Category Archives: Museums

Why-Oh-Why Ohio

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Ohio, USA. A state with some of the best antique malls in the country. Image from Best Maps US.

Why-oh-why Ohio? Because it is still the best antique mall we’ve found! Ohio is the place to go for a great variety of items of every possible era and at reasonable prices. While we journey to Ohio at least once a year, this year’s trip included a very special guest antique collector and friend, Nancy.

Day 1

Our Freakin’ ‘Tiquen 2018 adventures started after an early and hearty breakfast on August 26^th, the three of us headed out to our first stop in Ohio, Pottery City Antique Mall in East Liverpool, Ohio. For Chris, it seemed like the blink of an eye as he slept most of the way!

The Pottery City Gallery Antique Mall in East Liverpool, Ohio.

Russel Wright American Modern Serving Bowl.

A Russel Wright American Modern vegetable bowl that Chris picked up at the Pottery City Galleries, in East Liverpool, Ohio.

We met up with friends who live about an hour away from the mall and we spent a pleasant afternoon shopping and catching up. The Freakin’ ‘Tiquen Guys started small, walking away with a Russel Wright vegetable bowl and a Revere handled basket. A stop for lunch at a local restaurant, Hot Dog Shoppe, and the three of us were on way to Cincinnati.

Hot Dog Shoppe just around the corner from the Pottery City Gallery Antique Mall. Good food and good prices. Image from TripAdvisor.com

Day 2

After a restful night, we headed out to the Flore nce Antique Mall, Florence Kentucky. Nancy found this one and it was a new experience for all of us. Large and well laid out, we purchased a ceramic deer statue, possibly by one of the California pottery companies. Nancy found the first of her treasures, a vintage beaded hand bag. Also purchased: an autobiography by Arlene Francis and When Democracy Builds by Frank Lloyd Wright (1945). Generally, the prices we found more than fair and the available stock diverse.

The Florence Antique Mall in Florence, Kentucky.

: The interior of the Florence Antique Mall.

: Another view inside the Florence Antique Mall.

The first vintage handbag that Nancy found on the trip.

The ceramic Art Deco deer that Chris purchased at the Florence Antique Mall.

When Democracy Builds by Frank Lloyd Wright (1945).

Our next stop for the day brought us to the Ohio Valley Antique Mall just north of Cincinnati. Our successful day concluded with a pair of Kensington Stratford candle holders (1939) designed by S.C. Brickley, a Here’s How, cocktail recipe book (1941), and a painted wooden jewelry box attributed to Paul Frankl. Nancy purchased a beautiful quilt, a vintage handbag and several books.

Ohio Valley Antique Mall in Fairfield, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati.

: Ohio Valley Antique Mall.

: The Ohio Valley Antique Mall, interior.

Kensington Stratford candle holders, designed by S. C. Brickley in 1939.

Stratford console set, Kensington Aluminum.

Kensington Aluminum S. C. Brickland’s 1939 Stratford candleholders with Lurelle Guild’s 1934 Stratford comport.

Art Deco painted wooden box attributed to designer Paul Frankl.

Anthony at the Ohio Valley Antique Mall.

Anthony makes a new friend at the Ohio Valley Antique Mall.

After a full day of shopping, we called it quits for the night. Near our hotel we dined at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Fairfield Ohio. We can recommend this eatery after having a delicious dinner and excellent service.

Day 3

West Chester Antique Center, West Chester, Ohio. Image from gettothebc.com.

Day three we headed to the West Chester Antique Center (10 minutes from where we were staying) in West Chester, Ohio. We quickly picked up a pair of Ronson Athena Goddess bookends and a 1932 re-strike etching of E.T. Hurley’s 1921, Fountain Square. Although we found some great buys, the stock leans more to up-cycled and garage sale items.

A pair of 1930’s Athena Goddess bookends made by Ronson – Art Metal Works of Newark, NJ. Some people think they are creepy, I can see where they are coming from.

A quick 45 minute drive and we arrived at the Antiques Village, Dayton. Chris purchased a Roseville Moderne triple candle holder and a Wells Art Glaze casserole base while Nancy picked up a vintage cloche hat. As we finished relatively early, we headed back to the hotel for a bit of rest before dinner. We dined at The Chop House conveniently located next to hotel and within walking distance. Although a bit pricey, the food was excellent but the service was a bit uneven.

