Modern Design – Page 2 – Just a Modern Guy

October 3, 2011

Drexel Sun Coast Dining Room Buffet and China Cabinet

Drexel Sun Coast Buffet designed by Kipp Stewart – 1958

Drexel Heritage has been a producer of quality home furnishings for over 100 years. Established in 1903, the company pioneered the concept of partnering with outside designers to conceptualize new collections in the 1950’s. For example, California modernists Kipp Stewart and Stewart McDougall worked with Drexel Heritage to create modern collections including the Declaration and Sun Coast lines.

I was fortunate to land a couple of pieces of the hard-to-find Sun Coast last week and they are currently on display (and available for sale!) in The Purple Moon’s showroom. Gorgeously crafted from cherry with iconic mid-century stars on the painted cabinet doors these beauties are a true sight to behold.

Drexel Sun Coast China Cabinet designed by Kipp Stewart – 1958

Designer Kipp Stewart’s furniture designs have been produced not only for Drexel but by other manufacturers in the United States, Europe and Asia and are in use by major corporations, the United Nations, the Ford Foundation, the White House, hotels throughout the world and many residences. His work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others.

Stop by The Purple Moon and check these out soon – I doubt they will last very long!

August 1, 2011

Just In! Danish Teak Expanding Leaf Dining Table

Vintage 1960’s Danish Teak Dining Table shown with Two Arne Jacobsen Series 7 Chairs

We just brought this wonderful Danish teak dining table with expanding leaves into The Purple Moon this weekend and it is a real beauty. Teak ages to lovely glow and this table has aged very well!

With extending leaves this piece is perfect for a small space offering versatility along with beauty. It is shown here along with vintage Fritz Hansen Series 7 chairs by Arne Jacobsen which we currently also have available (actually over a dozen of them are in stock!)

Extendable leaves make this table perfect for small spaces!

Teak ages to a simply gorgeous warm glow!

This Danish Modern table and other great, vintage mid-century pieces are currently on display in The Purple Moon’s showroom at 906 Quarrier Street in Downtown Charleston.

May 1, 2010May 1, 2010

Old England Pop Art Watch by Richard Loftus

Twiggy Wearing a Richard Loftus Old England Watch - 1968 — Twiggy Wearing a Richard Loftus Old England Watch - 1967

Richard Loftus designed a line of watches in 1967 for Accurist to be sold at the Apple Boutique owned by the Beatles and located on Baker Street in London’s famous Chelsea section. The bold watches with their PVC plastic straps became all the rage and were worn by not only the Beatles but also other Pop icons like Twiggy (shown above) and others on Carnaby Street and in trendy London of the swinging 60’s.

Richard Loftus Union Jack Watch by Accurist - 1967

I ran across this watch today and boy is it a beauty. Still retaining the original strap – and in full working condition – this watch is a classic of 1960’s Pop design.

This watch is currently on display at The Purple Moon – but I bet not for long!

October 29, 2009

Blenko Glass Rarities – #384H Handled Water Bottles

Pair of Handled Water Bottles #384H – Blenko Glass – 1938

As anyone who has tried to collect Blenko Glass knows there are some designs you just rarely ever see. That certainly is the case with these two fabulous #384H water bottles in Ruby!

Shown in the Blenko catalogs for only the 1938-39 production years, the graceful and delicate design of this piece makes it much sought and rarely found by collectors. Certainly the thin handle which is prone to cracks and breakage has thinned the number originally produced after 61 years making this a relatively scarce item from Blenko’s early years.

Many are familiar with the iconic double spout water bottle (#384) Blenko has produced continuously since the 1930’s but this variation on the theme certainly has much more appeal to me.

I recently got my hands on these two and they are simply stunning. Alas, I sold one at The Purple Moon less than 24 hours after I got it and the other is likely to go fast as well. If you’ve never seen one – stop by and take a look!

October 22, 2009

Mama Mia! – Ultra MOD Italian Lamp

Pottery Table Lamp – Made in Italy – circa 1971

One of our latest vintage finds is this super Italian Modern lamp dating from the very early 70’s. This minimalist beauty has a pottery body and is as cool as the come.

I just wish I knew who designed this lamp but nothing has come to light as of yet. Any thoughts?

This lamp is currently residing in the main showroom at The Purple Moon.

October 21, 2009

Blenko Masterpieces by Wayne Husted

Blenko Glass #554 – Wayne Husted – 1955

Just in at The Purple Moon are these fabulous 1950’s pieces by designer Wayne Husted.

Both are very hard-to-find and are excellent examples of the modernist flair Husted brought to Blenko during his time there as Design Director from 1953 to 1963. Over 500 pieces were designed by Husted during his tenure at Blenko.

