THE ITEM
These elegant works of Scandinavian mid-century Modern design are by Swedish designer Gunnar Ander for Ystad Metall. Ystad Metall was founded in Sweden in 1833 and came to produce some of the most notable designs in bronze and brass home accessories of the twentieth century.
This set of three candleholders comprises of two with a single stylised floral bobeches (glass collars) with brass leaf accented stems and one with a double bobeche. The candleholders each take a taper candle measuring c. 12 mm / 1.2 cm / 0.5".
CONDITION
Excellent. There are no chips, scratches or cracks to the glass, only mild surface wear and the brass also has mild age wear that is commensurable with age. Age wear can be polished if preferred or kept for vintage charm. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the single-bobeche candleholders are marked with 'Ystad-Metall MADE IN SWEDEN' and company logo. The underside of the dual-headed candleholder bears a layer of green felting.
MEASUREMENTS
- Single Bobeche Candleholder, height: c. 3.5" / 9 cm (from rim of tallest bobeche to base) x c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm diameter (across bobeche widest point). Brass stand diameter: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm
- Double Bobeche Candleholder, height: c. 4.3" / 11 cm (from rim of tallest bobeche to base) x c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm diameter (across widest points). Brass stand diameter: c. 2.6" / 6.5 cm.
Unpackaged weight [Full Set]: c. 0.5 kg / 543g
NOTES
Set will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Ystad Metall was originally founded in Sweden in 1833, however, it was during the decades before and after World War II that some of their most iconic designs were developed. In the late 1930’s, Ivar Ålenius-Björk (b. 1905 - d. 1978) designed what would become the company’s most iconic and timeless product, the “Liljan” candlestick, for the 1939 World’s Fair
Gunnar Ander (1908 - 1976) was a Swedish designer and architect. Ander's was hired by Erik Hovhammar from Lindshammars Glassworks to develop a new design profile to differentiate them from the competition. He worked alongside with Ystad Metall, where he designed wrought iron and other art objects. Ander's candelabras from the fifties elegantly captures the spirit of that time. He continued his work at Lindshammars and Ystad Metall (later Scandia Present AB ) until his death in 1976.
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This joyful work of mid-century handblown art glass is by Japanese art glass studio Kamei glassworks. There is an air of graceful elegance in its form, particularly with the hot-worked unfurling and rippling rim that is seminal to Kamei's glass art expertise. The form of the main body proudly displays the evenly curved segments with the overlapping Cobalt Blue interwoven with the White.
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or cracks or repairs, with few and mild movement marks on the underside of the vase base that is commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.7" / 14.5 cm (base to rim) Rim measurements: c. 5.2" / 13.2 cm x c. 4.9" / 12.5 cm (across widest points). Base diameter: c. 2" / 5 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.4 kg / 360 g.
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Fun fact: the literal translation of the word 'Kamei' is 'Turtle well' and is, in fact, a Japanese surname. The Kamei glassworks was founded in Osaka, Japan in the 1910s.
Sadly, little is known about the glass artists resident at the glassworks. Perhaps it is due to the language barrier but it is well known amongst the avid glass collectors community that there are many Chinese and Japanese glassmakers whose skill and techniques rival the famous Murano, Czech and Scandinavian makers of the Western world. The styles in which the glass was produced were similar to that of their Western counterparts but like all things, they had subtle differences, such as the finishing technique and colour palettes (a tendency for more vivid colours).
This outstanding work of mid-century handblown art glass is of Japanese art glass design and by the well known Japanese glassworks of Iwatsu who were known to have produced art glass under the labels of Hineri and Art Glass.
There is an air of graceful elegance in the form of this piece and has accents that are similar to a dish from the Fantasy series by another well known Japanese art glass studio Sanyu. The form of the main body proudly displays the evenly curved and organically shaped segments which alternate between curling and unfurling. The palette of this piece is a combination of Raspberry pink, Grape purple, Blueberries and Blueberry Soda blue. The colour palette combined with the form makes this piece a rare find.
