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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 11 – Vintage Jewelry by Weiss


Emerald Green, Chartreuse and Clear Rhinestone Pin – Albert Weiss – circa 1950’s

Being a guy can be tough around the Holidays. Finding just the perfect gift for your lady can bring out the cold-sweats in any man.

But us modern guys know that we can turn to vintage designs from the 40’s, 50’s and ’60’s that will show our modern lady just how much we care. We know jewelry is almost always appreciated but we really don’t want to go the commercial diamond route. Let’s face it – diamonds say you spent a lot of money but finding the the perfect piece of vintage jewelry that matches her eyes shows that you were thinking of her.

And if your lady prefers the former rather than the latter you should just forget the gift and find a different woman.

But that’s for another post…

Today we focus on vintage costume jewelry by Albert Weiss to help you modern guys make your modern lady very happy this Holiday season.

Weiss produced some beautiful pieces from the early 1940’s through 1971. This jewelry is well-crafted, utilized high-quality stones and wonderful pieces are available in a wide variety of sizes, colors and styles.


Aquamarine Rhinestone Pin – Albert Weiss – circa 1950’s


Clear Rhinestone Pin – Albert Weiss – circa 1940’s


Clear Rhinestone Pin – Albert Weiss – circa 1950’s

Choosing the right piece of jewelry can be very easy if you come prepared. What colors does the gift recipient prefer, what is her fashion style (traditional? casual? eclectic? funky?), and what jewelry does she most often wear are all good things to know. Then, armed with that knowledge, you can use that information to guide you. Bottom line, look for a piece that you like. She’ll like that – I promise.


Starburst Rhinestone Pin & Earring Set – Albert Weiss – circa 1960’s

It’s a gift that will make her very happy this Christmas and for years to come.

Prices for quality, vintage pieces by Weiss range from $75 and up.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 10 – Mid-Century Glass Pitcher Sets


#6714 Pitcher & #418L Tumblers– Tangerine – Blenko Glass – 1967

Functional, decorative, elegant, and sometimes even funky – pitcher and glass sets from the mid-20th Century are a great addition to any home. For ice tea, lemonade, sangria or maybe even a Zombie, these sets demonstrate a grace and charm often long lost today.


Black and Gold Polka-Dot Pitcher & Glass Set– Fred Press – circa 1965

Made by a number of makers, many from West Virginia, these sets are available in a wide variety styles and designs. Obviously we have focused on the more modern designs here but if hunting scenes or birds are more the taste of your gift recipient those designs are also around.


Ring Pitcher & Glass Set – Dunbar Glass Company – circa 1930’s


Pitcher & Glass Set – West Virginia Glass – circa 1959


Chartreuse and Purple Circle Pitcher & Glass Set – Federal Glass – circa 1955

A great Holiday gift, especially if accompanied by a favorite beverage, these sets can be had for $60 up to $200 for rarer designs and makers. As with all glass be alert for chips,  discoloration or other damage.

Any of these sets will put a smile on their face this Holiday season and will be even more appreciated months down the road when you are together sharing a cold drink and a laugh.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 8 – Vintage Decorating Books


Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book – Meredith Publishing – 1956

For the person looking to incorporate vintage, mid-century style into their home nothing can be as useful as decorating books from the era.

Decorating books from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s are a real help in researching pieces of furniture and are even more useful in determining color palettes, room layouts or just for getting the creative interior design juices flowing.

One of the best series from the period was the Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Books by Meredith Publishing. Printed first in 1956, this book was updated in subsequent releases in 1961, 1968 and 1975, the BHG series is just chock-full of illustrations and text covering all aspects of decorating your home. Color schemes, furniture, flooring, window treatments, lighting and accessories are all covered in these invaluable guides.


