Porcelain

Young Collector Alert: Japanese Ceramics

Filed under: Decor

Conventional wisdom for the new collector used to be: "Start with prints and as you learn more, graduate to painting." Today, on the contrary, another approach is build an art collection by acquiring ceramics. A good place to begin is the current show of sparkling and richly detailed enameled porcelain of Jun Takegoshi at the Joan B. Mirviss LTD gallery on New York's Upper East Side. Takegoshi's (b.1948) polychrome enamel vessels won't send you to the bank for a second mortgage. They range in price from $3,500-$13,000. Each is a little miracle of color and form, delicately painted with glaze and over-glaze. The secret to the vivid turquoise which dominates the current Mirviss show is extended firing time at low temperatures. However, the special genius of Takegoshi is his motifs---sparrows, ibis, king fishers, even dragons, each cunningly painted with individual personalities. Takegoshi doesn't just paint from nature, he imbues his creatures, the beguiling birds especially, with facial expressions ---anger, sadness, happiness, and could that be jealousy?

Tags: ceramics, collecting, Japanese porcelain, Kutani-ware, porcelain, takegoshi jun, young collectors

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Nymphenburg Chrysanthemums

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The Nymphenburg chrysanthemum is an incredibly intricate example of porcelain art. The flowers are made from more than 300 petals modeled by hand in wafer-thin porcelain. The chrysanthemum flower has a long tradition at Nymphenburg and some archive samples date back to the 18th century. Those were much smaller than the almost originally sized flowers created in 2009. The limited edition of 25 flowers encased in ornamental wooden boxes are created to be close to nature by porcelain masters who have undergone special training and have steady hands and lots of patience. They sell for around 1,500 euros.

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Tags: art, flowers, nymphenburg, porcelain

Lorena Barrezueta Gourmet Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The humble aluminum takeaway container gets a glamorous update in the hands of Lorena Barrezueta. She has a line of brightly colored porcelain pieces in the instantly recognizable shapes of disposable food containers. The line includes a variety of segmented pieces with crinkly sides that recall those ubiquitous dinner trays. There are several collections including the Classic which features these pieces in elegant white with a 22K gold rim. Select pieces are available through ReForm School.

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Tags: dishes, dishware, lorena barrezueta, LorenaBarrezueta, porcelain

Unique Porcelain-finish Ferrari 599 China Special Raises $1.77 Million at Charity Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Ferraris are particularly enticing purchases for the wealthy, but special Ferraris have proven themselves even more attractive to those with the means. Case in point this one-of-a-kind 599 GTB Fiorano which was hand-painted by Chinese artist Lu Hao on the pattern of the sought-after Ge Liln porcelain from the Song Dynasty. This unique example on which we reported last month is based on the limited-edition 599 China special, and was auctioned on Tuesday for the princely sum of $1.77 million to an unnamed collector in Shanghai. Proceeds go towards scholarships opportunities for Chinese automotive engineering students to continue their studies in Italy, along with a handful of other Ferrari memorabilia under the watchful eyes of the legendary Michael Schumacher, Ferrari executives and faculty from the beneficiary institutes.

Gallery: Hand-Painted Ferrari 599 China Special by Lu Hao

Tags: china, ferrari, ferrari 599 China Limited Edition, ferrari 599 gtb fiorano, ferrari 599 hgte, Ferrari599ChinaLimitedEdition, Ferrari599GtbFiorano, Ferrari599Hgte, ge liln, ge liln porcelain, GeLiln, GeLilnPorcelain, lu hao, LuHao, porcelain, porcelain ferrari, PorcelainFerrari

Haviland Limoges, A History of Elegance

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Haviland Limoges, a maker of fine porcelain is a nominee for a Luxist Award for best dishware.

The Haviland Limoges story began in 1842 when David Haviland, enthralled with the fine china coming from Limoges, France moved across the Atlantic to begin his own factory. Haviland was an importer working in New York. A customer brought in a broken tea cup looking for a match. Haviland's search for a match eventually led him to Limoges. The pure white kaolin clay found in the region produced a uniquely delicate eggshell porcelain. Not content to import the designs of others he set up his own operation. Unlike other dishware factories in the area Haviland China did not send its products to Paris for decoration. Instead Haviland set up a studio in his factory in order to create patterns that would appeal to American shoppers.

Along his sons Charles-Edward and Théodore, David Haviland grew the company and Haviland Limoges provided the state dining service for several American presidents including Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes and Theodore Roosevelt. The work of Impressionist artists also influenced Haviland's floral designs which went on to become wildly popular in the United States.

