Esoteric Survey

Inco Product stools, Edmund Ronaky vase and Tony Paul candlesticks Smalls   The SC Johnson Research Tower,  by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1950 I first thought it was a matchbook.  They turned out to be mini emery boards, compliments of L ucile Bush.   It turns out Lucile was kind of a big deal.  Source: Iowa Homemaker, November 1954

The Fontenell, also known as the Max Factor Compound, 1957  James and Frances Kopecky were the original owners of the Fontenell. Unfortunately the San Diegan passed away of a heart attack in 1959 while vacationing in Canada.  It was then purchased by Max Factor in 1960 and was used as his Palm Springs family retreat.  US Modernist  and a couple of other sources state William F. Cody was the architect.  I wasn't able to track down any period references to the architect and I can't find a reference in his CalPoly archives. One source that doesn't list the project is  Master of the Midcentury: The Architecture of William F. Cody .  US Modernist is usually on point with their information. Also, Cody was living and working in San Diego around this time. The Kopecky family was from San Diego so they could have known each other. If I find out anything for sure, I'll update this post. UPDATE:  Charles W.  Doty,  (1927-2011) designed the apartmen...

Ben Seibel  Roseville /Raymor Informal bean pots Architectural Pottery, Ben Sebel and Don Shoemaker Maurice Grossman Yard Art

  Carl Auböck and Claire Falkenstein Baby Gainey Ceramics C-4 and a David Cressey Pro Artisan on a Malcolm Leland form 

Alvar Aalto chair that I was able to buy back from a friend. Kurt Versen lamp and a Grainware bowl produced by Plastic Productions Co., Redwood City, CA and designed by  Charles H. McCrea.  The Grainware bowl has remnants of a Good Design sticker.  Here it is in the first MoMA Good Design exhibition in 1950. Source: MoMA Richard Allen Morris

 Doug Ayers, John Novy Dansk Rare Woods tray by Jens Quistgaard Bruce Hill for Peter Pepper Products

I went to a picnic at the Eames House this past weekend. It was a preview of a collaboration between Herman Miller and  Hay .  They call it a "thoughtfully reimagined" line "of eight classic Eames designs for a new generation." Just like Charles and Ray Eames, Rolf and Mette Hay are a married couple.  In addition to the new colors, drawn from Alexander Girard Jacob's Coat textile, the Hay designs also use new materials. Like this glass top LTR. I'm a vintage guy so I'm generally not all that interested in new furniture. Especially if it's a reproduction of an older piece, authorized or not. I have nothing against new furniture, especially when it's done well and responsibly, like Herman Miller does. That all being said, this LTR in a heavy cast-glass is pretty interesting to me. I like the idea of being able to use an LTR outside.  It was a picnic and there was even an Eames-inspired menu. Unfortunately I was geeking out too much and didn't ...