A journal of fine arts, modernist design, and thrift shop archaeology. http://www.sllab.net/index.html Copyright Scott Lindberg. All rights reserved. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:43:02 -0600 scott@sllab.net Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:44:51 -0600 scott@sllab.net FeedForAll Mac v2.1 (2.1.0.1); http://www.FeedForAll.com/ 2.5 Quart Pot
Copco
Japan, 1975-6
10.0 x 8.0 x 5.25"
Aluminum
Manufacturer's mark with designer's name



I haven't talked about Michael Lax much lately, so this find is a fun way to welcome the new year. Lax's line of aluminum cookware seems difficult to find, this being only the second piece I ever remember seeing in a thrift store, and that rarity is probably due to the short span of its manufacturer. Introduced in 1975 (or 1976, reports conflict) and then disappearing from Copco catalogs in about 1980, this line was only available for 5 years at most.

In my opinion, this line is one of Lax's crowning achievements in industrial design. The form is pure and the material honest, and I can't help but think about beautiful art deco era machinery when I see it. It almost appears to be a 1930s industrial manifold of some sort! And although it doesn't hold the cache with Modern cookware collectors that Jens Quistgaard's line of lacquerware does, I think it easily equals that aesthetic. It's simply beautiful.

Happy New Year!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000491.html 741BCDB5-83A0-4F17-A737-0C637B708ED7-12956-0000A3346ECA655E-FFA Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:42:58 -0600 American Modern sherbets
Old Morgantown Glassware Guild, Inc.
USA, 1951
3.75 x 3.75 x 2.75"
Glass
Unsigned



The weeks leading up to Christmas tend to be some of the driest thrift shopping days of the year, in my experience. In fact, all winter long good finds are typically sparse ... at least until spring cleaning season starts. With all this busy-ness surrounding the holidays, it's no wonder. I'm sure donations decline as folks spend their time decorating their houses, baking sweets, and populating big-box retail looking for that perfect gift. But I still thrift.

And today it paid off with this wonderful set of four American Modern sherbets in Seafoam. The color actually reminds me a lot of the giant pine tree behind my parent's house when I was growing up, and it seems to me to be a perfect holiday color. I can't wait to use them to serve rice pudding to my family on Christmas Eve. That is, as long as Kate is planning rice pudding as part of our menu this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one ...

Happy Holidays everyone!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000490.html 8698A6C4-5B44-45FB-835C-9BFF6EE1AA8F-41493-0002FDB84D1A6EDD-FFA Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:04:11 -0600 P139 square tray
Marshall Studios
USA, 1957
4 x 4 x 1"
Glazed ceramic
Hand signed



This morning was a total thrift shopping bust. With over 100 miles round trip added to my car's ever-growing odometer readout and visits top more than a half dozen thrift shops, I had come away empty-handed yet again. So in defeat I grabbed a quick bite of lunch and headed towards home.

But as I pulled back into Champaign, I still didn't feel like I was done for the day. "One more stop," I told myself, as I headed toward my favorite thrift shop here in town. And it turns out that was a good decision!

The great hand painted decoration and dark sandy-textured clay points to this being fairly early production for Marshall Studios. Sure, it has a chip on the corner, but for a piece like this, I'm willing to turn a blind eye to an imperfection like that. If it were a more prominent shape and in better condition, it might have actually made up for the terrible luck I had earlier in the day. It doesn't quite reach that mark for me, but I'm pleased to own another piece of Jane and Gordon Martz's wonderful Midwestern Modernist pottery in any case.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000489.html AE9C7F10-459D-4A6B-99C6-D90A77AF412E-11160-0000DC4AE4FF44BD-FFA Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:04:08 -0600 Town and Country mixing bowl
Red Wing Potteries, Inc.
USA, 1947
10.0" x 8.25" x 5.0"
Glazed ceramic
Unsigned



Today I had planned hitting the road to visit some rural IL thrift stores, but as I was on my way out of town I spotted a sign for an estate sale. As I drove past I didn't notice any line of people waiting to go in, so I pulled over on a whim. It was a lucky decision!

