Hazel Atlas "Gay-Bar" Shaker Set

1950's Hazel Atlas cocktail shaker set in a gay '90's pattern. The set is called "Gay-Bar" and features a cartoon style, old-timey bar scene. Surronding the shaker are six classic drink recipes. This set includes shaker and top, 5 cocktail and 3 hi-ball glasses (or "shorties" and "longies" as the set called them.)

Inside this "Gay-Bar" a bartender dutifully attends to his customers. At one end of the bar is a lady with a parisol; a dog, seemingly attacking a flea, at her feet. At the other end of the bar, a daper man, complete with bowler hat and cane, keeps the requisite cuspidor close by.

Drink recipes on the shaker show you how to make a Whiskey Sour, a Bacardi, a Bronx, an Alexander, a Daiquiri, a Dubonnet, and a Side Car.

"Side Car"
1/3 Lemon Juice
1/3 Cointreau
1/3 Brandy
Shake well with ice.
Strain and serve.

This drink set was produced in the 1950's by Atlasware (Hazel Atlas) and distributed by Gailstyn. The shaker is marked with the distinctive Hazel Atlas H over A logo.

Orignally a 14-pc. set, 1 "shortie" and 3 "longies" have been lost to posterity.

Condition is absolutely wonderful. The graphics have no wear or loss and the glassware no chips or cracks. One of the cocktail glasses has a "dip" in the lip that is smooth and appears to be a manufacturers flaw. Some of the registration on the graphics is a bit off, but that is to be expected of mass produced items.

Available on our Etsy shop:
Hazel Atlas "Gay-Bar" Shaker Set, 10-pc.


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Continental Art Company Plaster Lamps - Pair of Nude Dancers with Capes

Pair of dancing nudes, male and female, with capes. Captured as if in mid-leap. Gracefully rendered. The dancers sensually curve as they effortlessly float through the air towards each other.

This gorgeous pair of plaster, figural lamps is from Continental Art, Co. The lamps are marked on the base, "Continental Art, Co. 1952." One of the lamps still has its paper sticker on it.

The lamp design was created by John W. Lindner of Milwaukee, WI. We located the design patent application, D167,046, filed on February 14, 1952.

From the muscle definition on the figures, down to the golden, laced, sandals, Lindner's design captures the dancers in beautiful detail.

An upcoming auction values two identical lamps, with shades, at between $750 - $1,400.


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Rosenthal-Netter Italian Ceramic Bowl

What an awesome find!!

We just ran across this amazing, mid-centrury, Italian ceramic bowl, and it turns out it is a Rosenthal-Netter commissioned bowl from the early '60's. Not sure if it was made for Rosenthal-Netter by Bitossi or a different Italian ceramics firm from that time period.

On the bottom, the bowl is marked, "Italy" with a stylized "T" that crosses over most of the word. There is also a marking of "49/6B". The bowl does not have the original Rosenthal-Netter sticker on it, but we have seen the same style bowl, with the same stylized "Italy" and "49/6B", and a vase of the same pattern, both with the "Created in Italy for Rosenthal-Netter, Inc." tag. Based on what we have seen, we are confident that this is indeed a Rosenthal-Netter piece.

Italian ceramics from the '50's and '60's are, at times, difficult, if not impossible, to identify correctly without the labels. Even with the labels, the maker or designer of a piece may not be stated.

There does seem to be some confusion, though, about Rosenthal-Netter, another company called Raymor, and Italian pottery from the '50's and '60's. Many people think that Rosenthal-Netter and Raymor created ceramic pieces. They did not. They were US importers of Italian ceramic items.

Both Rosenthal-Netter and Raymor imported pieces from Bitossi and other Italian ceramics makers. In addition to commissioning some special pieces, they also bid for stock pieces. Because of this, some pieces imported by Rosenthal-Netter can look very similar to pieces imported by Raymor.

Another area of confusion is with the Italian makers themselves, notably, Bitossi.

Often times people refer to Bitossi as a designer, but Bitossi was a manufacturer of ceramics. The head designer at Bitossi during the '50's and '60's was Aldo Londi. Of course, not all Bitossi pieces were designed by Aldo Londi so a Bitossi piece may not be an Aldo Londi piece.

Confusing? You bet.

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Stunning, 1940's, Art Deco Styled, Manning-Bowman Chrome Coffee Set

Amazing, art deco style, chrome coffee serving set, ca. 1940's, from Manning-Bowman. Percolator coffee server holds 12 cups and has beautiful curved-top wooden handles, curved wood feet and four sets of ribbed rings. The pour spout handle has the same curved wood shape as the side handles. The cream and sugar feature half-circle wood handles and matching ribbed rings at the base. Long chrome tray has sleek curved wood handles for carrying and wood, bun feet.

This is a standout set that would look wonderful in any art deco collection.

This coffee set is manufactured by Manning-Bowman. Manning-Bowman made many different styles of coffee makers and other home appliances. The '30's, '40's and '50's were pretty much their heyday. We've seen many of their ads in old Life magazines.

The percolator has a new cord, and it works. We tried it out with just water, no coffee, and it started to "perc" in less than a minute.

This set is in wonderful vintage condition. There is some pitting on the outside of the percolator, but hardly noticeable. There are some light scratches on the tray where the pieces rest, but nothing deep. Cream and sugar look almost brand new. There are no cracks in any of the wood.

Available on our Etsy site:

SOLD

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Poppytrail by Metlox "California Apple" Pitcher & Bowl

   

Found this wonderful ceramic pitcher and serving bowl in the "California Apple" pattern from Poppytrail by Metlox. Each piece features a motif with two apples hanging from a branch. The handle of the pitcher is cleverly shaped like the branch of the tree.

The "California Apple" pattern is from 1949.

Available on our Etsy shop:
Pitcher
Serving Bowl

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More about Metlox Pottery is available on our "More About ..." page.

More About ... Metlox Pottery

Vintage Hanging Ashtray in Mod Red Swirl Glaze

Very cool, very mod, vintage hanging ashtray with a wonderful red, orange, yellow and black swirled glaze.

You could use this as a hanging planter or turn it into a hanging lamp. The hook at the top has basic lamp hardware so it would be simple to thread an electric cord into it.

We found this hanging ashtray at a local consignment shop. We were surprised that it had been there for several months before we picked it up. We go into that shop a couple times a month and we had never seen it before.

Where was it hiding? We don't know.

Why hadn't anyone else picked up the awesome piece? Some questions just can't be answered.

Anyway ... Here it is.

The piece isn't marked, so we have no idea who made it.

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