You win some; you lose some

Several days ago, I started watching an item on eBay. Not just any item, mind you. It was a wish list item...a Rosenthal Studio Line Porcelaine Noire kingfisher by Tapio Wirkkala. I already have one in white, and I've been on the lookout for its black mate at a reasonable price. For a few days, I thought I had found it.

Then, as so often happens, the price went up drastically in the last hours of bidding and sold for more than triple my bid. In my opinion, the high bidder considerably overpaid...or just wanted it more than I did.

The search continues.

ebay.com - hoboro99

Christmas wish list: eBay

Tis the season when friends and relatives start making holiday gift lists, so I thought I'd make it simple this year for anyone planning to buy for me. Each week from now till Christmas, I'll post my wish list...and I promise not to scrimp on cost. :)

This week I searched eBay, and I found several things I think would make me pretty jolly. Of course, those near and dear to me may have to take out a couple of loans, but I'm sure they think I'm worth it. Right?

First on my list is a Tapio Wirkkala tea set. The seller has it marked down to only $208.25. Perfect Secret Santa gift, don't you think?

ebay.com - mona_buc

My fondness for glass is well-known, so it should come as no surprise that I'd be thrilled with this Timo Sarpaneva Orkidea vase, especially since it's only priced at $489.

ebay.com - papuccito

I've decided that no house is complete without at least one piece of Adrian Pearsall, and this chair would suit me just perfectly. With bids starting at $550, it's really not too much to hope for, is it?

ebay.com - orionsobjects

Everyone knows my weakness for Oiva Toikka birds, so I thought this Alaskan Loon would make a nice addition to the list. Compared to the Festive Pheasant at $1,600, this $590 beauty is a steal.

Oiva Toikka Alaskan Loon
ebay.com - carelianfox

Then there's this great looking Hans Wegner Ox chair, priced at a mere $9,800.

Hans Wegner Ox chair
ebay.com - colemason

Last, but by no means least, is this newly recovered, buttery leather Hans Wegner Papa Bear chair and ottoman for $11,500.

Hans Wegner Papa Bear chair
ebay.com - skwm

Next week I'll scour Etsy for just the right gifts. I'm sure my friends and family members are already rolling their eyes and saying, "Good luck with that." But a girl can dream.

Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal

We recently had our offer accepted on eBay for a Tapio Wirkkala black kingfisher figurine by Rosenthal, like the one in a photo below. We purchased it from a seller in Germany, and I'm sure you'll see a photo of the actual piece when it comes in. Just a few weeks earlier, we won a pair of beautiful white Rosenthal vases designed by Wirkkala. And, of course, we're still on a quest for one of the large Pollo vases at a price we can afford. Accomplishing this may be more a matter of luck than skillful hunting.

Wirkkala is fast becoming one of my favorite designers because of the simplicity and elegance of his pieces. We currently have one of his Ultima Thule bowls and have sold other pieces of that collection in the store in the past.

I have posted a couple of times about Wirkkala...once about his glassware and another time about a broader range of his designs. Lately, though, I've really been drawn to his black and white matte designs for Rosenthal. His cylindrical Variation collection in black was the first application of Rosenthal "porcelaine noire."

Wirkkala began designing for Rosenthal in the early 1950s, but the Studio-Line (Studio-Linie in German) pieces of the early 1960s are much easier to find, though still rather pricey to purchase. They're so beautiful, however, that to me they are worth every penny.

Rosenthal vases by Wirkkala in our store

Wirkkala kingfisher figurines
1stdibs.com

botterweg.com

marcolagerweij.nl

styleforum.com

icollector.com

styleforum.com

botterweg.com

Porcelaine noir Pollo vase
antiquesnavigator.com

Pretty Pollo

I've embarked on a new quest. I'm looking for a Pollo vase by Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal. The vase isn't that hard to find, but getting one that's affordable is going to be a challenge. They usually go for about $125, which is quite a bit for a vase that's only 5" long and less than 4" high. I've found a couple on eBay that are unbelievably cheap, so I imagine the bidding is going to be fairly intense. Luckily, there's no rush, so I can bid whenever I see one at the right price. Eventually, I'll win one. In the meantime, I'm enjoying looking at pictures of them.

Pollo vase by Tapio Wirkkala
ebay.com

Beautiful detail around the neck of the vase
ebay.com

Rosenthal markings on vase
ebay.com