Spaces: No-name room

Since renovations to the house are ongoing, I don't have any final full-room photos to share...and may not for a while. In the next few posts, I thought I'd show you a few corners, walls, and nooks and  here and there throughout the house.

These shots a room between the formal living room and the family room/dining area. We haven't decided quite yet whether to make it an office or a breakfast room. but for now it holds some of our favorite things.

My Remploy dropfront desk, full of pewter and silver treasures

Frank Lloyd Wright brass picture, vintage gooseneck lamp,
Bitossi bird, studio pottery, mid-century "flash cards,"
and various Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian pewter and silver

My daughter's vintage camera, Carstens floor vase,
and repro George Nelson clock

A favorite Ib Kofod-Larsen chair

Corner built-ins with some favorite Scheurich pottery,
Festivo candleholders, Frankoma pieces, along with
 vintage glass beaker and mortar and pestle
from my grandfather's drugstore

Quistgaard redux

No, you're not seeing double.

You may recall that we had a beautiful teak desk by Jens Quistgaard in the store a few months ago. Now we're pleased to have a rosewood version of the same desk. Aside from the fact that this desk was created by Quistgaard, one of my favorites, the really cool thing about the design is that it's convertible.

Rosewood desk by Jens Quistgaard for Lovig

Alternate view

A Saucepan for My Wife

A few days ago, I posted about the reissue of Dansk Kobenstyle cookware, designed by Jens Quistgaard in 1956. Stig Guldberg made a documentary film about Quistgaard and his craft that is next on a list of things to buy for myself, as I am a devoted Quistgaard admirer. I learned about this film when I ran across the two-minute clip from it on YouTube, shown below.

A reviewer of the film said:

He just wanted to make a saucepan for his wife. That's how it all began.

But soon his design attracted attention from around the world and began a long career--most notably as chief designer of Dansk Designs. The designer Jens Quistgaard is not easy to pigeonhole. He covers a wide field, both as a human being and as an artist. He is an individualist who goes his own way, avoiding publicity; which explains why he became world famous while remaining unknown in his own country, Denmark.

The film was shot over a period of three years, ending just a few months before Quistgaard died in 2008 at the age of 89. He is shown in his home, talking about his life, his work and his motivation as a designer. It also shows him at his workbench and at his exhibitions.

The film runs 36 minutes, but there are eight bonus clips totalling 28 more minutes in which Quistgaard talks about specific designs from his collections. The film comes with a full-color 56-page booklet in Danish and English which contains dozens of photographs and illustrations. The set costs around $40.

From amazon.com
All still images from amazon.com

Guldberg documentary

Jens Quistgaard at work

Organized, probably. Neat, not so much.

An assortment of Quistgaard's designs

youtube.com

Uploaded by jensquistgaard on Nov 25, 2009

It's giveaway time again!

Yes, it's giveaway time at Mid2Mod again, and like last time, I'm running a blog giveaway in conjunction with a giveaway my SIL is doing on Facebook.

I'm offering four pairs of small silver Dansk candleholders designed to hold 1/4-inch tapers. Included are the onion style by Jens Quistgaard, doves and leaves by Gunnar Cyrén and stars, whose designer I do not know. (I estimate the value of these eight candleholders to be approximately $120, based on the average price of the same items currently for sale on eBay and Etsy.)

Dansk candleholders

The rules of the blog giveaway are simple. All you have to do is be a public Google follower (which means you must show up in the Google Followers box as a site member, not follow some other way) AND leave a comment on this post. It's important to do both.

If you're already a Google follower and comment regularly, I'll know who you are, so just say hi. If you don't comment much, remind me that you're already a member, and I'll look you up to verify. (Occasionally, the name attached to your comment is different from the one in the Followers box. If that's the case, tell me, because if I can't find you, I can't count you.)

I'll announce the lucky winner on Saturday, August 4 here on my blog. If you win, you'll email me your address, and I'll ship your prize right out to you. (And, yes, I'll ship internationally!)

It's easy to be a site member. In the Google Followers box to the right of this post, click on Join this site. Once you have set up a Google account, click Follow publicly, and you're done.

As a bonus, when you enter my blog giveaway, you'll automatically be entered in our Facebook giveaway, receiving an extra entry if you're already participating in that contest. You won't believe what my SIL is giving away this time!

Vintage Knoll Cyclone table by Isamu Noguchi

Yes, that's right. He's giving away a genuine vintage 36" diameter Noguchi Cyclone table, which is sale priced at $1100 in the store. These sell new today for $1898.

To enter for a chance to win this iconic table, go to our Facebook page and follow the rules for that contest. And remember you get an extra entry if you join my site (or are already a member) AND comment on this post.

Kobenstyle is finally back!

After an absence of more than 20 years, Dansk is producing its iconic modernist Kobenstyle cookware again, and it's being made available exclusively at Crate and Barrel at first. At a later date, it may be carried by other retailers.

Designed for Dansk by Jens Quistgaard in 1956, the line of enameled steel oven-to-table cookware has remained extremely popular with collectors. Originally manufactured in Denmark, in 1966 Dansk changed to a French manufacturer. The early Danish pieces have the "four ducks" logo and are generally preferred by collectors. (Trivia: Dansk was started by the American entrepreneurs Ted and Martha Nierenberg and has always been an American company, despite its somewhat misleading name. It is owned today by the Lenox Corporation.)