Today the company also sells silver, crystal and giftware but remains famous for its dishes. It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 Haviland china patterns. Haviland Limoges produces some older designs as well as coming out with new collections to appeal to both modern clients and traditionalists. For over a century Haviland china has remained a standard for elegant tables.

Gallery: More from Haviland

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Tags: china, decor-awards, dishware, france, Gallery-76147, haviland limoges, HavilandLimoges, limoges, nominee, porcelain

Bernardaud: A Trendsetter in Design

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Bernardaud is a Luxist Award nominee for best in dishware.

Bernardaud's porcelain collections are characterized by delicate colors and patterns in combination with beautiful designs, making its china a match for both classic and contemporary settings alike.

The roots of Bernardaud, which date back to 1863, are in the Limoges region, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. To this day, the company remains one of the oldest and last-remaining companies to be family-owned and operated in Limoges. The insight and techniques for the production of Bernardaud porcelain have been handed down from father to son. Michel Bernardaud is the fifth generation to become the worldwide ambassador of his family brand.

Since 1863, Bernardaud has upheld a corporate philosophy of cutting-edge innovation, which has placed the company at the forefront of Limoges porcelain manufacturers and exporters today. The company uses only the finest quality 20 to 23 carat gold and the richest grades of platinum to decorate its dinnerware patterns. Both gold and platinum are specially adapted for use on china, for the ultimate in wear, flexibility, and practicality. Every year, Bernardaud uses hundreds of kilos of gold to embellish its designs, lending every gold-accented pattern its inimitable stamp of authenticity.

A trendsetter in design, Bernardaud was the first, for example, to bring out square porcelain flatware. It also offers custom-designed porcelain for individual clients, embassies, hotels, restaurants, celebrities, and corporations.

Tags: Bernardaud, china, decor-awards, luxist-awards, porcelain, winners-decor

Bailey Doesn't Bark 23K Gold Ceramics

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

Nice ceramic dinnerware doesn't have to be stuffy or fancy, like these artistic and slightly funky designs from Bailey Doesn't Bark. The above shown cup set (and minis set) is designed by artist Re Jin Lee and includes 4 porcelain cups each hand decorated with a 23K gold tree in a different stage of the four seasons. And I'm always a sucker for details so I also love how each cup has the season written inside the rim in a charming script-like font.

The 23K gold cup sets sell for $107 and there's a non-gold black version that's only $93 and just as charming. Plus check out some of Bailey Doesn't Bark's other fun creations -- like this teabag teaspoon cup and saucer set.

Via ForbesLife

Gallery: Bailey Doesn't Bark Ceramics

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Tags: bailey doesnt bark, BaileyDoesntBark, ceramics, eyecandy, porcelain

24 Karat Gold and Diamonds Coffee Cup

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

I'm not sure what wealthy person would even want to drink out of a golden coffee cup studded with diamonds (Donald Trump maybe?) but one exists nevertheless, thanks to German porcelain maker KGM. The cup and saucer set has a base of fine porcelain that's accented with 24 karat gold, blue cobalt, and diamonds. Valued at €30,000 the design looks a little dated and gaudy to me, but I suppose as a collector's item or investment piece it's interesting enough -- certainly a conversation piece!

Via Bornrich

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Tags: coffee, coffee cup, coffee cups, CoffeeCup, CoffeeCups, dinnerware, kgm, porcelain

Herm�s Porcelain Tea Cups for Two

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

A steaming hot drink is one of the universal comforts of winter and what better way to enjoy yours than in a beautiful porcelain cup in the company of somebody you love? Hermès has a beautiful collection of cup and saucer sets that come in a variety of cheerful and colorful patterns, many of them with a jungle animal theme, and are sold in sets of two so you won't have to enjoy them alone. Or if you prefer your beverage in something more substantial you can always opt for one of the matching coffee mug designs which are equally beautiful. $320-$510

Gallery: Hermes Porcelain Tea Cups

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Tags: coffee, coffee cups, CoffeeCups, cup, cups, cups saucers, CupsSaucers, hermes, porcelain, tea, tea cup, tea cups, TeaCup, TeaCups

The Queen's China Maker Royal Worcester Up for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

As my colleague Deidre Woollard reported the other day, Hardy Amies, the Queen of England's dressmaker for more than 30 years, is in danger of failing financially. Now the Queen's china supplier Royal Worcester has been put up for sale, leading to fears that the UK's "heritage brands" are becoming an endangered species, the London Times reports. Royal Worcester, which dates back to 1751, received its first royal warrant in 1789, and employed more than 1,000 people at its height. However, it has gotten into difficulty due to competition from abroad, cheaper products flooding the market, and changing tastes in tableware. For traditionalists however, Royal Worcester remains the gold standard.