To be honest, the sale was kind of a dud. The pricing was terrible, the stuff was dirty, and the house reeked of stale cigarettes mixd with who-knows-what into an almost unbearable stench. I braved on.

And there in the kitchen, amidst the dirty pots and pans ... the cloudy glassware ... the mismatched utensils ... was this Eva Zeisel Town and Country mixing bowl! Hallelujah! And better yet, the people running the sale obviously had no idea what they were doing. if they had dome any research, they might have learned that this incredible and exuberant form was indeed worth more than a mediocre cup of coffee even despite the bit of wear and tear it had endured over its long life. Fortunately for me they didn't know that.

And it was fortunate for my friend Steve, too. It'll be going home with him at Thanksgiving. I don't need another mixing bowl. Especially one that can't be used. I'm glad someone I trust will give it a good home was willing to take on that responsibility.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000488.html F43914A1-1709-4064-9876-11BC91192155-39671-0002D7E4462C943F-FFA Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:50:04 -0500 St. Louis bicentennial tray
Higgins Glass Studio
USA, 1964
7 x 3.5 x 0.5"
Glass
Facsimile signature



It's been several years since I've seen any Higgins glass "in the wild" ... and the last time it was at an estate sale, and not a thrift shop. I think the one thing that really interests me about Higgins is that they're creators of Modernist design right here in the country's heartland: Chicago Illinois. Costal collectors of Modernism sometimes write off the Midwest as simply the emptiness between New York and California, failing to realize the rich culture of Modernism happening here in the mid-twentieth century. We had Higgins making glass here in Illinois, Marshall Studios with ceramics and textiles in Indianapolis, scads of potters in Ohio, and so many more. Higgins was just a small part of that culture, so every time I see a piece I'm reminded of our heritage. And it's good to remember!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000487.html B3503796-0607-448F-90D8-11B82931B6BE-35230-00027053981EE504-FFA Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:06:56 -0500 American Modern wine glasses
Old Morgantown Glassware Guild, Inc.
USA, 1951
2.75 x 2.75 x 3.25"
Glass
Unsigned



This past weekend was the first annual #ThriftBreak meetup ... a gathering of like-minded folks from Twitter who thrift shop for midcentury modern and vintage decorative arts just like me. It also happened to fall on my birthday, and the thrift gods decided to give me a gift: four wine glasses designed by Russel Wright for his American Modern line. And not only that ... but they were in the rare clear glass Wright called Crystal. Zowie! What a present!

But the truth is they almost slipped through my fingers. I spent the first hour or so we were in this one shop digging through cartons upon cartons of records looking for great examples of midcentury graphic design to stock my shop, New Documents. I did walk rather briskly through housewares a couple times, finding bits and pieces for a couple of the other folks who had joined us, but all I had were records until we were just abut wrapping up and heading out to the next stop on our itinerary. At about the hour and a half mark I took one final, and slower, stroll through the glass aisle ... and that's when I found these babies. Literally only a couple minutes after explaining to someone that I only buy Wright American Modern glass in thrifts and not any other glassware lines. As far as thrift finds go, it certainly made for a happy birthday!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000486.html 7AD24394-F813-4CAE-B18E-6223033E5625-16097-0001166DAAF7ED6F-FFA Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:44:43 -0500 Tea towel
The Vera Companies
USA, c. 1965
16 x 29"
Screenprinted linen
Facsimile signature


It has been a while since I've found any Vera tea towels, so I'm always happy to add another one to our little collection. I'm especially pleased because we don't have any of this design yet.

