mid century

Vintage Starburst / Sunburst decorative wall clock by Seth Thomas, Scotland circa 1960’s

June 12, 2013Clocks1960's, afterglow, brighton, decorative clock, leaf motif, mid century, retro, seth thomas, starburst clock, sunburst clock, vintage, Wall Clock, wrought ironafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Great Vintage Starburst / Sunburst decorative wall clock by Seth Thomas, Scotland circa 1960’s.

A Fantastic unusual design by this renowned maker of high quality clocks, especially known for their large mid century teak starburst wall clocks.
This rare design is very decorative, with its black metal ‘rays’ elegantly curved and looped at the ends. Embellished with leaves in a burnished copper / gold effect. The face has large printed Roman numerals and an ornate patterned line drawing in the centre.
Very bold, striking, elegant and easy to read, practical and beautiful!

Would make a Wonderful statement piece for any retro, vintage, mid century, atomic, Eames, 1950’s, 60’s, minimal or contemporary styled interior.

Fitted with a brand new Quartz mechanism and hands, battery operated with 1 x 1.5V / AA battery, not included.

In Excellent Condition, no marks or scratches. Fully Working.

Measures 55 x 55 x 4cm / 21.5 x 21.5 x 1.5in.

Iron and glass candelabra, made by Ystad Metall, Sweden circa 1960’s

June 10, 2013Furniture, Glass1960's, art glass, candelabra, candleholder, danish modern, erik hoglund, green, gunnar ander, kosta boda, mid century, modernist, retro, Scandinavian, sweden, vintage, wrought iron, ystad metallafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Stunning candleholder / candelabra, made by Ystad Metall, Sweden circa 1960’s.

Designed by Gunnar Ander for Ystad Metall, the glass blocks were made by Kosta Boda, their style and the whole piece are often attributed to Erik Hoglund.

A Wonderful form, very modernist and sharing attributed of Danish Modern and Scandinavian aesthetics, but inspired by Swedish folk art styles.
The black wrought iron frame has four candleholders sitting atop branches of the candelabra, all balanced on a four legged base.
The inserted blocks of thick coloured blown glass in a vibrant emerald green have a polished pontil like surface texture. Very much in the style of the renowned pieces by Erik Hoglund for Kosta Boda during this era.

Would look Fantastic in any mid century, modernist, Scandinavian, Danish Modern, 50’s, 60’s, retro, vintage, minimal or contemporary styled interior.

In Excellent Condition, some light scratches inside the candle wells from use, not visible on display. One of the arms has a slight bend which must be from production.

Measures 32.5 x 27 x 15cm / 12.75 x 10.5 x 6in.

Stamped mark to one of the legs ‘Ystad Metall Made in Sweden’.

Aquarium art glass paperweight, Murano, Italy circa 1960’s

June 6, 2013Glass1960's, afterglowretro, alfredo barbini, aquarium, art glass, brighton, cenedese, kitsch, mid century, Murano, Paperweight, retro, riccardo licata, seascene, Venetian Glass, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Stunning Aquarium / Seascene art glass paperweight, made in Murano, Venice, Italy circa 1960’s / 1970’s. Unlabelled possibly by Cenedese.

A Beautiful piece of Venetian art glass, the large clear glass paperweight has a tapered barrel like form, wonderfully smooth and rounded.
Inside is an amazing underwater seascene / aquarium with 6 fish swimming around a coral reef.
Incredibly skilled craftsmanship on display, the blue glass coral is embellished with bright colours, spirals organically and trails off into wispy vortexes.

Very similar to the renowned Cenedese aquariums blocks by Alfredo Barbini and Riccardo Licata.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of Murano / Italian / European Art Glass, and would complement any retro, vintage, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, mid century, kitsch, minimalist or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, no marks, chips or scratches other than the usual age related wear to the base, not noticeable and doesn’t detract on display.

Measures 11 x 7 x 7cm / 4.5 x 2.75 x 2.75in. Weighing approx 800 grams.

