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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 2 – Blenko Glass by Wayne Husted


Blenko Glass #609 Vase– Wayne Husted – 1960

If anything had an impact which drew me to mid-century modern design it was Blenko Glass. I had the fortune of being exposed to Blenko at a young age – my parents often took us kids to the factory in Milton – and I was always fascinated by the bright color and vibrant shapes.

Blenko has had many excellent designers over the years. Each had their own style which came through in the lines of glass they produced. My personal favorite is Wayne Husted who was at Blenko from 1952 to 1963. His first designs appeared in 1953 and he oversaw what are often referred to as Blenko’s golden years.


Blenko Glass #6212 Decanter– Tangerine – Wayne Husted – 1962


Blenko Glass #5831– Tri-Lobe Bowl – Wayne Husted – 1958

Giving Blenko as a gift for the Holidays has a long tradition in our family. My parents often sent Blenko to relatives across the country and that tradition still lives with my children who gave me a piece of Blenko as a gift one recent Christmas. The pieces shown here are designs by Husted that are some of my favorites.


A matched pair of Blenko Glass #6025 Vases – Tangerine – Wayne Husted – 1960


Blenko Glass #5815 Decanter– Jonquil – Wayne Husted – 1958

Blenko Glass has a varied price range – from $50 – $100 for newer designs into the thousands for some rare pieces. Vintage or new, Blenko Glass will become a cherished item by anyone receiving it as a gift.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 1 – Mid-Century Italian Pottery


Vase and Ashtray Set– Raymor by Alvino Bagni – Italy – circa 1962

Over the coming month I will be posting ideas for unique, vintage Holiday gifts that are sure to make the recipient dance for joy.

Gifting vintage items is a great way to show that someone special that they are indeed special. The fact that you took the time to explore for just the right gift instead of grabbing an item off the shelf at the local big-box store will show the care you really have for the person receiving the gift.

We start our virtual shopping tour with some of the classic pottery coming out of the mid-2oth Century from Italy. World renowned for the quality of the pottery, the artful execution by the craftsmen and the modernist edge of the designers, Italian pottery is highly sought after by collectors and decorators.

The vase and ashtray set above was designed by Alvino Bagni for Raymor and dates to the early 1960’s. Featuring wonderful, organic shape and tremendous color these pieces make a bold statement as an accent in any room. The vase stands 13 inches tall and the ashtray is 9-1/2 inches in diameter.


Quail Coin Bank– Marcello Fantoni (attributed) – Italy – circa 1955


Caveman & Woman Vase– Marcello Fantoni – Italy – 1957

A true pottery artist, Marcello Fantoni is one of the best known Italian potters. His works are held in private collections and museums in the Untied States and Europe. The two pieces above, the Quail Bank and Caveman and Woman Vase are exceptional examples of Fantoni’s modernist style. In 1970 he founded the International School of Ceramic Arts at his studio in Florence.

Functionality as well as artistic design was a trademark of mid-century Italian pottery. The ashtray below was made by Bitossi for Raymor Ceramics at the end of the 1950’s. Once again, the strength of the design and glaze comes though and elevates this utilitarian piece to the level of art. This pottery will make a great ornament in any setting and is as useful as a fruit bowl and it is for an ashtray.


Ashtray– Raymor by Bitossi – Italy – circa 1959

Prices for the pieces shown here are in the moderate-to-high range ($100 – $350) although some pieces of Italian pottery can be found for less or much more – some works going into the thousands of dollars.

Next we will look at gifts made little closer to home – vintage Blenko Glass by designer Wayne Husted.

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Trains & Train Stations


Trains Tickets: Union Station – C. Hamsher – 2007

I miss traveling on the train. Although there is still limited service out of Charleston the schedule just doesn’t seem to meet my needs anymore. So I end up flying, or driving if close enough, and do not have near the enjoyment I used to have taking trains.

