Just a Modern Guy

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.

#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.

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.

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.

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.

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.