: Antiques Village in Dayton, Ohio. Image from Yelp.

: Roseville triple candle holder.

At Antiques Village, Chris found this Homer Laughlin Wells Art Glaze casserole base to add to his collection.

The great late 1920’s cloche hat that Nancy picked up.

: The Chop House in Dayton, Ohio. Image from ThreeBestRated.com

: Nancy and Anthony waiting for a table at The Chop House.

Day 4

Fields of Treasure, West Carrollton, Ohio.

Fields of Treasure in West Carrollton, Ohio.

Wednesday brought us a change of pace. Taking the morning off from antiquing, we went to the America’s Packard Museum in Downtown Dayton. Unfortunately, we arrived early and it wasn’t open yet. Nancy and Chris convinced Anthony to back-track almost to where we started our day to go to Fields of Treasures in West Carrollton, Ohio, a small privately owned shop with lots to look at. Nancy picked up a bar caddy set for $15 and Chris found 4 Homer Laughlin egg cups in the hard-to-find Clematis Pattern. Originally $15.00 for the set, the owner had them on sale for $10.00.

Homer Laughlin egg cups in the hard-to-find Clematis decal.

: America’s Packard Museum at 420 S. Ludlow Street, Dayton, Ohio.

: America’s Packard Museum, vertical sign detail.

Heading back to our previous destination, our timing couldn’t have been more perfect and the America’s Packard Museum opened just as we arrived. There is a nominal fee to enter and the museum is self guided. Examples represent the various cars from 1914 to the line’s demise in 1956. Placards clearly describe each car and the innovation each brought to the line. We spent a good part of the afternoon there before heading off to Springfield, Ohio.

Welcome to the America’s Packard Museum

Original renderings by chief designer

: 1914 Model 4-48 Runabout.

: 1932 Light Eight Coupe Roadster.

: 1934 Seven Passenger Touring Car.

: 1936 One Twenty Convertible Sedan.

: 1941 One Eighty Convertible Victoria by Darrin.

: 1947 Custom Super Clipper, originally owned by Al Capone.

Exiting from the main entrance of America’s Packard Museum.

We arrived a bit late to the Springfield Antique Center. Comprising of two complex’, we got through the first building and picked up 5 Universal plates in the Seminole pattern. There was just enough time for a quick walk through of some of the second building with the intent to come back the next day.

The Universal Potteries dinner plates with the Seminole decal that Chris bought. Image from worthpoint.com

After finding a hotel and settling in, we entertained ourselves by going to Half Price Books, Records and Magazines. If you have never been, and there is one in the vicinity, you are sure to walk away with one or two (or fifty) items.

Half Price Books in Dayton, Ohio. Image from Google Earth.

Day 5

Thursday, August 30th, 9:30 a.m. and we arrived at Mecca! The Heart of Ohio Antique Center is 122,000 sq. ft, 1425 booths and showcases with an additional 30,000 sq. ft. outdoor garden area. This place never disappoints and we took home our most expensive haul from here. The prices throughout are generally fair but with an occasional bargain thrown in for good measure.

Nancy ready to take on the Heart of Ohio Antique Mall.

At a good pace, and with comfy shoes, you can get through the complex in about 5-6 hours. It’s good to be prepared!

A couple of Carl Sorensen bronze bowls that all of us passed on at the Heart of Ohio Antique Mall.

Anthony picked up a 1934 Century of Progress cocktail shaker (the most expensive purchase on the trip) and a 1930’s moderné bridge lamp by the Rembrandt Lamp Company that the vendor described as mid-century. Chris picked up a pair of glass deco candle holders and a Chase chrome bubble candle holder. Nancy purchased a couple of vintage handbags and a few other items. We finished up sometime around 3:30 ( we lunched at their café midway through the day) and headed back to building 2 at the Springfield Antique Center.

: Chase chrome and cobalt glass “bubble” candle holder from the 1930’s.

: Pair of Heisey Ridgeleigh candle holders (1934 – 1943).

: Mid-1930’s Rembrandt bridge lamp with original shade.