The original line included a casserole in two sizes with uniquely sculptural lids and handles, a baking pan, paella pan, stockpot, frying pan, pitcher, coffee pot, butter warmer and a fondue pot. Over the years, Kobenstyle was produced in black, white, yellow, red, blue, turquoise, kelly green, hunter green, brown and almond, usually with a white interior.

The new line was originally expected to be produced in red, blue and white, as reported back in March on sites such as Apartment Therapy and Altruism in the Morning. However, some last-minute production changes must have taken place, because Crate and Barrel is offering it in red, black and white. The line includes a 4-quart casserole for $99.95 (suggested $143), a 6-quart casserole for $119.95 (suggested $172), a 16"Wx10"Dx2.33"H rectangular baker for $99.95 (suggested $143) and a 16-ounce butter warmer for $39.95 (suggested $58.)

crateandbarrel.com

crateandbarrel.com

crateandbarrel.com

In the store: Transforming desk

When my SIL saw this desk on Craigslist, he recognized it immediately as a Lovig desk and knew he had to have it. He talked with the seller, who said he was planning to raise the price on the piece but would let him have it for the lower price if he bought it right away. Naturally, my SIL hotfooted it right over and gave the man his money.

The design is attributed to either Jens Quistgaard or Paul Lovig Nielsen, depending on who is writing about the desk. No matter who designed it, this desk is the original Transformer. Look at the way it changes before your very eyes!

Jens Quistgaard desk for Lovig

The littles are growing

I posted in August about starting a collection of small silverplate Dansk candleholders for 1/4" tapers. At the time, I only had the onion style by Jens Quistgaard and the leaf style by Gunnar Cyrén.

Since then, I have added doves, also by Gunnar Cyrén, and stars. I haven't found out yet when the stars were produced or who designed them. They're the largest of the group, measuring 3" across. If you know anything about them, I'd appreciate the information.

Fall is finally in the air

Fall doesn't come quickly to North Central Texas. Our blistering hot summer lingers for as long as it can, so when we finally awake to crisp air, it's cause for rejoicing. In celebration of cool autumn mornings, I thought I'd share photos of items in harvest colors that we have in the store now or have already sold...great for creating a cozy seating spot or a beautiful fall tablescape.

Fall Color Things for Sale in the Store

Swag lamp

Leaf dish

Gold Murano art glass vase

Root bowl

Brown sommerso vase

Brown art glass bowl

Jens Quistgaard Kobenstyle fondue pot

Italian vase

George Nelson lamp

Baumritter Danish style chairs

Fall Color Things We've Already Sold

Blenko decanter

Swivel chair

Danish chairs

McCoy vase

Velvet daybed

Art glass bowl

Danish chair

McCoy Unipet bowl

Carter Brothers scoop chair

Bowl, Italian

Richard Schultz for Knoll daybed

The littles

Lately I've developed a fascination with small Dansk candleholders, the ones that hold the 1/4" tiny tapers. So far I have four of the onion-shapes, all of which are marked "Dansk Designs Denmark" and were designed by Jens Quistgaard in 1957. These candleholders are surprisingly heavy for their size and have an interesting chamfered base that allows them to sit straight or at a tilt. Interestingly, one set is slightly smaller than the other, and I haven't found any information to explain when the change in size took place. The larger is about 2 1/2" tall, and the smaller is approximately 2 1/4" tall.  I also have two leaf-shapes that are 2 1/4" long. They are designed by Gunnar Cyrén, who worked for Dansk from 1970-1976.

.

My Dansk onions (by Jens Quistgaard, Denmark, 1957)
and leaf candleholders (Gunnar Cyrén, Japan, 1970s)

I've found another style of the small Dansk candleholders...a bird design also by Gunnar Cyrén.  I think they would look good in a grouping with the onion and leaf designs. To buy or not to buy...another tough decision.

Dansk bird candleholders (by Gunnar Cyrén, Japan, c. 1970s)
ebay.com

Starkeld of Scandinavia

I recently became better acquainted with a Swedish website called Starkeld of Scandinavia that sells beautiful ceramics, metals, glass, tableware and other items. I posted a photo of Timo Sarpaneva Festivo candlesticks from the site back in March, but I've spent time lately giving it a thorough viewing, and I've exchanged several pleasant emails with Lars Andreasson, the owner.

The company ships internationally, and there are many pieces I wish they'd ship my way. Here are a few that I love. If you give the site a look, I'm sure you'll find just as many that make your heart beat a little faster.

All images from starkeld.com

Annikki Hovisaari for Arabia

Okki Laine for Kupittaan Savi

Oiva Toikka for Rörstrand

Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg

 Per Lütken for Holmegaard

Nils Landford for Orrefors

Erik Höglund for Boda

Vicke Lindstrand for Kosta

Paro candleholders

Pewter candlesticks from GAB

Gunnar Ander for Ystad Metal

Jens Quistgaard for Dansk

I bought a pair of these tiny Quistgaard candlesticks not long ago. They have a base that allows them to stand up straight or lean. Very cool.