I'm considering this find the lead in to a week long picking' extravaganza that will culminate on Saturday in Chicago with a group of friends and acquaintances from Twitter, where we are gathering for the first annual (I hope) #ThriftBreak meetup! If you're not familiar with the #ThriftBreak hash tag, it all started when a few of us like minded thrift shopping Twitter'ers started sharing our thrift shopping scores as we found them, using our cellphone cameras live from the store to show what we got and sometimes ask for help with designer attributions. And now we even have a Facebook Group too.

The number of folks using the #ThriftBreak tag has grown quite a bit, and it'll be fun to get together with a few of them this weekend to see what we can find together and to share stories of our successes and disappointments. If you're interested in attending, please let me know ASAP so I can send you info about the meetup. It'll be starting off in the Chicago 'burbs at 7:30 am and culminate with a dinner at one of our member's family's homes. It should be a great time!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000485.html 91865140-66B8-4068-9B15-27BB07843673-3544-00004EFDE1C93F34-FFA Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:52:28 -0500 American Modern water tumblers
Old Morgantown Glassware Guild, Inc.
USA, 1951
2.75 x 2.75 x 4.5"
Glass
Unsigned


When I saw these tumblers in the junk shop this afternoon their size struck me as being strange. I thought they might be American Modern juice tumblers, but they seemed larger than I remembered. So when I got home to compare them to the other tumblers in our collection I was pleasantly surprised ... they are the less common water glasses! Measuring in at four and a half inches tall, they fall exactly between the larger iced tea and smaller juice sizes. And to find a nice set of six was a great bonus!

They were extremely grimy when I found them, but after a quick bath they sparkle just like new again. Now I just have to reorganize out china cabinet to hopefully make room. Our American Modern glassware collection is approaching 70 pieces with these new additions, and we're quickly reaching our capacity!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000483.html 8E85A68F-0FE6-4DAF-87AE-B6438C1FFE9A-65794-0002D8C45A4FF335-FFA Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:17:04 -0500 The Golden Book of Biology
Western Publishing Company, Inc.
USA, 1967
8.25 x 11.25 x 0.5"
Printed and bound paper
Publishers information on title page


A simple yet bold statement: this is easily my best find of 2011 up to this point.

As I was shopping over lunchtime today, I ran into a friend who owns the local midcentury modern shop. We chatted a minute and went our separate ways, I'm sure both hoping we were going to be the first one to spot all the goodies in the shop. After several minutes, I noticed a beautiful pair of 1970s Polaroid cameras on a shelf he hadn't visited yet. Knowing I had no use for them, I brought them to his attention. he was thrilled. I got some thrift karma.

After a couple more minutes, I stumbled on this beauty of a book! The Golden Book of Biology is arguably Charley Harper's most desirable title. It is large, and chock fill of his fantastic illustrations. But when I opened to the title page and saw that it was hand-signed by Harper himself, I instantly knew how great this find was.

I'll post more photos of this beautiful edition in a few days to the blog on Ars Longa. It definitely deserves much more space than what I can offer here in the "finds" section.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000482.html EC9C4755-D4F7-4D28-829E-AB2BF9E8C8A1-65794-0002D8BE7703082B-FFA Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:18:13 -0500 DAT desk chair
Herman Miller, Inc.
USA, c. 1958
25 x 21 x 33"
Aluminum, fiberglass & upholstery
Manufacturer's label


Finding anything Eames in a thrift shop is always a thrill, but I haven't seen an Eames chair available in longer than I can remember. I love the versatility of the DAT, with a base featuring both the ability to tilt and swivel. I think this one might even replace my lovely Saarinen desk chair, which is nice but too low for my taste and in need of a new covering (or at least some repairs). Plus the Eames DAT matches our other desk chair, which is upholstered in blue vinyl and Alexander Girard wool. Which would you choose?]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000481.html 17B7A1A1-B6C8-4AF4-BCAF-22EC069CFA44-2523-000031D1F39DDC32-FFA Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:54:24 -0500 American Modern ramekins
Steubenville Pottery
USA, 1939
5.5 x 5.5 x 2.5"
Glazed ceramic
Unmarked


I haven't purchased a piece of American Modern dinnerware in a thrift shop since 2007. Not because I don't ever see it, but because long ago I decided to only collect Wright's Casual China line and leave other pieces for other thrifters. But sometimes I just can't pass an example up, and today is just such an instance.

