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Love It or Hate It? Porcelain Skull

casasugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:45:39 -0700

This very realistic, glazed, ivory porcelain skull ($439) was designed by Bavarian sculptor Franz Ignaz Günther in 1756, well before skulls were cool. It is still produced today by the same Munich-based porcelain manufacturer, Nymphenburg. Given that it was designed as more of a sacred figure than a trendy home accessory, does it appeal to you?

Love It or Hate It? Porcelain Skull

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Casa Quickie: Porcelain Por Favor

casasugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:27 -0700

Whenever possible, you should try to create a home (and office) that is "free of tree." Considering that most of you use cloth napkins and towels, you're probably well on your way. But, when it comes to giving yourself reminders, and jotting down notes, I'm going to venture to guess that many of you probably still use paper (Post-Its, notepads, journals, etc.). If it didn't scream "college dorm room," I'd suggest using a dry-erase board instead, but unfortunately the memories of freshman year run thick wherever dry-erase boards hang. So, consider cruising over to your cupboard, or stopping by your local thrift store, and picking up a porcelain plate. You can jot notes and lists down on plain ol' porcelain just as well as you can with a tree-killing notepad, using a dry-erase marker of course. And, at the end of the day, when you've checked A through Z off your laundry list, you can wipe off those letters with your handmade cloth napkin.
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Etsy Find: Reproduction Milk Bottles

casasugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:04 -0700

I'm a sucker for vintage glassware and pottery, so these reproduction milk bottles ($30) are right up my alley, having been hand-cast from antique half-pint glass milk bottles. They remind me a bit of Jonathan Adler's Druggist Collection, with their smooth white surfaces and cheeky printing.

These reproduction milk bottles are from Etsy seller Alyssaettinger, and were modeled after bottles from Concord Dairy. They stand at a diminutive four inches tall, perfect for displaying summer blooms. You can also pop them in the dishwasher, which is always a plus.

Artist of the Day: David Wiseman

casasugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:30:48 -0700

David Wiseman works in a variety of mediums including wood, porcelain, crystal, and bronze, and is inspired by the subtleties in nature, like the texture of bark or the pattern of moss growing on a rock. His designs, which can be found on a tabletop, wrapped around a fireplace, or dangling from the ceiling, highlight these organic details, and bring a romantic, Sleeping Beauty-esque woodland quality indoors. His bronze branches, which sprout porcelain blossoms, are kindred spirits of midcentury bronze wall sculptures, but have a timeless sophistication that supersedes them. His deer head-shaped hat hangers bear the childlike playfulness of Rudolph, white still maintaining a distinct maturity. To continue your introduction and see some of his work,

Love It or Hate It? Jorine Oosterhoff Mad Hatter

casasugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:06:07 -0700

The Jorine Oosterhoff Mad Hatter ($250 each) set is aptly named, as my mind immediately jumped to Alice in Wonderland when I spotted it. Created in porcelain, Dutch designer Jorine Oosterhoff says of her designs, "My products become characters, like individual things that seem to live their own life. They have their own identity and personality. Sometimes they seem to come from a fairy-tale world. Products making us feel like being in a different world." Indeed.

Love It or Hate It? Jorine Oosterhoff Mad Hatter

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Cool Idea: Edgy Porcelain

casasugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:00:45 -0700

If you haven't noticed, I'm anticipating a trend here, with my coverage of alternative crochet work, subversive lace, and now, edgy porcelain. It's as if a punk-rock grandchild raided her grandma's attic and added some 'tude to traditional, feminine styles.

The Brooklyn-based designer Sarah Cihat did just that when she asked metalsmith Michael Miller to dress up the hand-cast porcelain bowls and vases from her new Dirt collection. Using copper and brass chainwork, Smith's metalwork adds an unexpected touch of edginess to Cihat's designs, and I love the results.

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Nice and New: Nymphenburg Porcelain at Rose and Radish

casasugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 08:30:31 -0700

The folks at Rose and Radish recently took a trip to Munich to visit the Royal Bavarian Porcelain Manufactory Nymphenburg, which has been one of the world's finest producers of porcelain for 250 years. In the shop's journal, they wrote, "One of the greatest parts of the Munich trip was being able to use the porcelain during the entire visit. Our favorite snack was gummi bears on the Ted Muehling Bird's Wing Dish." While the thought of them eating candy off of such a delicate dish is a nice one, it doesn't do me much good! That's why I'm delighted to see that Rose and Radish has brought the German porcelain back to the shop for us to enjoy stateside. Although the prices on this porcelain tend to run high (one coffee cup is $519), they're truly magnificent sights, and definitely what I'd consider to be works of art. Take a look at the images below to see a few, and check out the shop's site to see more.

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Steal of the Day: Viva Terra Porcelain Branch Teapot

casasugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:15:58 -0700

Even if you're a coffee person, the Viva Terra Porcelain Branch Teapot ($34, reduced from $69) is so woodsy and whimsically beautiful, I'd endorse using it just for decoration. Or, you can cut the stems of your favorite bouquet short, and fill it for a fresh, Spring-y centerpiece. It's true, the cream and sugar set is sold out, but I think the Michael Aram Twig Sugar and Creamer Set ($40) would work marvelously with it. I think maybe this is what Charlotte Moss was referring to when she said that, "Decorating a table is one of life's basic pleasures."

Love It or Hate It? Porcelain Animal Decorated Serving Bowls

casasugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:13:04 -0800

These Porcelain Animal Decorated Serving Bowls ($2,139 to $3,339) are a collaboration between Hella Jongerius and Nymphenburg. Made of the highest quality porcelain with exquisite detail on each animal design, they might be just a little too lifelike. What do you think?

Love It or Hate It? Porcelain Animal Decorated Serving Bowls

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Fabworthy: Rosanna Kings Road Porcelain

FabSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:15:33 -0700

I know this Rosanna Kings Road Porcelain, $30-$40, is named for kings but I go ga ga over anything with rich, golden crowns on it. Does that mean I have a queen complex? Anywho, I bought these plates after I perused the recent Vivienne Westwood exhibit at the De Young museum in San Francisco. They aren't machine-washable but I love them as a wall display to be used as dessert plates for the most royal of guests.

Something you didn't know about me: I am a tea drinker, not a slave to coffee. I have a cup of Earl Grey, or English Breakfast, every morning and how lush would it be sipping tea out of a cup fit for a ~~king~~ queen?