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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.

Designer Spotlight: Bjørn Wiinblad

casasugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:00:37 -0700

If you're wondering where Jonathan Adler got his inspiration for his Utopia series, or where Tord Boontje got his taste for saturated colors and fanciful flora, look no further than Danish artist and designer Bjørn Wiinblad. This midcentury ceramic artist set up his own studio in 1952, and continued to reproduce his designs through the 1990s.
Much of his work is inspired by the fairy tales of fellow Dane Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote such well-known stories as The Little Mermaid and The Princess and the Pea. Starting in the 1950s, he produced silver, glass, furniture, and ceramic designs for Rosenthal Porzellan AG, and also designed posters, costume and stage designs, tapestries, and textiles for hotels and restaurants across the world. His work is particularly popular in Japan.

To see more images of his work, and to find out whether or not his work is a good investment,

Nice and New: Jonathan Adler's Druggist Collection

casasugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:15:43 -0700

Billing himself as "your 24-hour pot dealer," Jonathan Adler gets cheeky with his new collection of pottery, Druggist ($24-$55). Billed as "An Apothecary of Emotion" his collection features translucent porcelain pieces that are first thrown on the wheel. Afterwards, the trompe-l'oeil chains and names of the emotions are added.

Modeled after old apothecary jars and finished with an unglazed matte finish, these pieces are fun and slightly sinister at the same time — especially the mug that declares "love" on one side and "hate" on the other. Still, I would love to have a few of these pieces. I think the apothecary jars especially would be great vessels for all of the cotton balls and q-tips needed for your nightly ablutions. Oh, and they wouldn't look bad on that French Apothecary Chest either.

Artist of the Day: Whitney Smith

casasugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:00:54 -0800

I first saw artist Whitney Smith's pottery in my sister's home. At the time, my sister lived just down the street from Whitney's studio, and had stumbled upon her work at an open studio sale, where she'd purchased a delicate, carved vase. And just last week I fell in love with Whitney's work again when I saw her pottery at the Design Within Reach/Craft magazine event in Berkeley.

Whitney first started throwing clay on a wheel in 1994, and while she pursued other academic interests, she still continued to throw pottery as much as possible. After relocating to the Bay Area she worked as a floral designer in San Francisco while developing her pottery style after work hours. In 2000, she was able to finally realize her dream of working full-time as a potter.

Of her inspiration, she writes,

My design sense is primarily informed by my obsession with flowers and other forms found in nature. I have painted and drawn since I was a small child, and many of my designs are influenced by other painters and 2-D artists. I am also strongly influenced by Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th early 20th Century. I like the look and feel of old things and antiques, and my glaze choices have a certain look that reminds people of a different era.

To see a gallery of Whitney's stunning pottery, just

Designer Spotlight: Jonathan Adler

casasugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:00:47 -0700

I've already featured some fabulous designs by the lovable Jonathan Adler, so I figure it's about time I gave him a proper introduction on the site. Lately, he's best-known as the judge with the flamboyant neckties on Bravo's Top Design, but Adler has been a bold presence in the design world since 1994, when he sold his first batch of pottery to Barneys.

Adler soon expanded beyond ceramics into an array of assorted homewares — including lamps, furniture, rugs, and quirky accent pieces. His goods are sold online and at eight boutiques nationwide.

To get an idea for what Adler is all about, look no further than the brand's bold manifesto, which includes such dicta as "We believe that your home should make you happy," "minimalism is a bummer," and "colors can't clash." You can also see some of my favorite Adler designs by clicking on the photos below.