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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 22 – Haeger Pottery Orange Peel Vases


Orange Peel Glaze Vase Trio – Haeger Pottery – circa 1958

The roots Haeger Pottery go back to a brickyard outside Chicago in 1871. Known at that time as Dundee Brickyard, the company manufactured millions of the bricks used to rebuild the City of Chicago after the great fire which destroyed over 17,500 buildings the same year the company began.

By 1900, the year of company-founder David H. Haeger’s passing, the firm was making simple red clay pots for the florist trade. Edmund Haeger, David’s son, oversaw the transformation from Haeger Bricks to Haeger Potteries. The company is still in operation today.

The bright “orange peel” glazed vases shown here date from the 1950’s and were one of numerous modern designs put out by Haeger during this period. These vases look great individually and in sets and can usually be easily found at your favorite vintage shop. They are valued between $25 – 45 each depending upon size.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 21 – Mid-Century Casserole Dishes


Casserole Dish on Brass / Walnut Warming Stand– Stangl Pottery – 1959

Everyone has got to eat and serving food with style is the cornerstone of any great dinner party.

The 1950’s and 60’s produced some stunning pieces for entertaining and the fabulous casserole dishes from the period are great for use as decorative pieces in a mid-century modern inspired kitchen and are functional as well.


Moon Deco Covered Casserole – Pyrex – 1971


Covered Casserole in Chinese Red – Hall China – circa 1950’s


Starburst Covered Casserole – Bavarian – circa 1950’s

Made by numerous manufacturers food serving items such as the ones shown here make a very nice gift for friends and family. Most are very affordable with prices in the $25 to $75 range with some more collectible makers or designers, such as Russel Wright, going for a premium.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 20 – Lo-Ball Cocktail Glasses by Eva Zeisel


Prestige Lo-Ball Cocktail Glass Set– Federal Glass – Designed by Eva Zeisel – 1955

The Lo-Ball cocktail was made popular as Lord Calvert’s take-off on the High-Ball.

The Lo-Ball glassware was made utilizing the Prestige shape designed by legendary glass and ceramic artist Eva Zeisel for Federal Glass and was produced in the mid-1950’s.

This cocktail set is just as cool today as it was back then and makes the perfect gift for your cocktail party friends. Look for ones with bright lettering and, as with any glassware, no chips or other damage. A set of four costs about $50 – 60.

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Retro / Pop Art of Kerry Beary at The Purple Moon


Flora – Acrylic on Canvas – Kerry Beary – 2005

Strong women, sleek cats and mid-century modern home furnishings are all present in the art of New York native, now Louisiana-based, artist Kerry Beary. With its retro feel, Beary’s art is best described as being “mid-century lounge-scapes.”


Artist Kerry Beary

Beary, 36, lived and worked in New York until after 9/11 when she and her husband moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There they purchased a 1950’s ranch home where she could build a studio and focus on her art. Since that time her work has gained national attention with her art pieces being in great demand throughout the country.


Nelson Schmelson – Acrylic on Canvas – Kerry Beary – 2005

Kerry Beary developed a love of retro art in childhood as the daughter of a professional hair and make-up artist. Her portfolio reflects a unique talent for painting in the colors, imagery, and styles of the mid-20th Century period.


Cocktail Social – Limited Edition Print – Kerry Beary


Pussy Pad – Limited Edition Print – Kerry Beary

The presentation of Kerry Beary’s work at The Purple Moon is the artist’s first showing in West Virginia. With original paintings and limited edition prints the show opens on Friday, December 14th, with a Holiday reception from 5 – 8 pm.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 19 – Maddux of California Flamingo Figurines


Pair of #309 Flamingo Figurines– Maddux of California – circa 1960

Maddux of California began production of pottery, especially figurines and planters, in the 1930’s. The firm began in Laguna Beach but moved to Los Angeles in the early 1940’s. 