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips or cracks or repairs, the most considerable age-wear are movement marks and flakes that are on the underside of the base and are commensurable with age. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base has a concave pontil that is a known finishing touch of Iwatsu.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm (base to rim) Length/Width: c. 9.3" / 23.5 cm x c. 9.3" / 23.5 cm (across widest point). Base measurements: c. 4.3" / 11 cm x c. 4.3" / 11 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.3 kg / 1,260 g
NOTES
Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Iwatsu Glassworks
Unfortunately, little is known about Iwatsu despite being one of the largest glassmakers in Japan, the commonly cited and understood reason is due to language barriers. However, Iwatsu is deemed to have produced art glass under the Hineri and Art Glass labels before closing in the 1990s. Iwatsu were known to have been based in Osaka in Japan, producing colourful art glass during the 1970s. The quality and style of their work rivalled and is often mistaken for, Italian Murano glass and Czech glass from the same period.
This majestic work of English studio art pottery piece is of English Art Deco design, with a colour palette of Monet's 'Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt' oil painting.
Beautifully sculptural and seemingly simple, this piece is a manifestation of the significant technique needed to result in its evenly-formed body and iconically Art Deco handle. The Art Deco accents appear most prominently in softly geometric, arching yet organic handle, with a flow-through of the inscribed lines and the graduating body. The hand-painted, silky, semi-matte glaze décor is a beautiful blending of brown tones in Light Walnut, Bronze, Sepia, Sand with deeper brown tones of Raw Umber, Fig, Dark Sienna, and green tones of Powdered Sage, Pale Olive.
This piece has a gracefully elegant presence, is an embodiment of English Art Deco design from c. 90 years ago and its exceptional condition makes it a rare find.
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, cracks or repairs. Mentioned for completeness; there is mild crazing all over that is consistent with the age of the piece. Please see photographs as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the base bears the inscriptions of the model number '258 L' and 'Rd No 788313' [Registered Number] that dates the piece to c. 1933.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 13.2" / 33.5 cm by c. 2.6" / 6.6 cm rim diameter. Width c. 5.3" / 13.5 cm (across widest point) Base measurements: c. 4" / 10.1 cm diameter. Weight: c. 1.1 kg / 1,085 g
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
Wade Ceramics 1867 - present
Wade Ceramics was originally founded in 1867, in Burslem, England, a collective of different pottery companies that specialised in earthenware and porcelain.
The original companies were
- Wade & Myatt (later became George Wade & Son, which made industrial ceramics and Wade Whimsies). Established 1867.
- John Wade & Co (later Wade Heath & Co, which made decorative ware, particularly Art Deco vases in the 1930s). Established 1867.
- J & W Wade (later AJ Wade Ltd, which made tiles, notably the original tiles for the London Underground). Established 1891.
Wade made its way into history with its figure collection known as Wade Whimsies that became hugely popular in the UK and America in the 1950s.
THE ITEM
This chic and sleek work of mid-century Modernist design is by Oberhessische (Upper Hessian) Keramik by Walter Becht KG, Schlitz, Germany.
Crafted from white clay, the abstract form features the softly rounded angles of a sliced segment. The simple but elegant form makes this an excellent piece for the beautiful glaze. The matte exterior glaze is smooth, speckled Powdered Blue with a flowing layer halfway down the vase body.
This elegant piece would suit a Minimalist, Modernist or even Contemporary decor themed room.
CONDITION
Excellent. No chips, damage or repairs. There is mild use and surface wear that is most evident in movement marks on the underside of the base. The underside of the vase bears the model and height number of '188/20'.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 7.8" / 20 cm x length: c. 5.5" / 14 cm). Width: c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm. Rim opening: c. 1.2" / 3 cm x c. 1.7" / 4.3 cm. Base measurements: c. 2.2" / 5.5 cm x c. 5.1" / 13 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.7 kg / 675 g
NOTES
Vase will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Unfortunately, little is known about Oberhessische Keramik, Walter Becht KG and the oldest known documentation about the company dates from 1969. Their designs are often misattributed as Jopeko. Known designs by Becht are vases produced in the 1970s in Selenium red and Cadmium yellow. It is also known that glazes were made by the Manz firm in Cologne. Becht closed its doors in 2010.
A wonderfully Modernist piece of sculpted Italian stoneware with design inspiration taken from the Adriatic sea, off the coast of Rimini in Italy and hence the series name Rimini.
The glaze and the series which subsequently grew from it has become iconic and most highly collectable in Aldo Londis' work. The tones of Old Gold, Goldenrod and Espresso Brown in gloss glaze of this piece are a rarer variation to the more commonly found blues and greens in the Rimini Blu version of the series.