Vintage Florentine leather backed pottery, Italy circa 1960’s

May 23, 2013Ceramics, Collectables1960's, alla moda, Bowl, coccio, desimone, dish, fantoni, florence, florentine, italian pottery, italy, leather backed, mid century, pip rest, retro, sgraffito, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

Theses designs are typical of the ouput of the potteries in and around Florence during the mid century era, the sgraffito and highly coloured and glazed motifs resembling Marcello Fantoni’s work. All leather backed, and their small size and novelty value made them popular gifts and souvenirs and were widely exported. The pipe rest is a rare and unusual piece with its sloping curved form, the smallest bowl is signed ‘Coccio.

All 3 pieces are available over at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/afterglowretro

Vallauris ‘Fat Lava’ studio pottery vase, France circa 1960’s

May 19, 2013Ceramics1960's, abstract, afterglow retro, brighton, ceramics, fat lava, france, french pottery, mediterranean, mid century, picasso, retro, studio pottery, vallauris, Vase, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Stunning Vallauris Studio pottery vase, France circa 1960’s.

Characteristic of Studio pieces of the era from this region, with the classical double handled form, and the very crusty volcanic glaze in turquoise over a white base. Highlighted with flamelike drip glossy glazes in red and orange.

Very similar to ‘Fat Lava’ decors from Germany, very Striking and Vibrant with its coral like appearance and contrasting glossy ‘flame’. A Real Statement piece of European Art Pottery.

Vallauris is a pottery region in south-eastern France, Picasso lived here from 1948 – 55 and greatly contributed to the renaissance of the pottery industry, this legendary golden age when everyone was a potter, including famous ceramicists Roger Capron and Charles Voltz. His influence is clearly seen in the abstracted forms of pieces such as this vase.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of European studio pottery, and would complement Vallauris or Fat Lava pieces. A perfect vase for any retro, vintage, 1950’s, 1960’s, kitsch, mid century modern, modernist or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, a few of the bubbles may be ‘burst’ due to the extreme crusty glaze, pictured are one on the rim and base. They do not detract from the overall ‘Fat Lava’ look. The glossy glazes are crazing free, no chips or cracks!

Measures 27 x 15 x 15cm / 10.5 x 6 x 6in.

Murano sommerso glass deer, Venice, Italy circa 1950’s / 60’s

May 16, 2013Glass1950's, 1960's, avem murano, bambi, barbini, cenedese, deer, fawn, flavio poli, glass animal, italy, kitsch, mid century, murano glass, retro, seguso, sommerso glass, toso, venice, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Beautiful glass deer figurine, made in Murano, Venice, Italy circa 1950’s / 60’s.

A Wonderful piece, the stylised deer / fawn / bambi figure has great detailing from the graceful legs to the pointy ears, bushy tail to ball nose!
All in a Fantastic Sommerso glass in red, yellow and clear glass. Catches the light amazingly through the colours and curves.

A Striking example showing the skill and craftsmanship of the glassmakers of Murano. Similar pieces were made by Cenedese, Seguso, AVeM, Flavio Poli and Fratelli Toso, and this is very reminiscent of the styles and output of the era.

Would make a Stunning addition to any collection of Murano / Italian / Art glass, and would complement any retro, vintage, 50’s, 60’s, mid century, modernist, kitsch or contemporary styled interior.

In Excellent Condition, no marks, chips or scratches.

Measures 19 x 14.5 x 7cm / 7.5 x 5.75 x 2.75in.

Pair of Vintage Kokeshi Dolls, Japan, circa 1950’s

May 10, 2013Collectables1950's, antique japan, collectables, dento, dolls, geisha doll, japan, japanese dolls, kokeshi, mid century, retro, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

These are a Wonderful Pair of Vintage Kokeshi Dolls / Figures, Japan, circa 1950’s.

A Traditional Japanese wooden doll, hand carved and painted, with a nodding ball head on top of a cylindrical body in the Dento (traditional) Kokeshi style from Northern Japan.

Each piece is beautifully decorated with a simple face and hair and the bodies have pictures of a Japanese Prince and a Geisha with Japanese lettering.

Lovely pieces that showcase Japanese traditional skill and craftsmanship, and are also reminiscent of the mid century era, with their stylised nature and form.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of Japanese art / craft, and would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, Asian, Japanese, minimal or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, a few light marks and small flakes to the paint commensurate with age, nothing to detract.