What I miss more than taking the train are the train stations. Glorious places full of mystique and interesting people. I have noticed that the people in train stations are so much more relaxed than those in airports. Airports are simply a holding area and the people may as well be cargo. Train stations seem more like part of the destination, even if just a layover spot, than do airports. I have had some great conversations in train stations and have worked to escape from some really bad ones in airports.

When visiting Washington I always stop by Union Station to just walk around or to get something to eat at America. It’s always a relaxing way to spend a little time, a great place to people watch, and the food at America is great!

When we were in Washington earlier this month I stopped by Union Station, as usual, and shot the picture above. I printed it and have it on my desk as reminder that someday soon I need to get a ticket and take the train – again.

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Black Friday

From this evening’s newspaper story I gather that even Karloff and Lugosi would have been terrified of the crowds of frantic shoppers out Corrider G at Southridge today.

As for me, I spent the day on the other side of the retail equation manning the shop with The Modern Lady. We stayed busy – but we weren’t insane. It didn’t take anyone an hour to check-out and no one had to elbow their way in to grab a Russel Wright dinner service.

We had some great folks come in from DC who bought a 1950’s Crosley radio and we had a nice chat with them. Our friend Joe came in and bought a light fixture for his new house and we discussed his remodeling projects and the joys, trials and tribulations of decorating.

I am a traditionalist and don’t get the Christmas decorations out at the shop until Thanksgiving week and so we unveiled our selection of vintage trees, ornaments and other trimmings today. It’s always great to see folks smile as they look at the vintage aluminum Christmas trees. One young couple, who have been long-time customers of ours, bought the first tree this morning and were going to go home and put it up before a party this evening.

Then, to top it off, tonight was ArtWalk and the crowd was pleasant as always. We opened a show of Rebecca Burch’s work and it was fun to see folks reaction to her art – especially her family who were very excited for her.

All in all a very nice day. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to going to the shop again in the morning.

I wonder how many people who worked or shopped at Southridge today feel the same.

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Downtown Charleston ArtWalk Tonight

The monthly Downtown Charleston ArtWalk takes place this evening from 5 – 8 pm.

Participating galleries and studios are:

Art Emporium Gallery

Blue Door Art Studio

Chet Lowther Studio

Gallery Eleven

Good News Mountaineer Garage Gallery

Roger Lucas Gallery

Stray Dog Antiques

Taylor Books – Annex Gallery

The Purple Moon

The Squire Tobacco Unlimited

For addition information please visit the ArtWalk website here.

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A Visit to the Hirshhorn Museum – Part 3

One of the simply hypnotizing works we viewed at the Hirshhorn last week was Olafur Eliasson’s Round Rainbow.

This reflective sculpture is made from a roughly 2 foot diameter Lucite ring with a high-intensity light shown on it. The dancing reflections were just breathtaking. This piece was created by Eliasson in 2005 and is currently showing as part of the Hirshhorn’s Refract, Reflect, Project: Light Works from the Collection.

As always, when I visit the Hirshhorn I am intrigued by the constant redefining of art. Their collection holds many works, like this one by Eliasson,  which are very powerful and moving but are not what would have been described as “art” at one time.  The use of refracted light in Round Rainbow recreates the environment as you stand before it and has a dreamlike quality that I simply got lost in.  

I will be spattering the blog with more highlights of our visit to Washington in the coming weeks. In reviewing the photos and notes I took there is much more I want to share. 

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Preparing for ArtWalk and the Holiday Season

I have just been snowed under getting ready for the Holidays, this Friday’s ArtWalk and all that those preparations entail.

One of the things we do at our shop is hold our Holiday decorating and Christmas-specific items until Thanksgiving week. Call me a traditionalist, but I just don’t see the point of having trees, decorations, and all of the other accouterments out so early. One of the “big box” stores had their Christmas offerings out in August.

What’s next – fruitcake on the 4th of July?

So we have spent the past few days putting up the decorations, assembling the aluminum Christmas trees (yes, we have vintage aluminum trees – many of them actually) and generally getting the shop ready for the Holidays. Just like at home, decorating for Christmas first means dragging out a bunch of boxes and generally making a big mess. With a little more work on Tuesday morning we’ll be ready to open at 11am.