Living Room Detail from Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book – Meredith Publishing – 1956


Thonet & Saarinen Chairs as shown in Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Book – Meredith Publishing – 1956

Truly a gift that keeps on giving for the person in your life who just enjoys mid-century modern and interior design. These vintage books are readily available and run from $15 up to $35 for older editions.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 7 – Mod 1970’s Radios by Panasonic


Toot-A-Loop & Panapet 70 AM Portable Radios – Panasonic – 1970-71

The 1970’s brought a bolder and new dimension to modern design. Influenced by the pop art and psychedelic movements, commercial product makers began designing to appeal to the tail end of the baby boom generation.

Panasonic’s Toot-A-Loop and Panapet 70 radios are a good examples of this new thinking in what was to be known as “Mod” design. The Toot-A-Loop, when closed, was a donut form with an off-centered center hole which was stylish as well as making it easy to carry. Twisting the radio open revealed the tuning dial. The Panapet spherical design made it a perfect accessory for the Verner Panton-influenced designs of the time and worked wonderfully on a desktop.


Toot-A-Loop & Panapet 70 AM Portable Radios – Panasonic – 1970-71

These classic AM radios were only produced in the early 1970’s. The expansion of FM radio contributed to their demise. Certainly far from hi-fidelity, these radios were adequate though to sing along to the Top 40 while listening to Casey Kasem as you did your homework or laid out in the sun.

These pieces make great accent (and conversation) pieces and are fun gifts for friends who love the retro-mod style. Priced in the $45-65 range in good condition these can please on the Holidays even more than they did back in the ’70’s. Look for ones in good working and cosmetic condition and be sure to check the battery compartment to make sure there is no acid-leak damage.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 6 – Dinnerware by Russel Wright


American Modern Pitcher, Cream & Sugar– Steubenville Pottery – Russel Wright – 1938-59

American designer Russel Wright created housewares built on a simple principle – life should be easy and informal.

This, coupled with his belief that life in the home was centered around the dining table, led to lines of dinnerware, furnishings and home accessories which forever changed the way American homes were organized, decorated and lived in.

Wright’s American Modern line by Steubenville Pottery was produced between 1938 and 1959 and sold over 250 million pieces. Bold in color and very durable, American Modern china was the most sold dinnerware in the history of the United States.


American Modern Coffee Server, Cups & Saucers – Steubenville Pottery – Russel Wright – 1938-59


American Modern Demitasse Cups & Saucers– Steubenville Pottery – Russel Wright – 1939-53

Still sought by collectors today, American Modern dinnerware is an icon mid-20th Century style and design.

Wright designed dinnerware lines for several companies throughout his career.

Sterling China of East Liverpool, Ohio produced a line of dinnerware designed by Russel Wright beginning in 1949 through the end of the 1950’s. Sterling’s line was intended for the restaurant trade and is heavier and thicker as is typical of restaurant ware in general. This dinnerware was often decorated with stenciled designs which were not by Wright but simply applied to his shapes. One of those stenciled designs, Leaf, was collected extensively by American pop artist Andy Warhol.


Leaf Stenciled Pattern Plate & Individual Coffee – Sterling China – Russel Wright – circa 1950

Iroquois China produced the Casual dinnerware line beginning in 1947 through 1966. This china pattern by Wright came in a wide variety of colors with playful names like Parsley Green, Sherbet Pink and Ripe Apricot. This dinnerware, as the ones from Steubenville and Sterling, were marked with Russel Wright’s name on each piece. Wright was the father of marketing his name with the housewares he produced paving the way for people like Martha Stewart.


Casual China Platter & Four Piece Place Setting – Iroquois China – Russel Wright – Sherbet Pink 1954-66


Casual China Covered Casseroles– Iroquois China – Russel Wright – Nutmeg 1949-64 & Charcoal 1955-64

Buying Russel Wright dinnerware as gift for the collector is a great way to help them complete a set and will be greatly appreciated. For others, a set of coffee cups and saucers, a casserole, cream and sugar set, or even a couple of complete place settings can be enjoyed and will become a fabulous addition to their modernist home.