When it comes down to it, American Modern ramekins are rare. And on those few instance when I have happened to see them for sale on eBay or in the higher end Midcentury Modern shops that specialize in dinnerware, they've usually been in more common colors like Granite Gray or Coral. I consider finding them In Wright's Black Chutney glaze akin to picking the proverbial needle out of the haystack. It was a find that made my heart skip just a little ... which is why I brought them home with me.

Now I just have to find a home for them with a collector who will appreciate them as much (or more) than I do. Just because they came home doesn't mean they'll be staying here. Our cupboards are more a halfway house for American Modern dinnerware than a permanent residence, and unfortunately they need to stay that way.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000480.html 7A497891-B1DA-4097-B8C9-6684F0FC134B-5998-0004F3096F781CCD-FFA Mon, 30 May 2011 14:14:45 -0500 Napkins
The Vera Companies
USA, c. 1965
16 x 16"
Screenprinted linen
Facsimile signature


Apparently there are seasons for Vera textiles. And I don't mean appropriate times of the year when you should use them for your table settings. I mean times of year when they are more abundant than others. A month ago I wrote about a scarf ... in fact, the first Vera scarf I had seen in months.

And then the floodgates opened. Over the past few weeks we've found dozens of Vera linens. Mostly scarves, but also this nice pair of linen napkins. Our drawers are bursting with Vera napkins, but we always buy more when we see them. Either as a matched set, or mix-and-match they really are fun for spring and summer get-togethers. (So I guess there is a season we use them, too).

I'll chalk this recent spate of good luck up to thrift stores rotating in their "summer" merchandise. And I'll keep on buying and buying and buying as much as I see. Look for a big cache to appear in my Flickr gallery of Vera scarves within then next couple days.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000479.html 9DF3E6E2-0F04-4377-BE79-91651AD24D05-55124-0003C300BB0AE790-FFA Mon, 23 May 2011 13:33:40 -0500 Max-1 serving bowl
Heller
Italy, 1964
9.75 x 9.75 x 4.5"
Plastic
Manufacturer's mark


I haven't seen any Max-1 dinnerware in quite a while. It seems like 6 or 7 years ago I was tripping over it in the shops. Today I hardly see even a common dinner plate ... which apparently isn't so common any more. But even back then in the "heyday of Heller" I never saw any serving pieces. That's what makes today's find of this great serving bowl such a treat!

Over the years, both through Ars Longa and my activity on Twitter, I've been fortunate to have been able to strike up friendships with lots of people who also like scrounging through the thrifts in search of the same kind of stuff I like. And over the years, these friends have started looking for things they know I'd like ... and I do the same for them. I keep an eye out for Paul McCobb Contempri dinnerware for my sister-in-law; anything pre-war Modern for Steve B.; I'm searching out classic rock albums for EustaceChisholm; and Heller Max-1 dinnerware (amongst other things) for my buddy Studiosmith ... who just happens to be the beneficiary of this find today.

Buying stuff for my friends is a really great thing. I know they are happy with the stuff I send them, as I am with what they send me. I no longer have to pass up that great item because I'm trying to keep my collection under control. And best of all it gives me the chance to get to know some really incredible thrifters.

You guys are all awesome! So what are you looking for?]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000478.html D2F24B3A-FB45-4C92-941E-1A6D647F73AC-69207-0001991BB846DF72-FFA Thu, 12 May 2011 14:08:44 -0500 Aluminum Group side table
Herman Miller, Inc.
USA, c. 1958
20 x 20 x 25"
Aluminum, wood laminate, & rubber
Manufacturer's label


Before today I hadn't actually purchased a piece of furniture designed by Charles Eames in over half a decade. I've seen a few pieces over the years, but they've either been already sold or too large to deal with either trying to fit in our home or bother to resell. So why did I break down and purchase this task table today? Who knows? I just couldn't bring myself to walk away and leave it there on the thrift shop sales floor. Plus it's a handy size, and could serve many functions.