Measuring each 10 x 3 x 3cm / 4 x 1.25 x 1.25in.

Picasso style Mediterranean Sun wall plaque by La Musa, Italy circa 1960’s

May 3, 2013Ceramics1960's, desimone, face, italian pottery, italy, la musa, mediterranean, mid century, palermo, picasso, plaque, plate, retro, sicily, sun, vintageafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Beautiful Colourful Italian wall plaque / plate by La Musa, Italy circa 1960’s.

A Fantastic bright design, with a highly stylised image of the Mediterranean sun. Its broad brush strokes, flat panes of colour, bold outlines and Cubist style are very similar to the paintings of Picasso and Matisse.

La Musa, Palermo, Sicily founded in 1949 along with the renowned Desimone pottery produced fabulous pieces bearing this hallmark style, so reminiscent of the region and the mid century era.

A Wonderful plaque for wall hanging, or for use as a bright addition to any table centrepiece. A Great addition to any collection of Italian, Mediterranean or European studio pottery. Would add a splash of colour to any retro, vintage, mid century, 60’s or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, two chips to the glaze on the rim, do not detract on display.

Measures 25 x 25 x 3cm / 10 x 10 x 1.25in.

Printed marks to the back are mostly worn off, there is a hole for wall hanging in the rim.

Jean de Lespinasse Ceramic Handled Vase, Nice, France circa 1960’s

April 14, 2013Ceramicsbrighton, capron, european pottery, flowers, france, french ceramic, french pottery, Jean de Lespinasse, lady, madoura, mid century, nice, orange, picasso, pop art, retro, studio pottery, vallauris, Vase, vintageafterglowretro One comment

This is a Beautiful and Rare French ceramic handled vase by Jean de Lespinasse, Nice, France circa late 1950’s / early 1960’s.

Jean de Lespinasse was a French ceramicist who worked from a studio in Nice on the French Riviera. His work was sold in Paris, Vallauris and abroad, his contemporaries included Roger Capron, Madoura with Picasso and Robert Picault.

A Wonderful form, very chunky and heavy, with its pinched waist and flared rim complemented by the thick elegantly curved handle.

In a bright glossy orange glaze, contrasted by the black interior, decorated with a beautiful stylised image of a lady surrounded by flowers, very reminiscent in style of the 50’s / 60’s era.

Would make a Fantastic addition to any collection of French Studio Art pottery, European / Vallauris ceramics, and would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, 50’s, 60’s, pop art, minimal or contemporary styled interior.

In Great Condition, a couple of small missing glaze chips on the rim, pictured, nothing to detract from the overall stunning look.

Measures 25 x 20 x 16cm / 10 x 8 x 6.25in. Hand signed to the base JDL 402.

This is a substantial chunky vase weighing almost 2kg, overseas bidders please enquire for a courier postage cost, reductions available on combined shipping.

Smalto roccia & sgraffito wall plaque, Ceramiche Giulianelli, San Marino, Italy circa 1960’s

April 14, 2013Ceramics60's, alla moda, ceramiche giulianelli, collectable, fat lava, italian ceramics, italian pottery, italy, mid century, retro, san marino, sgraffito, smalto roccia, vintage, wall plaqueafterglowretro Leave a comment

This is a Lovely decorative wall plaque made by Ceramiche Giulianelli, San Marino, Italy circa 1960’s.

A Fantastic design, the white ceramic slip moulded plaque is decorated with a smalto roccia (rock glaze) very similar to a Fat Lava glaze, this represents the cliffs and mountains of San Marino. This is embellished with an incised sgraffito pattern of Mediterranean buildings, colourfully hand painted with enamelled glossy glazes.

Would make a Great addition to any collection of Italian ceramics, Fat Lava or European pottery, and would complement any retro, vintage, mid century, kitsch, 1960’s, Mediterranean or contemporary interior.

In Great Condition, a little crazing commensurate with age, the slip mould is rough and unrefined as this is how they were made, no chips or cracks.

Marked to the base Ceramica Giulianelli Rep. S. Marino.

Measures 25 x 8.5 x 2.4cm / 10 x 3.5 x 1in.