Showing posts with label thriftfinds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thriftfinds. Show all posts

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Russel Wright Sterling Chinaware

Thriftscore this afternoon bringing home 5 plates from the dinnerware line produced by Sterling China Company in 1949 and continued through the 1950’s. Designed by Russel Wright and available in five sizes; this line was mostly used by restaurants and hotels and is quite hard to find - these are the first I've seen, kicking off spring with some fanciful floral for our casual counter meals. .
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Sterling China by Russel Wright

Monday, January 4, 2016

Atomic Amoeba Glass

Bringing a little mid-century modern style and grace to my kids bathroom, I found this Federal Glass Contemporary pattern better known as amoeba, boomerang on drinking glasses, chip & dips and storage jars but was dismayed to find they were usually the key element of some street facing window for the chic Mid-Century shops in the county. This usually meant expensive.

1950's Federal Glass Contemporary Apothecary Jar


But last night I found this lone apothecary jar sitting on the shelf of the the local school thrift and knew immediately it was going home with me. The thrift has been inching up prices over the last few months so I have not been finding much out of that shop but this one came for a cool $3.99 and though not a 'steal' by any stretch was still most agreeable.

This pattern, popularly called, amoeba or boomerang, was actually called Contemporary #4695. Marketed by the Federal Glass Company in the 50's and 60's it was distinctive for a couple of reasons:
  • They had 22 Kt gold integrated into their amoeba, boomerang designs.
  • They came in turquoise, pink, white, and black.
The white and pink are most difficult to find but this turquoise will match the washroom's still original 1962 color scheme perfectly

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Gio Ponti Made Some Chairs

Walking through the back room of the Goodwill last weekend I spied the rope weave, delicate ball feet and stretched ladder back and passed thinking it was a #mcm knockoff, it was so light and the weave so perfect.I sat in the chair, it was solid.   


Back at home, while googling the usual keywords I found Gio Ponti, an Italian who designed mid century chairs meant to revolutionize the way the world viewed factory-produced furniture. He sought to reclaim the stylishness and artistic appeal of crafted furniture, while combining it with the ease of factory production. Interesting story, but since I had walked out without the chair I was pretty sure it would be snatched up pretty quick.  


However, I could not stop thinking about the fluid flow of the chairs design and returned on Wednesday morning to find the chair still in the back room and turning it over and looking at the front support saw the 'Made in Italy Mod.31' stamp I had seen on similar Ponti chairs on the web - $4.98 and it was in the back of Ole Blue ready to come home !!!


Gio Ponti Chair










Monday, November 16, 2015

When it Rains ... It Pours!

We have taken to eating casual meals on the stools at the kitchen counter and for those meals decided to lightened up the mood with #midcentury shakers that are fun!!!! My daughter Grace spied these at the local thrift ($.99 ea) and from somebodies relinquished collection she chose the #kissingsquirrels and the classic #mcm totems. Both sets have cork plugs and were made in Japan after the war continuing the S & P shaker tradition started by John Mason in 1858 that required another 50 yrs before becoming popular when the Morton salt company figured out a way to keep salt from clumping in the shaker. 


Remember 'when it rains, it pours' !!!!


Mid Century Salt and Pepper Shakers


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Eric Hoglund Was Quite a Mystery ....

Erik Hoglund studied art and design in Sweden in the early 50's and through the next 3 decades is said to have revolutionized the art of Swedish glass. 


When I first picked up the well taped bundle of iron at the Goodwill I thought maybe this was one of those metal puzzles and tried to connect the hanging chain to the glass holders in some rational way ... NO! When I spotted the 'Sweden' imprint I heard the little voice say 'Buy It' thinking this must be #midcentury and not just old iron chains. 


For $4.98 I was on a google adventure that took a week to determine I had found an early #ErikHoglund iron candelabra ... Still keeping my eyes open for the original glass, for the time being it will hang in the alcove by the fireplace. 


1950's Eric Hoglund Candleabra




Saturday, November 7, 2015

Cocktails Anyone?

Wood and chrome bar caddy easily compliments the cross legged #campaigntable sitting in the corner. Out of the #goodwill for a cool $2.48 and married with #midcentury hand painted gold trim glassware ($.99 ea), a set of abalone shell coasters ($.99) and a hammered stainless ice bucket completes the necessary accoutrements of a #midcenturymodern setup ... Cocktails anyone?


MCM Must Haves! 

Monday, November 2, 2015

A Little Deco for Effect ...

Most unusual #mcm#deco influenced candle holders I have ever seen... Made of heavy forged aluminum(???) they cleaned up nicely and I added a couple of blue glass votive holders ... $2.49 the pair down at the Marin goodwill. 


The #midcenturydesign tortoise shell coasters were $.99 for 6 and OCTOGONAL! 



#thriftshop #thriftstore #thrift#thrifting #thrifty #voltive #chrome #candles#thriftscorethursday #vintage#midcenturydecor



Thursday, October 29, 2015

Catcher

Wanted a lamp for the piano when I found this #mcm beauty on the shelf at the local thrift ... Half off at $3.50, the vintage mid-century "Style House #56" desk lamp features adjustable flexible joints for different positions. The black base, gold stem and hood will look great against the ebony finish of the piano. The hood and stem are made of plastic and the base is made of metal. 



The copy of 'Catcher' laying around is my hope one of the kids will get inspired and read this 1951 classic 

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Butterfly's and Eyeballs

Took a few months, but I finally found a cover at#algomanetcompany for my vintage #midcentury 2-wire butterfly chairs ($25 for frame & $22 for oversized cover). 


I placed them beneath silver prints of the kids from #artrogersphotography with a #midcenturydesign chrome plant stand and #midcentury pottery planter I picked up at auction ($10). 


The eyeball lamp is from my #SanFrancisco days on Haight Street and after rewiring and replacing the bulb fixtures works great. #zgallerie provides the faux fur throw with super fine and comfy fleece backing ...





Designed in 1938 by Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy, also known as the BKF and the Hardoy chair, this design was first mass-produced in the US by Alvar Aalto's company Artek (the name a contraction of "art" and "technology"), Knoll bought the US rights to the chair in 1947, but stopped production in 1951 because they could not sue other manufacturers for making unauthorized reproductions of the Butterfly chair.


LINKS

Monday, October 19, 2015

Nambe Score

This weeks #thriftscorethursday has gotta include the sleek, elegant Nambe candy/fruit bowl pulled from the "steel" bin at the goodwill in Marin County. She was looking pretty sad when I found her but with a bit of polish and lots of hope she soon joined the Nambe candlestick and my favorite #katespade coffee cup. 



Designed by Richard K. Thomas in 1951 the graceful swoop of the bowl embodies the #midcentury ethic with a fluid, asymmetrical flow. Both the bowl and the Nambe candlestick came home for $4.98 - thrift score !



#thriftstore #midcenturydecor #nambe#midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign#mynambe#katespadeny