: 1934 Century of Progress, aluminum recipe cocktail shaker made by A. P. Co. of La Grange, Illinois.

Two great vintage beaded handbag Nancy picked up at the Heart of Ohio.

Anthony finally found a Manning-Bowman “Carafon” insulated carafe in walnut finish. Nancy picked up few items but Chris left empty-handed.

Anthony’s Manning-Bowman Carafon in walnut (1931 – 1940), purchased at the Springfield Antique Center.

Day 6

The next morning, we headed toward the AAA 1-76 Antique Mall in Ravenna. Another large mall, we saw and discussed many great items. We passed on a deco copper sconce but Anthony did pick up a Chase chrome butter dish with matching butter-fork. (Anthony searched many years for the elusive butter-fork.)

: AAA I-76 Antique Mall Interior.

: Looking down an aisle at the AAA I-76 Antique Mall.

: Revere, Kensington Chase.

: Anthony’s favorite cases at the AAA I-76 Antique Mall. Here is a perfect example of the Deco that we drive for.

: So much Deco, so little money!

1939 N. Y. World's Fair enameled topped table.

The table that Anthony passed on. The “Table of Tomorrow”! An enameled topped 1939 New York World’s Fair Kitchen table.

He ultimately passed on 1939-40 World’s Fair enamel kitchen table but Chris purchased a small white deco vase. Nancy walked away with no purchase but with some great memories. With our day wrapped up, we headed to our final destination in Cleveland.

: Chase Butter Fork.

: Chase Butter Dish & Fork.

Day 7

We dedicated our final day to visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art. Large, with a mix of traditional and modern it is well laid out and free to the public. Picasso, Cezanne, Monet, and more are well represented as well as American artists such as Reginald Marsh, Grant Wood, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, to name but a few, are also well represented, The museum it is a must see when in town.

A view of the main concourse of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The atrium of the Cleveland Museum of Art showing the back of the original 1916 building.

This is no time for pictures. There are exhibits to see!

Water Lillies by Claude Monet, 1926.

: Pablo Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin, 1918.

: Fan, Salt Box, Melon, Pablo Picasso, 1909.

: George Bellow’s 1909 painting, Stag at Sharky’s.

: A Woman’s Work, 1912 by John Sloan.

: Regniald Marsh’s A Paramount Picture from 1934.

: January, 1940-41. One of the last paintings by Grant Wood.

: Maine Coast (1907), Rockwell Kent.

: Edward Hopper’s painting Hills, South Truro, 1930.

After a wonderful day at the museum, we headed home to admire our treasures and sleep in our own beds. Another successful driving for deco vacation and shared with our good friend Nancy.

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, ‘Tiquen’ Guys)

If you enjoyed this post you might also like these earlier posts –

Driving for Deco, “Freakin’ ‘Tiquen” Summer 2017

Driving for Deco, Freakin’ ‘tiquen 2017 Part 2, Heading Home

A Visit to the Cooper Hewitt Museum

One of the current exhibits at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, The Jazz Age, American Style in the 1920s, is a must see for any lover of Art Deco. The Cooper Hewitt, a division of the Smithsonian is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to historical and contemporary design. The Cooper Hewitt’s home is in the former Andrew Carnegie mansion at 5th Avenue and 91st Street, New York City. Completed in 1903 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966, the Cooper Hewitt opened there in 1976.

The Cooper Hewitt Museum and garden. Image from cooperhewitt.org

The entrance to the Jazz Exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Museuem

The Jazz Age Exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York City.

The Jazz Age is an exhibition in collaboration with the Cleveland Museum of Art. Encompassing all aspects of mid-1920’s through mid-1930’s modern design from furniture, to clothing to jewelry to art the exhibit is so large that it takes up two floors of the Cooper Hewitt. Going up the main staircase to the exhibit there are two large panels of wall covering from the Ziegfeld Theatre (1927-1966).

: Joseph Urban’s mural panels for the Ziegfeld Theatre. Painted by Lillian Gaetner.

: The Joy of Life mural panels from the Ziegfeld Theatre.

: Ziegfeld Theatre panels by Joseph Urban on display at the Cooper Hewitt.

