A Fine Catch. . .

for a collector of Lladró is this large and lovely sculpture of two pescadoras (fisherwomen).  Called "Sea Harvest" or "Pescadoras," this evocative figurine was sculpted by Antonio Ramos in 1984 and retired in 1990. It is stamped underneath with the Lladró mark and comes on its original wood base. 

The figurine is in a finish called "gres." In the 1970s, Lladró developed a unique material that blended  porcelain with clay, giving a figurine the earthy tones of pottery. Lladró used a warm color palette for its gres creations, carefully layering the enamel glazes to give the colors a special depth, luminosity,  and subtly. Gres requires significantly longer firing and cooling times that porcelain to ensure that the enamel paints crystalize evenly.

Lladró was founded in 1953 by three brothers, Juán, José, and Vicente Lladró. Encouraged by their mother, the brothers were educated at the Valencia School of Arts and Crafts, where they studied sculpture and painting. They first began with a kiln they built at their parents' home, producing ceramic flowers and decorative items for sale in the local market and by 1956 the brothers began creating the sculptural figurines for which Lladró has become world famous. After expanding their workshop several times to meet growing demand for their porcelains, the brothers in 1958 relocated to a factory in Tavernes Blanques, where Lladró still resides today.

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

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You'll Raise a Toast. . .

. . . to this incredible credenza. In a soft golden-brown finish named "champagne," this marvelous mid-century modern buffet was made by the American furniture company Heywood Wakefield. The company was created in 1897 with the merger of the furniture companies Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company. In the 1920s and 30s, Heywood Wakefield introduced designs based on the art deco and art moderne movements and these sleek streamlined styles remained popular until the factory closed in 1979. The furniture was finely crafted from solid America birch wood and offered in wheat and champagne finishes. 

This model is was called M193 and would have served as a buffet or sideboard in the dining room.  However, this understated versatile style would fit in any room or decor, from a bedroom bureau to a stylish home office.

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

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Eternal Spring

Throughout Austin, purple irises are bursting into bloom, signaling the coming of spring.

However, you can bring an eternal spring into your home with this ever-blooming iris trinket dish or bowl from the French maker of Daum. The dish is created by an intricate and detailed process called pâte de verre (glass paste). Although dating back to ancient Rome and Egypt, the process of pâte de verre was perfected in France during the art nouveau era of the early 1900s. Currently, Daum is the only crystal manufacturer still using this technique. The technique, which uses finely ground crystal called "frit," produces a luminous crystal sculpture with sharp details and soft gradations of precisely placed colors.

The process requires multiple steps by skilled artisans. First, a sculpture is created and used to make a flexible mold. The mold is then filled with molten wax.  After the wax hardens, it is removed from the mold and any imperfections are smoothed over. The wax is then encased in plaster. One the plaster is dry, it is heated and the melted wax is drained from the mold. This leaves a plaster mold, which is then cut open.  The plaster impression is cleaned of residue and the frit packed into the mold, with the artisan carefully layering the different colors. Once filled, the plaster mold is placed into a kiln and heated until the frit has melted. The plaster mold is removed from the kiln and allowed to cool. Because the crystal now adheres to the mold, the plaster must be carefully broken away to reveal the sculpture. The remaining plaster is washed away and the crystal piece is polished, with details sometimes sharpened by hand with a special drill. Only after all these steps are complete and the piece passes a final inspection will it be signed "Daum France." This complex pâte de verre process means that every Daum sculpture is unique.

This beautiful bowl comes in its original fitted Daum box.

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

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South African Sculpture

This charming clay sculpture is from Tribal Africa, a pottery workshop located in Knysna, South Africa, which specializes in handcrafted ceramic figurines garbed in the traditional dress of South Africa’s nine tribal groups. Instead of molds, each piece is individually sculpted out of clay.

In addition to glazed decoration, the pieces are often adorned with jewelry and fabric, such as this whimsical woman's wire earrings and cloth headdress.

Her outfit represents the traditional dress of a woman of the Xhosa people, the second largest ethnic group in Southern Africa.

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

A Luminous Lovely Lady

This beautiful hand-painted tile in its original elaborate antique frame is from the German company of Konigliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM). In the 19th Century, KPM was renown for its painted plaques depicting historic scenes or replicating famous paintings. KPM plaques were typically presented in ornate frames and the unusual frame on this example is exceptional, giving the impression that the lissom lass is looking out of a window.

The plaque is after a painting entitled “Lisette” by the German artist Georg Hom (1838-1911); in fact, when this blogger carefully unscrewed the back of the frame to confirm that it held a tile and not a print, on the back of the porcelain plaque were the fragile remains of a paper label carrying the name “Lisette.” Hom was known for his genre pictures of pretty women, sometimes illuminated by candlelight.

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

 

Intricate Art from Africa

This elaborately beaded sash was created by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.  Originally, beaded objects were considered sacred and only could be worn by royalty and the priesthood. Such sashes traditionally reflected the owner's noble or spiritual position and would be worn during public ceremonies.  Creating these intricate beaded pieces requires great skill (and thousands of beads).  In modern Nigeria, Yoruba artisans hand craft these stunning sashes as a form of artistic expression and these sashes are sought after by collectors of African art.

Cowrie shells were also an indication of wealth.

In some places the canvas base is built up to create a three dimensional effect. Images of birds and lizards originally indicated divine powers.  For example, birds could represent a female force that protected the king and punished those who engaged in immoral acts. 

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

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Pinball Wizard

He's a pinball wizard

There has got to be a twist

A pinball wizard's

Got such a supple wrist

"Pinball Wizard,"  1969, Peter Townshend

You too could be a pinball wizard or put on your own production of the rock opera "Tommy" with this fun and funky "Future Spa" pinball machine by Bally Manufacturing Corporation. Created in 1979, Future Spa was the first pinball game by this company to use a continuous background sound.  

The unique recessed back-box lighting and prismatic diffuser behind the "Future Spa" logo sought to create a holographic effect. Bally's marketing declared that, "Future Spa will awaken your pinball senses." 

The Bally Manufacturing Corporation was founded in 1932, and quickly became a leading pinball maker. By the late 1930s, the company began to manufacture mechanical slot machines. During WWII, Bally turned to manufacturing munitions and airplane parts. Afterwards, the company continued to manufacture and innovate pinball machines and gambling devices, as well as designing and manufacturing vending machines. By the 1970s, Bally expanded into video games, including three of the most iconic, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Ms. Pac-Man. Bally also began acquiring casinos and other businesses and in 1988 sold its arcade game division.

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

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