The price for the three dinnerware lines shown here varies considerably depending on the pattern, color and type of piece but they are very affordable. In many cases vintage china is often cheaper than new premium dinnerware lines.

Wright also designed dinnerware for other companies, like Bauer and Yamato, however these lines are very scarce with prices which reflect that fact.

As with all china and dinnerware, condition is critical. Look for pieces with no chips, cracks, crazing or serious signs of wear.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 5 – Dansk Købenstyle Enamel by Jens Quistgaard


Købenstyle Enamel Coffee Pot & Pitcher– Dansk Designs – Jens H. Quistgaard – 1957

Since we were talking about designs by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk Designs yesterday I thought it might be a good idea to also discuss the wonderful Købenstyle Emamel Cookware made beginning in the mid-1950’s.

As with the teak, Quistguaard brings a sculptural quality these utilitarian pieces. Made of enameled steel and brightly colored this cookware has dramatic lines and detailing, like the wrapped handles, which once again demonstrate Dansk’s ability to blend art with usefulness.

While Dansk is considered by many to be a Danish company, it’s roots were in the United States. The company was a partnership between American Ted Nierenberg and Jens Quistgaard and was founded in 1954.

Dansk’s products were made primarily by European companies. The Købenstyle line began in 1957 being made by a Danish company, Glud & Marstrand, with the line being moved to a French firm by the mid-1960’s. Early pieces by the Danish maker are the most sought by collectors and can be identified by the makers mark featuring four ducks on the bottom. 

In addition to the range-top coffee maker and pitcher shown here this line also included pots and pans.

These pieces would make a great Holiday gift for the gourmet chef in you life and range from $45 – $75 with the large, lidded pots being a bit higher. Look for pieces with minimal enamel loss or discoloration although deals can be had if you don’t mind the “well used” look.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 4 – Dansk Staved Teak Tableware by Jens Quistgaard


Salad Set– Dansk Designs – Jens H. Quistgaard – circa 1958

Teak is a glorious wood – naturally water repellent, gorgeous and durable. Teak crafted by Dansk Designs into fabulous tableware is a mid-century modern design masterpiece!

The pieces shown here are by Dansk’s head designer in the 1950’s and 1960’s – Jens H. Quistgaard. Wonderfully styled and masterfully crafted these pieces are classics of 20th Century design.


Congo Ice Bucket– Dansk Designs – Jens H. Quistgaard – 1955

Pieces like these are in about the $150 – $175 price range – a bit much for the co-worker at the office Christmas party but reasonable for many others who may be on your Holiday gift list.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 3 – Metlox Poppytrail “200” Coffee Set


Poppytrail “200” Series Coffee Set– Metlox Pottery – Designer: Willis Prouty – 1935-44

In our modern home coffee starts us each morning, keeps us going all day long and often allows me to write blog posts late at night. We are, as the advertisement used to say, “coffee achievers.”

We buy good coffee and drink it from classic dinnerware. The modern lady and I are coffee snobs. You know the type – always with cup in their hand, talking real fast, and knowing all the best places around to grab a great cup o’ joe.

For folks like us nothing makes us happier than finding a great, vintage coffee set under the tree on Christmas morning. If you have someone like that in your life a set like the Poppytrail “200” Series from Metlox Pottery is simply a wonderful  gift for the Holidays.

Designed in 1935 by Metlox co-owner Willis Prouty and produced through 1944 this fabulous set is perfect for the true coffee aficionado. The server holds a good amount of java and with the thick pottery, narrow neck and lid keeps it good and hot. The wooden handles, which are clipped on the coffee cups with metal bands and remove easily for cleaning, are an extra nice touch to the both the aesthetics and practicality of this set.

The coffee set by Metlox also looks great when not being used. The bright colored glazing and modern sculptural design make this a set that will be out on display – not pushed in the back of a cabinet somewhere.

This set would make the coffee lover in your circle of friends and family happy for years to come. 

And speaking of coffee, I ran across this a few months back and loved it. Check out this fun clip.

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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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