The interior of the Ziegfeld Theatre, showing a portion of Joseph Urban’s mural The Joy of Life. Image from Pinterest.

The panels are oil on canvas and are on loan from the collection of Richard H. Driehaus. Period photographs do not justice to the mural, it comes to life when seen in color. When entering the exhibit proper there is a remarkable mirror, lamp and console table.

Collection of items from the Rose Iron Works, 1930.

Rose Iron Works mirror, console table and lamp, circa, 1930. On loan to the Cooper Hewitt from the Rose Iron Works Collection. Rose Iron Works, Cleveland, Ohio.

Paul Fehèr designed mirror for the Rose Iron Works, 1930.

Console table made by the Rose Iron Works in 1930. Designed by Paul Fehèr. Because of the Depression the table went unsold.

Paul Kiss Studio lamp from the late 1920s.

Paul Kiss Studio lamp circa, 1927. Purchased by the Rose Iron Works for inspiration when they began creating items in modern design.

Glass

Throughout the exhibit one can see many of the finest examples of glass produced in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Here are some examples that caught our eye.

French vase produced by Daum Frères, circa 1925 – 1930. Using animals as a decorative motif was popular in the Art Deco era. And especially popular was the leaping gazelle such as the one seen on this cased glass vase. This vase is on loan from the Dallas Museum of Art.

The Gazelle Bowl (Steuben Glass, Inc., 1935) designed by Sidney Waugh is prominently displayed on the second floor of the exhibit. This is one of the most iconic pieces of glass to come out of the era between the World Wars.

Steuben Glass’ Gazelle Bowl, 1935. Designed by Sidney Waugh.

The 1926 vase Tourbillons (Whirlwinds) designed by Suzanne Lalique went into production by René Lalique. Created through mass production pressing and hand-carving and accented with black enamel, it was a new look and technique in decorative glass. It was one of the French objects in Lord and Taylor’s 1928 Exposition of Modern French Decorative Art. One of the earliest shows in the United States of the new decorative style.

Tourbillons (Whirlwinds) Vase, 1926. Designed by Suzanne Lalique and put into production by René Lalique. Part of the Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts Department.

Another classic Lalique vase on display is the Beauvais Vase of 1931. Designed by Suzanne Lalique, like Tourbillons. It is part of the Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Suzanne Lalique’s Beauvais Vase of 1931. Put into production by René Lalique. Part of the Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts Department.

Two Walter Dorwin Teague designs for Steuben Glass made it into the exhibit. Teague hired on a one year contract to Steuben to make it the finest glass company in America. Using the then current Scandinavian trend of pale or colorless glass, one his designs was a spherical bowl. The bowl dates from 1932.

Steuben Glass bowl designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, 1932. In the Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts Department.

Walter Dorwin Teague’s Lens Bowl for Steuben Glass, 1932. Part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Teague derived his inspiration for the lens bowl from the glass lenses the Corning Glass Works produced from railroad signals and locomotive lights. Most of the glass Teague designed for Steuben ended production in 1933 when his contract with the company expired.

Ruba Rombic an Epic in Modern Art

In an enclosed case there are several pieces of this very rare glass. Designed by Reuben Haley for the Consolidated Glass Company, his inspiration came from items he had seen at the 1925 Paris Exposition. When debuted at the 1928 Pittsburgh Glass Fair one trade journal wrote:

“it is the craziest thing ever brought out in glassware . . . The first reaction is all but shock, yet the more pieces are studied, the more they appeal and there comes a realization that with all their distorted appearance they have a balance that is perfect and are true specimens of cubist art.”

Ruba Rombic was only in production for a few years. Due to the depression, Consolidated closed its doors in 1932. When they reopened in 1936 Ruba Rombic would no longer be part of their line. The cubism of the glassware, so avant-garde in the late 1920’s would have looked very dated by 1936 as streamlining became the popular new design form.

Ruba Rombic 10 inch vase in Jungle Green. Product Design and Decorative Arts collection – Cooper Hewitt.

Ruba Rombic Toilet Bottle in Smokey Topaz.