We are also preparing for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk which takes place this Friday from 5-8pm. We are opening a show of works by Rebecca Burch which you will not want to miss. Her art is fun, exciting and playful – in fact the centerpiece of the show are nine photographs entitled Play.

In addition, we have art from Felix Krasyk, Jennifer Susman, William D. Goebel, Rob Cleland and a fabulous sculptured clay nativity set created by Wilma Burky in 1961. All this and the usual assortment of 20th Century Treasures!

The Purple Moon is but one of ten galleries, shops and artist studios taking part in this month’s ArtWalk and we all hope you come and join in the fun. There will be wonderful art, food, drink and intelligent conversation.

Or you could drive out Corrider G to Wal-Mart.

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A Visit to the Hirshhorn Museum – Part 2


Roy Lichtenstein’s Brushstoke on The National Mall side of The Hirshhorn Museum – Washington, DC

From the moment you see The Hirshhorn Museum you know you are in for a treat. The dramatic round building on four feet looks as though a spaceship has just landed on Independence Avenue in Washington. Personally, I like the building as much as any inside the Beltway. The architecture of the museum fits the space it occupies and the purpose for its construction perfectly.

Roy Lichtenstein’s monumental Brushstroke stands proudly facing the Hirshhorn’s Sculpture Garden on The National Mall. The model for this sculpture was completed by Lichtenstein in 1996 less than a year before his death and the 32 foot high work in front of the Hirshhorn was unveiled in 2003.

Inside the Sculpture Garden you will find works by Joan Miro, Alexander Calder (although his piece, Six Dots Over a Mountain, was being moved the day we were there), Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore and Judith Shea to name just a few. The Sculpture garden provides a wonderful respite from the busy streets of Washington and the few other people we saw there maintained the same type of quiet reference and reflection the site inspired in us.


King and Queen by Henry Moore – Bronze – 1952-53


Lunar Bird by Joan Miro – 1944-46 – Enlarged and cast 1966-67


Monumental Head by Alberto Giacometti – Bronze – 1960


Standing Woman by Gaston Lachaise – Bronze – 1932 Cast 1981


Sphere No. 6 by Arnaldo Pomodoro – Bronze – 1963-65

After spending a significant amount of time basking in these wonderful sculptures we headed towards the front door of the museum passing under the building on the way. The structure of the Hirshhorn is very unique – the building is round and completely encircles a plaza area in the center which contains a fountain. While already drained for the winter, the construction of the fountain itself is a work of art and accents the building perfectly even when dry.

Just before reaching the entrance we came upon Juan Muñoz’s Last Conversation Piece in the lawn area. I had seen this work a number of times before but I was moved by it this time even more than in the past. This series of statues always makes me a little sad – I think I relate to the fellow who is on the outside the conversation looking in.


Detail of Last Conversation Piece by Juan Muñoz – Bronze – 1994-95

All of this on our approach to the Hirshhorn Museum. We hadn’t even entered the door and had already been awash in fine modern art. This was just the build-up needed for the fabulous works inside the museum. I will save that for tomorrow. 

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Rough Reentry

I know I promised to post more today on the DC trip but reentry back home was not quite as smooth as I had hoped.

How is it that so much to do can pile up in just a few days?

I will be back to regular posting on Friday after a reevaluation of my reentry concept.

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Lost in the National Gallery of Art

hopper
Nighthawks – Edward Hopper – 1942

We continued our exploration of museums in Washington, DC today and just got lost in the fabulous works at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building. Highlighting that excursion was the Edward Hopper exhibit but with Pollock, Picasso, Calder, Gorky and so much more we are just simply overwhelmed.

A wonderful afternoon of art.  The Modern Lady and I are going to explore a little more tomorrow before heading home. I have lots of photos and so much to tell I’ll do some detailed postings beginning on Thursday after I have a chance to rest a little and edit some photos.

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