Photos By Gail
Symbols of speed and good fortune, Dolphins swim down the sides of this ocean-colored vase (1866–70s) from Salviati & Co. John Ruskin’s Stones of Venice created a wave of enthusiasm for the lost art of cristallo. Published from 1851 to 1853, Ruskin’s book proved a stroke of good luck for Venetians seeking to revive old glassblowing techniques.
Installation View
Photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
All Photos By Gail
We saw these gorgeous light fixtures at ICFF and just fell in love with their Rococo look! Not only are they beautiful to look at, but the story behind them is also fantastic! Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek’s work embodies the concepts of transformation and reinvention. Spanning furniture design, architecture and fine art, Eek elevates discarded, quotidian and unorthodox materials into pieces that make a strong case for the Design-as-Art conversation. This is likely why Eek was presented by Paris-based glass lighting manufacturer Veronese with a dream job: to give a second life to their found glass pieces.
The project began when Veronese’s creative director Ruben Jochimek came across a forgotten stockpile of spare glass pieces — all hand blown by skilled Italian artisans of Murano — in the basement of their Parisian showroom. Comprised of over one-thousand pieces, the collection had been building up since 1931. These ornate glass pieces — stored on dusty shelves for nearly a century — included crafted cups, drops, rings and flowers.
Post Continues After The Jump! Continue reading Eye On Design: Piet Hein Eek’s Past and Future Found Glass Chandeliers!
All Photos By Gail
Chamber is a cool design store on West 23rd Street that I’ve been wanting to visit since the summer, but it closes at 6 PM and I’m usually just getting to that neighborhood around that time for a gallery opening. This past Saturday, I made a point to get there early enough to check out the intriguing wares at this fun boutique devoted to exclusive, limited editions and unique works of art and design.