Happy Halloween!

Beech-Nut Gum Advertisement from 1958
image from www.plan59.com

Just in Time for HALLOWEEN

Seemingly typical Italian ceramics until you turn them around to reveal the sinister subtext of the artwork painted upon these flask-like vessels. All with drink in hand, perhaps these drunken damsels and creepy nymph are cautionary tales against the evils of alcohol. Scary good fun!

You Go Swirl!

Most likely created in Murano's Barbini factory during it's 1950's heyday, while under the direction of Maestro Alfredo Barbini himself. The coloration is lavender and blue with a dreamy, milky opalescence. I imagine seashells may have been an inspiration here. What a magnificent centerpiece this large bowl would make.

Going Back To Cali

We are excited to discover a new artist to add to our repertoire. Signed Rushall 1973, further research finds this late artist's first name is Dayle and that he lived in the San Diego area where he was a ceramicist and art conservator. This large vessel stands 14" tall. We love the modern primitive look. If you look closely, you'll see a bird that morphs into a smiling women in relief (see top photo). It is ornately carved all around and it's earthy glaze just screams Southern Califoria circa early 70's.

Norway? Yes way!

I love repetition. There is something so visually satisfying about a group of companion pieces that form an insta-collection. There is a slight variation in theme, but the three are obviously intended to be seen as a group. These pieces have that combination of glazed and matte that I adore. From Norway c. 1960's and signed Larholm on the bottom.

Gilty Pleasures

Over-the-top can actually be quite gorgeous... such as these 1950's Italian golden accessories. They'll immediately brighten up any room and perhaps your mood.

Pitcher Perfect

These two rather tall pitchers are by the hand of Gunnar Nylund for Rörstrand (incised with his initials on the bottom). The graceful lines are reminiscent of ancient Greek Amphora with a decidedly mid-century Scandinavian twist, given the striated and mottled glaze.

I'm Bowled Over

This is one of those pieces of glass that stuns at first sight. The label identifies it as Suguso Vetri D'arte the factory established in 1933 by the family whose tradition of fine Murano glass dates back 600 years. This bowl was made during the 50's under the artistic supervision of Flavio Poli. His mastery influenced the somersso style (multi layers/colors) that became one of Suguso's signature looks. This is an impressive size and weight. It measure 7" in diameter and nearly 3" in height. It offers a prismatic light-play throughout the day.

Polar Bear Expression

It seems likely that these Polar Bears would win the "Whimsy Award", if such a title existed. They are from a California pottery company called JARU -named after the founders JAck and RUth Hirsch back in 1950. These guys were created in 1974, as identified by a mark on the side of the sculptures. Two Cute!

FLAVIO of the week

Today's object d'art is this fabulous grey sommerso decanter by Flavio Poli for Seguso Vetri d'Arte, circa 1950s. Drink it up!

Prosaic Praise

Yesterday we were pleased to make the acquaintance of a fellow blogger and admitted aesthete. Michael Todd Cohen spent quality time with shop owner Stephen Saunders to learn more about our store and the result was a beautifully written entry on his blog called Newest York:

http://newestyork.blogspot.com/2009/10/end-of-history.html

* note: above iPhone photo is Cohen's own

Thanks Michael!

Pinch Me

This three sided pinched glass vase in a rare, rich grape shade of purple is from Empoli, Italy circa 1950. The hand-made feel adds to it's organic beauty.

Deco-Rate!

2 vases by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenhagen, c.1937, the same year he showed at the World's Fair in Paris (also known as The Expo. Internationale des Arts et des Techniquesdans la vie Moderne, Paris 1937). This multi-dimensional glaze is called Solfatara, a term that references sulphur formed at the opening of a volcano.
UPDATE: The 3rd item is not actually Nils, but is also Danish and by L Hjorth, a small studio where they produced their own high quality works, perhaps influenced by the glazes of the above mentioned Thorsson.

A Boxtop Worth Saving

The word of the day is SGRAFFITO...a term of Italian origin that describes the tecnique of using a tool to scrape away the surface of plaster or ceramics for decorative effect as employed here in this beautiful Italian keepsake box.

Recommended Reading

There are a few designers that stand out as major influences of the 20th Century...one of the indisputed icons is David Hicks. Written by daughter Ashley Hicks, we get an insider perspective and a peek at his personal life in design.