Blenko Glass #5937 Decanter – Wayne Husted – 1959

October 20, 2009October 20, 2009

Take a Load Off – Mid-Century Seating

Hollywood Regency Sectional Sofa – Flexsteel – circa 1960’s

We’re fortunate to have a plethora of exceptional mid-century modern seating in stock at The Purple Moon these days. Just take a gander at some of these beauties!

The Flexsteel three piece sectional sofa above dates from the 1960’s and is as elegant as they come. This sofa was professionally reupholstered in the early 1970’s and is, in a word, gorgeous.

Next we have this custom designed and handcrafted one-of-a-kind sofa which is quite possibly the nicest we have ever seen. Designed and constructed by Mansfield OH artist Margaret Twitchell Swank. who studied under Viktor Schreckengost at the Cleveland School of Art, this sofa was made in 1960 and measures right at 100 inches in length.

Custom Designed / Handcrafted Sofa – Margaret Twitchell Swank – circa 1959

This classic swivel chair by Plycraft and designed by George Mulhauser is a true gem and rarely seen with an actual woven fabric upholstery (most were vinyl) and dates from 1961. The sculptural lines of this bent plywood chair makes it truly iconic.

Plycraft Swivel Chair – George Mulhauser – 1961

Danish Modern Round Chair – Denmark – circa 1950’s

The Danish Modern Round chair, possibly by Selig and certainly in the style of Hans Wegner, is marked “Made in Denmark” and is a the perfect accent chair.

Also from Denmark is this wonderful Teak loveseat with its reversible cushions. Sleek and timeless this piece is at home in a living room today as it was 50 years ago.

Teak Danish Modern Loveseat – Denmark – circa 1950’s

Finally, the Hollywood sofa / daybed below is just the thing for that room which might also double as a spare bedroom – just pull off the backrest and, viola, you have a nice single bed for a house guest. It’s also stylish enough to be used in a more formal way. In fact, the Modern Lady and I have one just like this, in creamy white, in our living room.

Hollywood Sofa / Daybed – USA – circa 1950’s

All of this pieces, and more, are currently on display in The Purple Moon’s main showroom. Stop by and take a load off by giving them a try.

October 19, 2009October 20, 2009

Dansk Kobernstyle Pitchers – Jens Quistgaard

Kobenstyle Pitcher Set by Dansk – Jens Quistgaard – circa 1960

Dansk International Designs Inc. was founded by American Ted Nierenberg in partnership with Danish designer Jens Quistgaard and produced the classic Kobenstyle line beginning in the mid-1950’s. Originally made in Denmark by Glud & Marstand and then by a French firm into the early 70’s the enameled metal Kobenstyle kitchenware remains a classic.

The near-mint condition three-size pitcher set shown here in the bright yellow is decorative and functional and is currently available at The Purple Moon.

October 17, 2009October 17, 2009

Coffee Style

As all my friends know, I love a good cup of coffee. Being a true “coffee achiever” I drink the high-impact brew morning, noon and night. But the drink is only part of the story.

Almost important as the caffeine-filled beverage is the ritual of its making, serving and consumption. In this day of drive-thru, every-other-street-corner purveyors of murky liquid in horrid paper – or even worse styrofoam – cups the art and style of serving coffee is often lost.

This was not always the case. Take for example the fine specimens of mid-mod design in the following photos.

MOD Op-Art Design Coffee Set – Circa 1960’s

After Dinner Coffee Set by Schmid – Designer: LaGardo Tackett – Circa 1960’s

MOD Orange Coffee Cup Set – Made in Japan – Circa 1960’s

Pyrex Coffee Mug Set – Circa 1960’s

With these classic vessels you can have a great cup of coffee while thumbing your nose at the disposable-oriented 21st Century culture and exert your own sense of style. Find a set for yourself then sit down, relax and enjoy.

Each of the sets shown here are currently available at The Purple Moon. Stop by and see us – the coffee is ready.

September 30, 2009October 7, 2009

New Arrival – Heywood Wakefield Crescendo Bedroom Suite 1939-40

Heywood-Wakefield Crescendo Group in Champagne – Designed by Count Alexis de Sahknoffsky – 1939-40

Just in at The Purple Moon is this fabulous bedroom suite from Heywood-Wakefield’s Crescendo Line. These pieces were designed by industrial designer Count alexis de Sahknoffsky, a Russian immigrant who is known principally for his Streamline-style automotive designs, and were only made in the 1939-40 production year.

This solid birch set, with the original Champagne finish, includes:
C3554 Vanity
C3557 Vanity Seat
C3558 Night Stand
C3552 Five-Drawer Chest
C3550 Bed Head & Foot Board (2)

Count Alexis de Sahknoffsky’s Influence Solidified Heywood-Wakefield Emphasis on Streamlined-Modern Design.