Maddux’s wares were primarily sold at 5&10 cent stores and offered as S&H Green Stamp premiums. The company’s bird figurines were among the most collected of the Maddux’s pieces with the flamingo figurines being by far the hottest collectible – then and now.


Catalog Page Showing Flamingo Figurines– Maddux of California – 1960

With their delicate necks and subtle coloring and highlights these graceful figurines are a great accessory for any mid-century inspired decor and make a wonderful and unique gift for the Holidays. Watch out for repairs – these fragile pieces are often found with repairs which greatly diminishes the value. Maddux flamingo figurines in top condition will run you about $75 – $100 with planters featuring this spectacular bird going for about $150.

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The Passing of Winslow Anderson


Winslow Anderson – 1917 – 2007

Former Blenko Glass designer Winslow Anderson passed away on December 10th, 2007.  During his years at Blenko, from 1947 to 1953, Anderson moved the Milton glass producer fully into modernism. The designs he created while at Blenko are among the best the company ever produced.

In addition to his time at Blenko, Mr. Anderson led a full and productive life. His obituary is as follows:

Artist, designer, and sailor, Winslow Anderson, 90, died Monday, December 10, 2007 at his home. The son of the late Paula and George Anderson, he was born May 17, 1917 in Plymouth, Mass. In his youth he wanted to design swift boats, but instead he was recruited into the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, where, in 1947, he graduated magna cum laude with Departmental Honors in Industrial ceramic Design. During WWII he served in the United States Army in Pawling, NY as a topographical draughtsman. While trained as a ceramist, upon graduation Mr. Anderson was hired as the first full-time designer at Blenko Glass, Milton, West Virginia. During his six year tenure, 1947-1953, he was instrumental in creating new, modern functional designs in vibrant colors, which greatly enhanced Blenko’s reputation. He often told friends how the glass itself was the best designer: he stated, “The glass did things in the process of being made; it revealed new ideas to me.” The Museum of Modern Art presented Anderson with a “Good Design Award” for his bent neck decanter, which acknowledged his elegant, simplified designs in 1950. In 1953 he went to work for the Lenox China and Crystal Company in Trenton, New Jersey as both designer and the design director. He remained there until his retirement in 1980, when he chose to move back to West Virginia. Upon retirement Winn sailed his boat, the Ti Fi, painted and traveled the world. He will be remembered by his friends as a witty storyteller, a collector with a most discerning eye and as a visionary designer. Donations in his memory can be made to either the Huntington Museum of Art or the Putnam County Animal Shelter.

Goodbye Mr. Anderson. Thank you for the what you left for us to remember you by – we always will.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 18 – Modern Collector Books

For collectors of mid-century modern design reference books are almost like the old Sears Wish Book catalog. These books compile all of the wonderful pieces, their histories and provide current price guides which helps the good modern hunter in their quest for the next great find.

 Some of the best on our shelf are:


50’s Furniture– Schiffer Books – Leslie Pina

Leslie Pina’s book, 50’s Furniture, is a must have for anyone looking for the true mid-century modern look. Eames, Nelson, McCobb, all of the great designers and their fabulous creations are here.


Fifties Furniture by Paul McCobb: Directional Designs– Schiffer Books – Paul McCobb, Jennifer A. Lindbeck, Michael Ellison, Leslie Pina

Paul McCobb was one of the preeminent designers of modern home furnishings. This books details the work and contemporary furniture by one of the 1950’s most sought designers.


Heywood Wakefield– Schiffer Books – Harris Gertz

The Bible of Hey-Wake.


Knoll Home & Office Furniture– Schiffer Books – Nancy Schiffer

The name Knoll is synonymous worldwide with the best in modern furniture design. Visually exciting, comprehensive in content, this book documents the modern furniture sold and produced by Knoll from 1938 to 2005.


Modern Furniture Designs– Schiffer Books – Klaus-Jurgen Sembach

A comprehensive and abundantly illustrated collection of the most outstanding modern furniture around the world. Now with a guide to current values, this is an indispensable book for collectors, architects, designers, and furniture historians.

