is the epitome of art nouveau design, featuring a lovely lady framed by her flowing tresses and sinuous flowers. Art nouveau was an artistic movement from the 1890s through 1910s that looked to nature for inspiration and is exemplified by undulating lines, giving the feeling of movement. It was a reaction against staid academic art and the overdone and eclectic Victorian decor. 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. 

The brooch has a "C' clasp, so-called because the pin is held closed by a simple curved piece of metal; this type of clasp is generally found on jewelry from the 1850s through the 1910s, before the safety clasp came into wide use. On the back, the pin carries the intertwined "U" and "B" mark of Unger Brothers, surrounded by the words "Sterling 925 Fine."

Unger Brothers was founded by Herman Unger and his four brothers in the early 1870s. The company is renown for its intricate and beautifully crafted art nouveau sterling jewelry, as well as dressing table sets , perfume bottles, pocket knives, cigarette cases, belt buckles, and other luxury ware. Unger Brother was sold in 1919.

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

You'll Adore. . .

 . . . these doors! Rescued from an antique wardrobe, these exquisite antique doors are ready for some imaginative repurposing. Unique window shutters? A one-of-a-kind headboard for your bedroom? A swinging saloon-style door? A stunning screen? Or even to add an elegant touch to a cabinet or console? All these gorgeous doors need is a little tender loving care and your imagination.

The solid wood doors are gracefully adorned in the epitome of the art nouveau style. Art nouveau was an artistic movement from the 1890s through 1910s that looked to nature for inspiration and is exemplified by undulating and sinuous lines, giving the feeling of movement. The curving lines in the doors are accented by beautifully beveled mirrors. 

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

13790-478

I'm For An. . .

 amphora as lovely as this one.

Although traditionalists might argue that an amphora is large double-handled vase used for storage in ancient Greece, to a collector of antique art nouveau, amphora instead refers to the delicate and detailed ceramic or terracotta art objects created in what was known as Bohemia from the late 1890s through the early 1900s. One company in this region marked its wares with the name "Amphora" and it has become a general descriptive term for the striking art nouveau vases, pitchers, ewers, bowls, and other decorative works from this era and area. This terracotta centerpiece bowl is indeed an amphora. 

Art nouveau was an artistic movement from the 1890s through 1910s that looked to nature for inspiration and is exemplified by undulating and sinuous lines, giving the feeling of movement. It was a reaction against staid academic art and the overdone and eclectic Victorian decor. Nubile nymphs, such as this luscious lass, barely clad in swirling robes and flowing tresses, were a frequent feature in art nouveau works. 

The piece is stamped "Stahlknetch" and with a model number. Waldemar Stahlknecht was a Germany factory specializing in terracotta and majolica during the amphora era.

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

16704-23

Next to Nouveau

This beautiful bronze-colored vase features two graceful art nouveau nymphs in flowing robes and streaming tresses. Art nouveau was an artistic movement from the 1890s through 1910s that looked to nature for inspiration and is exemplified by undulating and sinuous lines, giving the feeling of movement. 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 Middle Eastern harems to Gothic cathedrals.

This antique artwork was created by the Judd Manufacturing Company in Wallingford, Connecticut. From the early 1910s the the late 1930s, the company produced a decorative line of fine-quality castings in bronze, brass, and iron, including book ends, doorstops, and vases. Of substantial weight, this piece may be bronze.

The piece originally had a glass insert for holding flowers.

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

3-11614

Berry Nice!

This beautiful berry set, lavished with soft pink roses, delicate bas relief lilies-of-the valley, and lush gold trim, is a sizable 13 pieces, with a large berry bowl and 12 smaller individual serving dishes (because of space, only three of the small bowls are pictured). Such berry sets were popular in the 1800s through the early 1900s as an elegant way to serve strawberries, raspberries, or other fruit. 

Both the large bowl and the individual bowls have a small opening, so that excess juice or liquid could be poured off.  The berries would be arranged in the large bowl and guests would serve themselves using the smaller individual bowls. 

This splendid serving set is by the famed German porcelain company of R. S. Prussia. Founded in 1892 by Reinhold Schlegelmilch, this company produced luxury porcelain goods in Suhl, Germany, from the late 1800s through World War I. The green wreath and red lettering date these pieces to the beginning of the last century. The unusual undulating shapes show the influence of art nouveau era.

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

15287-42