Tags: China, Porcelain, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal warrant, Royal Worcester, RoyalWarrant, RoyalWorcester, Tableware, UK

Imari Porcelain Exhibit at the Manhattan Art and Antiques Center

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Art

Imari porcelain is one of the most striking styles of Japanese porcelain. The style originated circa 1616 in the city of Arita and the porcelain ware was distributed to Japanese locations through the northern Kyushu port of Imari. The traditional color palette for Imari porcelain is very vivid with an underglaze of cobalt blue, and overglaze of iron red and details in gold paint. Sometimes green and yellow polychrome enamel colors were also used as accents. The rich ornamental look of Imari porcelain is reminiscent of the brocading of Japanese textiles. Next month, Flying Cranes Antiques (located in galleries 55, 56 and 58 in The Manhattan Art and Antiques Center, 1050 Second Avenue at 55th St - NY, NY 10022), will feature a display of Japanese Imari porcelains. Exhibited for sale will be rare forms executed in the rich palette characteristic of the ware. The Flying Cranes Antiques Imari porcelain collection includes various forms: bottle shapes, vases, covered jars, foliate plates dating circa 1850-1880. The cost range for the exhibition is in the $800 to $15,000 with many pieces in the $1,000-2,500 range. Shown here is one of the exhibition pieces - a Japanese Imari porcelain shell-form plate (19th Century - Circa 1850-1880 which has a price of $2,200.

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Tags: art, imari, japan, manhattan art and antiques, ManhattanArtAndAntiques, new york, NewYork, porcelain

White Porcelain Wildlife

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Decorating with animals is tricky (all too often it just comes off as tacky) but these crisp white porcelain creations from Rose and Radish may be the answer for those looking for a way to bring the beauty of nature indoors. This collection of porcelain wildlife figurines has all the usuals (i.e. lots of birds) plus a few unusuals like a goat and a hippopotamus. The hippo happens to be my favorite because he looks like he'd be really interesting, without being too bright or bold, sitting on a bookshelf. $1019

Via Wists

Gallery: White Porcelain Wildlife

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Tags: animal, animals, hippo, hippopotamus, nature, porcelain, wildlife

Botanical Wall Tiles

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Art

Ceramic wall tiles by Heather Knight. I like them because they're bright pure white, and because I love three- dimensional art hanging up on the wall. Inspired by nature, Heather Knight creates each delicate design by hand and works pretty much exclusively in porcelain. These tiles are porcelain and are modeled after different plants like turf, hydrangea, and noni (top row) and magnolia, durian, and lichen (bottom row). I'm not crazy about them displayed in a grid pattern like this but I think a grouping of them would definitely be gorgeous on almost any wall. $895 for the collection of 6.

Gallery: Ceramic Wall Tiles by Heather Knight

Via Design Mind

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Tags: art, ceramic, heather knight, HeatherKnight, knight, porcelain, tile, tiles, wall hangings, wall tiles, WallHangings, WallTiles, white

Alma Fortune Cup & Saucer

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

I'm not one to drink my tea out of a fancy cup and saucer, but some of them can be so pretty I can see how people end up collecting them -- if even just to display and never use. But regardless whether you want to actually sip from them or just look at them, these Alma Fortune Cups and Saucers would make a beautiful addition to any China cabinet. Kind of like reading tea leaves, the design is based on the Middle Eastern tradition called Tasseography (or the reading of a person's fortune in coffee grounds) but instead of grounds the fortune is forever captured in 22k gold. No two are alike. $95

The question is: do you find out what fortune you got?

Via Wists

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Tags: Alma, china, cup, dishes, fortune, gold, golden, kitchen, porcelain, saucer, tableware

Kaendler Lobster Box

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining

This stunning piece of hand-painted porcelain was designed by Johann Joachim Kaendler in 1770 and is a beautiful example of why the artist is considered the father of European porcelain modeling. To commemorate Kaendler's birth, last year Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen of Germany issued a select number of his works as part of their Kaendler Edition 2006. The Lobster Box features a gold signet with the artist's initials as well the Meissen Crossed Swords on the bottom of the dish. The piece is 7" long and sells for $6,200.

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Tags: decor, german-porcelain, kaendler, lobster-box, luxe-decor, luxury decor, luxury-decor, LuxuryDecor, meissen, porcelain, serving-dish