This is also the first time in many years I bought a piece of furniture thinking I might just resell it. After all ... if I kept it, there might be mutiny here at home. You interested in helping me out?]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000477.html 9A6F9078-90F4-4AB1-8B99-16A299ACD885-13867-00005C8B93CDA5AA-FFA Thu, 05 May 2011 13:27:27 -0500 Scarf
The Vera Companies
USA, c. 1968
26 x 26"
Polyester
Facsimile signature


Way back in January I made the mistake of opening my big mouth and saying we see and buy lots of Vera textiles, and that I'd start posting all of them. What did that get me? Three months of not seeing ANY Vera at all. Nada. Nothing. Zero. Zilch.

In any case, here's my making good on that promise to you ... my second Vera find of 2011. I actually really like this hand-painted stripe technique that Vera seems to also have been fond of. I'm not a huge fan of this cyan and peach color palette, however. It's getting a little too close to some color combinations that were so popular in the 1980s for my taste ... but I guess that shows that Vera once again was ahead of her time.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000476.html FF9B8C1E-479D-49EF-833B-E76FA71D4D87-12774-00004CC9D752831F-FFA Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:22:06 -0500 ThermoTray warming platter
Cornwall Corporation
USA, 1958
12 x 21 x 1.5"
Aluminum, wood, & electric componants
Unsigned


When I bought this Russel Wright Thermo Tray, I knew I was breaking at least two self-imposed rules of thrift shopping.

1) Only buy undamaged objects in nearly-perfect condition
2) Only buy objects you'll use

Unfortunately the top of this tray is buckled, and c'mon ... what am I going to do with a warming tray?!?! But as I wandered around the store contemplating leaving it behind, I just couldn't bring myself out the door without it. It isn't particularly rare or valuable. It isn't considered one of Wright's classic designs. But this is the first time I've come across one in the "real world." Before today I've only looked at them online.

So now here I am with a warming tray that I need to find somewhere to store and will only rarely see the light of day. I'm feeling a bit of buyer's remorse ... but if I left it, I'd probably be regretting that decision too. Have you ever experienced this conundrum?]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000475.html A6C5C88E-4E09-4998-A7BC-C2DD62A27EA8-73826-0001A0D589254A49-FFA Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:51:08 -0500 NE60 Children's stools
Artek
Finland, 1933
13.5 x 13.5 x 15"
Birch and linoleum
Manufacturer's tag with designer's name


Most often I'm a solitary hunter, but every once in a while I get the opportunity to go thrifting with a partner. This weekend I went up to Chicago to visit my friend Barry and spend the day visiting thrift shops and junk stores. As an added bonus, our Minneapolis pal Steve was in town visiting his mom ... so the three of us scoured the town for Modernism. We don't see much Finnish furniture here in the Midwest, but this trip turned out to be a goldmine of Scandinavian Modernism.

I think that Barry and I spotted this set of Aalto stools and its companion tables simultaneously from across the room. They were fresh to the shop's sales floor, and we knew they needed to come home with one of us. The tables were too big for me to bring all the way home to Champaign, so Barry very graciously offered to split the loot with me when the thrift shop decided it didn't want to break up the set. In all, Barry came away with two half-round tables ... and I got the four stools. Stools that I have been hoping to find for a good long time!

When Aalto founded Artek, his goals were to create a company inspired by functionalism that interconnects the visual arts with rational furniture production and popular education. This is still the core of Artek's manifest today, and these stools are a great example of those tenets. Besides being useful for seating, they can also be used as occasional tables. Multi-functionality is something I greatly respect in design, and is especially valuable when your family lives in a small space such as our home.