Toilet Bottle in Smokey Topaz. Ruba Rombic was available in eight standard colors. Smokey Topaz and Jungle Green are the colors most commonly found. This bottle is part of the Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

7 inch vase in Jade (cased glass). Cased glass Ruba Rombic has a higher value than the clear colors of Jungle Green and Smokey Topaz. Product Design and Decorative Arts collection – Cooper Hewitt.

Furniture

So many iconic pieces of furniture were on display that it is hard to pick just a few for this post. But here are a few of our favorites –

Barcelona Chair

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair (Model MR 90) of 1929. Manufactured by the Berliner Metallgewerbe in 1930. On loan from The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

This chair is often thought of as a Mid-Century Modern design. In actuality, van der Rohe created it in 1929 for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition, Barcelona, Spain. The chair so forward in its design that it is still in production to this day.

: Exterior of the German Pavilion for the International Exposition, Barcelona, Spain. 1929. Photo from www. guggenheim.org

: The interior of Ludwig Mies van der Rohde’s 1929 German Pavilion. Photo from http://thomortiz.tumblr.com/

Marcel Breuer’s B3 (Wassily) Chair

Marcel Breuer’s B3 Chair, better known as the Wassily chair. Designed in 1925 and manufactured in 1927, it was one of the first pieces of furniture to use tubular chrome steel. Tubular steel became a very popular modern furniture material during the interwar years. This chair is part of the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt.

Lounge, LC4

Designed by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Periand &

Pierre Jeanneret

Designed in 1928, the LC in the name stands for “long chair”. The lounge follows the human form. The LC4 is on loan from the Brooklyn Museum.

Corner Cabinet, ca. 1923

Jacques Ruhlmann

Corner Cabinet designed by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Kingwood veneer on mahogany with ivory inlay. This piece is on loan from the Brooklyn Museum.

A corner cabinet designed by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann in 1923 for the residence of A. Weitz of Lyon, France. Two years later Ruhlmann was one of the principal designers exhibiting at the 1925 Paris Exposition. His designs were a great influence at the start of the Art Deco era.

Skyscraper Bookcase Desk

Paul T. Frankl, ca. 1928

Frankl’s “Skyscraper” line of furniture captured the optimism and exuberance of the United States in the late 1920’s. The bookcase desk is quintessential of this line and how it mimics the setback look of then current construction trends.

Paul Frankl bookcase desk from his “Skyscraper” furniture line. On loan from the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Donald Deskey

Table, ca. 1928

Donald Deskey table for the Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Company and Deskey-Vollmer, ca. 1928. Part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department of the Cooper Hewitt Museum.

This table is a good example of Donald Deskey’s use of mixed media combining chrome with wood and a painted abstract detail.

K.E.M. Weber

Sideboard and Chair, 1928-29

Sideboard and chair designed by K.E.M. Weber in 1928. Green painted wood and faux leather. On loan from The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Los Angeles based industrial designer, architect and artist created this set in the late 1920’s. Pieces from this group can be seen in several films such as King of Jazz (Universal, 1930) and Trouble in Paradise (Paramount, 1932).

: K.E.M. Weber 1928 desk in the 1930 Universal picture King of Jazz. Jeanne Lang and Laura Laplante. Image from Vitaphone Project Vitaphone News Vol. 10 No. 4

: Madame Colet’s home office featuring a great Art Deco desk and a Kem Weber (1889 -1963) chair. Frame grab from The Criterion Collection DVD.

Airline Chair, 1934

1934 Airline Chair by K.E.M. Weber. Part of Cooper Hewitt’s Product Design and Decorative Arts Department.

One of the first assemble yourself pieces of furniture, K.E.M. Weber’s Airline Chair of 1934 is an iconic piece of streamline style furniture from the mid-1930’s. For more on Weber and this chair, check out this article by Ben Marks and Lisa Hix from Collector’s Weekly.

These are only a very few of the iconic Art Deco items in this amazing exhibit. If you like 20th Century design this is a don’t miss show. The exhibit runs through August 20th at the Cooper Hewitt Museum before moving to The Cleveland Museum of Art. In Cleveland land it will run from September 20, 2017 through January 14, 2018.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)

If you enjoyed this post check out this earlier one:

Walter Dorwin Teague Treasures at the Dallas Museum of Art