The geometric decor is very tactile, with shapes and lines etched into the clay during the crafting process. The glaze displays strokes of colour blended together finished with a glossy smooth glaze that is interspersed with coarse grit in the clay.
This piece additionally features Kintsugi golden seams following careful repairing and highlighting. The Kintsugi technique is modern and has been applied in a tactile manner, a gentle compliment to the tones of gold and brown in the glaze.
CONDITION
Excellent. This piece has been carefully repaired using a robust water-resistant and durable resin. There is natural wear that is most prominent on the undersides of the hooves and some gentle crazing is also present in the glaze which is commensurable with the age of the piece. Please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report. The underside of the belly is also marked with the model number of '45145/626' and 'ITALY' and an additional written inscription of 1965 on one hoof.
MEASUREMENTS
Height: c. 5.9" / 15 cm (ears to base) x c. 6.1" / 15.5 cm length (tail to nose). Width: c. 3.6 / 9.1 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 0.8 kg / 790 g
NOTES
Sculpture will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured. Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
Bitossi Ceramiche - Aldo Londi After World War II, master ceramist Aldo Londi (1911-2003) became the creative director of Bitossi Ceramiche, a position he held for more than 50 years. Londi apprenticed in ceramics at the young age of 11 and brought a deep expertise in traditional ceramics production to Bitossi.
He’s best known for his 1950s-era collection, the Rimini series (1955-1965). This iconic mid-century modern series contains over 150 designs, including bowls, vases, jugs and animal figurines, all glazed in a vibrant blue hue and embossed with abstract motifs and shapes.
Londi created the first piece glazed in Persiano Blue, the Ball Vase, in 1955. Shortly after in 1959, he began to create more pieces in the proprietary glaze. The collection holds historical importance because it helped to bring handcrafted and expressive works into the modernist design conversation in Italy.
Kintsugi is a Japanese philosophy with similarities to the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi, which includes ideas surrounding the embracing of the flawed or imperfect. The art of Kintsugi ("golden joinery") is the repairing of broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The aesthetics of this philosophy values breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
THE ITEM
This beautiful sculptural work of Modernist hand-blown art glass is from the Romana series by glass artist Hana Machovska for Mstisov glassworks, Czechoslovakia.
The form is gracefully undulating with soft curves, bearing a lilting Sommerso technique which draws together the different colours with the final shape being a rarer find. The colour palette is composed of a vibrant yet subtle amorphous disc of Salmon red which sits opposite the band of striking Cobalt blue, both of which is encased in a Golden amber.
This exquisite piece brings stunning elegance, a tactile form that invites touch and is also very capable of releasing dazzling refractions, as can be seen in the photos. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
CONDITION
Superb. There are no cracks or repairs. There is light wear predominantly in the form of movement marks and one chip on the underside of the base, please refer to photos as they form part of the condition report.
MEASUREMENTS
Height c. 3.2" / 8.2 cm x Length: c. 11.2" / 28.5 cm (across longest point) x Width: c. 6.9" / 17.6 cm (across the widest point). Base measurements: c. 3" / 7.6 cm x c. 1.9" / 4.8 cm. Unpackaged weight: c. 1.7 kg / 1,746 g
NOTES
Dish will be securely packaged and shipping will be insured.
Shipping will be combined for multiple items.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The Mstisov glassworks, originally named Eintrachthutte, was founded in 1868 by F. Fischmann & Sons. At first they made glass rods for the jewellery industry, and later expanded into tableware. Frantisek Zemek became chief designer in the 1950's, and was probably best known for his 'Rhapsody' series.
The 'Romana' series also became an iconic series of glassware for Mstisov, designed by Modernist glass artist Hana Machovska. Mstisov would go on to become part of the Borske Sklo National Corporation in 1958.
Sommerso (Literal translation 'submerged' in Italian) is the renowned Murano technique that features two or more layers of contrasting colours before a final encasing in an often clear outer layer of glass. The layers are created by dipping coloured glass into molten glass and then blowing the combination into the desired shape. Sommerso was developed in Murano during the late 1930s with master glass artists such as Flavio Poli being well-known for using this technique as well as being made popular by Seguso Vetri d'Arte and the Mandruzzato family in the 1950s.