Books always make great gifts and these modern design books are available direct from Schiffer Books or at your favorite local bookstore.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 17 – Modernism Magazine


Modernism Magazine– Deco> Midcentury> Pop> Postmodern – Quarterly

Modernism Magazine was founded and is published by David Rago owner of the United States’ premier 20th Century design auction auction house – Rago Arts and Auction Center in Lambertville, NJ.

Each issue of this fine magazine showcases the best of design from the Art Deco, mid-century modern, pop and postmodern movements. The current issue includes a fabulous article on Blenko Glass which was of particular interest to me. Every issue is a true gem for anyone with an interest in modern design, architecture and art.

This quarterly publication is one that is sure to please even the most finicky person on your Holiday gift list. At $19.95 a year it is also a real bargain! Easily available by subscribing online this gift is as convenient as it is wonderful.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 16 – House of Cards by Charles Eames


House of Cards Set– Designed by Charles Eames – Published by Ravensburger Spiele – Germany – 1952

For the playful person in your life a House of Cards set is a wonderful gift. Perfect for the person who needs to take a few minutes in the afternoon to just take their mind somewhere else and away from work.

Originally produced in 1952, these die-cup cards have 6 slots in each card to make construction of amazing structures possible. Each card is decorated with what Charles Eames and his wife Ray described as “good things.”


House of Cards– Designed by Charles Eames – Published by Ravensburger Spiele – Germany – 1952


Sample Cards from House of Cards Deck– Designed by Charles Eames – Published by Ravensburger Spiele – Germany – 1952

The set includes two 32 cards decks and the one shown here is an original from the 1950’s published by Ravensberger Spiele of Germany. An original set like this, in good condition and with no missing cards, will run you up to $100 but will send chills down the spine of any mid-century modern collector. There are current editions of these cards available for about $35.

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Holiday Gift Guide – Day 15 – Christmas Memories


Detail of the Christmas Tree I– 2007 – C. Hamsher

As I hit the halfway point on the Holiday Gift Guide it occurred to me that the best gift from any Christmas has always been the memories the season brings.

This came to me as the modern lady and I were driving to Huntington today to pick up our Christmas tree at Lavalette Nursery.

This is a rediscovered tradition in our family. I was raised in Huntington and every Christmas I remember all of us piling into the car and driving up 5th Street hill to pick out the tree. The place was simply magic – the brisk air mixed with the smell of fresh-cut pine trees only served to increase the excitement of knowing that we would then go back home and pull out all of those old boxes from attic that contained the decorations.

We started getting our trees at Lavalette again last year after searching high and low for a flocked tree. I had remembered then that Lavalette did flocking years ago and after the modern lady made a phone call it was confirmed and we had one on order. It was simply gorgeous.

We decided to do the same this year. As we drove down I-64 today I could not help but recall all of those Christmas trees as a kid and some of the same excitement I used to have back then returned.

Now let me be clear – I sometimes pride myself on being a bit of a curmudgeon. I tend to bah-humbug a bit and the family has come to expect it. It is really not that I don’t like Christmas – but more simply that I am a creature of habit and any holiday seriously wrecks my routine.

But today I enjoyed going to get the tree. We even stopped at the Huntington Mall on the way back and did some Christmas shopping for the kids and I enjoyed that too.

When we got back home we pulled out all of those old boxes with the decorations and trimmed the tree. I could have done without the frustration which came while untangling the lights and tinsel but the rest was nice – very nice. We both tend to stay quite busy and time together just doing stuff does not come too often. We had a good day and the tree is, once again, gorgeous.


Detail of the Christmas Tree II– 2007 – C. Hamsher

But more important, we now have a new memory – the memory of today. One of decorating the tree, buying the presents , laughing, loving and just being together.

It will likely be the best gift I receive this year and certainly will be the one which will last the longest.

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