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Birds By Toikka

Posted on by Deb Bluestein

Professor Oiva Toikka is a Finnish glass designer. Born in Viipuri (Vyborg), he is renowned for his designs for glassware for Iittala the Finnish design company. Originally trained in ceramics, he took up glass design later in life. Along with his glassware designs, Toikka is best known after 1973 for his designs for the iittala ‘glass birds’ series. Toikka’s designs are produced at the glass factory at Nuutajärvi.

 

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Collection of Birds by Toikka

Toikka has also enjoyed success in a number of other creative outlets. He has worked as a stage and costume designer, generally working with Finnish director Lisbeth Landefort although in recent years, he has also been associated with productions by the Finnish National Opera. Through the years, he has also contributed textile designs to the Marimekko collections from time to time.
Jack Dawson, who has studied Toikka’s work tends to view it within the context of general trends in glass design as opposed to a strictly Nordic sensibility. Toikka himself has sought to look beyond his own era and has instead harkened back to an earlier aesthetic. When asked to define his work, Toikka has said: ”Baroque is exactly the right word to describe my work – after all, one of the word’s original meanings is ”an irregular pearl.”
Toikka’s style deviates from the streamlined aesthetic of Scandinavian design in a rich, imaginative and bold way. He has been awarded some of the most prestigious design accolades in the world, including the lunning Prize, Pro Finlandia Medal, World Glass Now Award 85, Kaj Franck Design Prizw and the Prince Eugen Medal.

Isamu Noguchi Floor Lamp at Modele’s!!

Posted on by Deb Bluestein

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the twentieth century’s most important and critically acclaimed sculptors. Through a lifetime of artistic experimentation, he created sculptures, gardens, furniture and lighting designs, ceramics, architecture, and set designs. His work, at once subtle and bold, traditional and modern, set a new standard for the reintegration of the arts.

 

“All that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari.”

With the warm glow of light cast through hand-made paper on a bamboo frame, Isamu Noguchi utilized traditional Japanese materials to bring modern design to the home.

Like the beauty of falling leaves and the cherry blossom, Noguchi wrote, Akari are “poetic, ephemeral, and tentative.” And he was fond of saying, “All that you require to start a home are a room, a tatami, and Akari. ”

 

 

Noguchi Floor Lamp, Model 14A. Currently available at Modele’s.

 

The Making of Akari Light Sculpture

The fabrication of Akari in Japan at Ozeki Company since 1951 follows the traditional methods for Japanese Gifu lanterns. Each Akari is hand crafted beginning with the making of washi paper from the inner bark of the mulberry tree. Bamboo ribbing is stretched across wooden molded forms, which resembles sculpture.

 

The washi paper is cut into wide or narrow strips depending upon the size and shape of the lamp and then glued onto both sides of the framework. Once the glue has dried and the shape is set the internal wooden form is disassembled and removed. The outcome is a resilient paper form, which can be collapsed and packed flat for shipping. The Akari package includes Noguchi’s patented metal wire stretcher and support system.

A genuine Akari light will have a stamped red sun and half moon with Japan written under the symbol on the shade. Next to the symbol will be the signature “I. Noguchi”. The lamps age gracefully due to the quality of the paper.

A first for Modele’s: a silk Fortuny chandelier!

Posted on by Deb Bluestein

Many of you know I have a love affair with Venice, and with Fortuny fabric that comes from there (800. Per yard with a 2 yard minimum, ouch!). We just received, in the Magnolia Village store, a Fortuny Samarkanda pendant light with suspension disc 48” in diameter. It is stunning. This is on ivory silk with a deco pattern, hand-made in Venice. They retail for $3,800. online (original retail was $5,000. before they were available online). Our price is $1,900.

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Fotuny Silk Samarkanda with Disc

We also have a pair of pillows in Fortuny fabric. These don’t come in very often and our price of $395. for the pair is a great opportunity for someone who loves this Venetian fabric as much as I do.

Large new delivery in Magnolia Village, Tuesday Sept. 20

Posted on by Deb Bluestein

Just in from a long-time consignor who loves to decorate, and moves regularly!  We received a lovely collection of traditional pieces, including some Asian antique pieces and an 1850 English reproduction of a French desk. Other items from this delivery include:

  • Vintage Italian walnut secretary with a beautiful honey toned burled veneer. Drop front writing desk, drawers below and shelves behind glass doors above.
  • Antique Chinese table that is just about counter height. This would make a lovely small kitchen island or a great perch with a couple stools for a café table.
  • Sculptural and decorative French style settee with custom painted frame (grays/taupe) and superbly custom upholstered in a Pollack striped fabric named Stripe It Rich.  Trimmed in antiqued brass nail-heads.  This little gem is in our display window this week. I love it!
  • Pair large scale A. Rudin lounge chairs…if you’re 6’4’’ these are your chairs!
  • Pair antique Chinese rosewood with stone inlay in back.  These are a dense wood that is hard to find these days. The seats are flat and they are great to use as a table with a stack of books and a lamp, or flanking a chest. These were purchased from Porter Davis Antiques in the early 90’s. Antique Asian pieces also mix with modern styles and add warmth.