It's Hurricane Season

These hand-blown cased glass pieces, in a subtle blush of pink, look great as futurist sculptural objects, but serve an old world purpose. They are actually hurricanes designed to hold taper candles. Elegant for a dining table or on a mantel.

Digging This Clam!

Never in the history of The End of History have we come across a decorative object of this size and nature. This is one giant clam! Just for sense of scale...the milk-glass pearl is about the size of a baseball...and it can be held in the hand like one too. This would be swimmingly appropriate in an upscale seafood restaurant or seaside mansion...any Hamptons readers out there?

REMINDER: See Yesterday's post for today's must-see TV.

DVR Alert

Hey...we're going to be on TV! For those in the New York area please don't miss our taped piece on the new daily lifestyle show LX TV 1st Look NY! Thanks again to our aforementioned buddy, Mr. Bravo himself, Andy Cohen...we've landed a spot on a weekly segment where he recommends his favorite finds in New York City. It airs tomorrow, Thursday October 15th, at 5pm.

Orange You Glad...

A simple still life of a spectacular burnt orange moment. The in-store styling is worth a trip to the shop. We are known equally for our merchandizing...as we are for the merchandise itself!

Now That's Italian

An Italian ceramic to celebrate Columbus Day! If this compote in chocolate brown with bronze detail isn't perfect for someone's holiday centerpiece...'forgetaboutit'!

Bubbly Bud Vase

This Absinthe green bud vase is by Kastrup, Denmark...original foil sticker in tact (not shown). By the way...A TIP for the beginner glass collector...NEVER remove foil stickers, for they allow us to date a piece and actually add value. Just do what I've done here, and turn the sticker away from view, if you are so inclined.

Tamper With This...

OK we are not encouraging smoking, butt how swellegant is this artifact from a time when smoking was the norm...think any episode of Mad Men!

Bookmark These Bookends!

Many don't realize that these heavy Murano objects serve a dual purpose. They are actually bookends. This pair (pear) is in a very hot candy apple red.

Gorgeous Granny

More deliciousness in glass. Italian from the '50's in an odd but alluring color combination of Granny Apple Green and Cornflower Blue.

Genie-us Bottles

New to the shop are these gorgeous grape colored stopper bottles. The more ornate designs make me think 'India meets Italia'.

You've Got Me Twisted

This is a fine example of what the Italians call 'Zanfirico'...the very complex glass blowing process of twisted filigree or 'Filigrana a Retortoli'. This color combination of hot pink and deep electric blue is so visually arresting that it's mesmerizing.

Happy Anniversary!

It was twelve years ago to the day that we opened shop. We thought it would be fun to share with you our very first window display. Enjoy...and here's to a dozen more!

Another Golden Nugget

This gilded shallow bowl is also from the Isle of Murano, this time from another one of the venerable names in glass...Barbini.

All That Glitters

...is GOLD at The End of History. These three are glimmering examples of glass bowls from the Seguso factory in Murano, c. 1950's.

I ♥ N Y (Magazine)

I'm never shy about sharing a great review. Here's an over-the-top positive recommendation from our always supportive friends at New York Magazine:



Of all the enticing shops on Hudson Street, the End of History is the only one that attracts the eyes with a magnetic pull. The small, two-window storefront gives way to a visual explosion of vintage glassware—azure lamps, yellow vases, deep-green hurricanes—all categorized by color. The novel approach to arrangement is only a fraction of the allure here: 10,000 vintage pieces make up the world's largest, international collection of mid-century glass and ceramic ware. (The store does sell a few pieces of mid-century furniture, too, but as owner Stephen Saunders is quick to tell, "the primary focus is the glassware.") Saunders will look "anywhere that wasn't communist in the fifties or sixties" to ensure that his collection continues to wow his patrons. Since its opening in 1997, the store remains a favorite of obsessive sophisticates of all sorts: top-notch decorators, shelter editors, West Village townhouse owners, and anyone else who treasures, say, Murano chandeliers or Blenko decanters. — Caroline Callahan, New York Magazine

Power of Towers

Featured here once before, but worth a second mention as our collection has since multiplied. These are models for German Radio/TV Towers. All are hand lathed as architectural renderings to be used by designers and city planners for proposed communications towers. These are not your tourist type souvenirs. These are the real deal. Some may have remained unrealized plans while others came to glorious full fruition. Notice the tower with the sphere...the actual tower can be found in Berlin.