Izzy is included for scale. And cuteness.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000474.html C60408C4-79AE-4E1C-9245-37F47703D39F-74569-000367C554E83A54-FFA Sun, 23 Jan 2011 18:58:17 -0600 Prestige cocktail shaker
Federal Glass
USA, 1954
3 x 3 x 6.5"
Glass
Unsigned


I pass up Eva Zeisel's Prestige glassware for Federal more often than any other glass by an important midcentury designer. It is common and honestly not Zeisel's most inspired work. The only time I even consider a purchase is if the piece is "special" somehow, and for some reason I've been holding out to find one of these cocktail shakers.

Truth be told, Zeisel isn't even responsible got making this a cocktail shaker. The base is an iced tea glas of her design, but the lid is an after-market add-on that some company not affiliated with Federal plopped on there. But it works. The shape just seems right for a shaker, so I just couldn't let this one pass by this afternoon.]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000472.html 5C522F84-A676-40DE-8478-B62F59F78574-23846-0002CCB0EB52FC64-FFA Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:28:15 -0600 Barbecue cup
Tamac, Inc.
USA, 1946
3.25 x 5 x 2.5"
Glazed ceramic
Manufacturer's mark


Long ago I vowed not to collect any more dinnerware. In fact, I greatly slimmed my collecting down to just one line: Russel Wright's Casual China for Iroquois. But ever since I made that decision, I've kept a mental list of the dinnerware that some day, given the space and financial wherewithal, I would like to have: Ben Seibel's Raymor Modern Stoneware for Roseville; Denwar Bantu by Jo Dendel and Esther Warner; and at the top of that list ... Tamac.

Relatively little is known about this pottery beyond the fact that it hills from Perry, OK. But the extremity of the biomorphic shapes makes it one of the most strikingly Modern dinnerware lines ever created. It is so abstracted from traditional shapes, in fact, that when I found this piece I believed it to be a lidless sugar bowl. Thanks to Mike Pratt's wonderful book "Midcentury Modern Dinnerware: A Pictoral Guide. Redwing to Winfield" I was able to determine that it is known as a Barbecue Cup.

So today I officially broke my "no new dinnerware collecting" rule, and have launched a hunting and gathering campaign to build a collecting of Tamac. Fortunately for our bursting cupboards, it is fairly rare (this is the first piece I've ever found in a thrift shop, and have only seen a smattering through MCM dealers). Until my collection has gone beyond a single example, I can always use Craig McCormick's glorious collection as fodder for my imagination.
]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000471.html E36F61CC-DC7F-4924-BF47-A7728BCB59F4-23846-0002CC9D54EC1C96-FFA Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:24:28 -0600 Hand towels
Burlington House
USA, c. 1965
16 x 26"
Terrycloth
Facsimile signature


Not long ago I had grandiose ideas of launching a website dedicated to Vera's household linens. That concept has fallen by the wayside, but I still make a point of searching out any cloth goods by Vera's hand. Lately I haven't made much of a point of talking about these items here on Ars Longa, but I think I'll try to be more active in discussing Vera here over this year. While I don't want to have the site become too saturated with her work (there's lots of it out there, and we buy quite a bit), Vera is an important designer and warrants our discussion.

It's been several years since I've seen any of the terrycloth items Vera designed for Burlington in a thrift store, so these hand towels seem a good place to start with my new resolution. They're also one of the reasons I decided to scrap my Vera website idea. I have no idea what this pattern is called. I have compiled as comprehensive list of Burlington pattern names as I've been able to glean off the web, but this lack of scholarship makes developing any meaningful piece of research pretty useless at this point. So if you know this pattern's name, please leave a comment. I obviously have lots to learn!]]> http://www.sllab.net/arslonga/archives/00000470.html AE039C74-0DA3-428A-BCF8-B2FDF4F03EB5-49170-00012F6CAC01A439-FFA Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:40:40 -0600