DOUGLASCAIN: 1950's

Showing posts with label 1950's. Show all posts

The Construction and Inauguration of Brasília in the Late 50's and 60's

(Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek inaugurating Brasilia, 1960.)

Brasília (or Brasilia as commonly spelled in English) is a fascinating gesture of modernism, with a unique history. Amidst an intense competition to redesign Brazil's Capital, President Juscelino Kubitschek awarded the grand prize to Urban Planner Lúcio Costa. Under Costa, the Architect Oscar Niemeyer created some of the most impressive forms in wildly imaginative structures. Brasília was completed in the remarkably in 41 months, from 1956 when the plan was set in motion, to the grand inauguration April 21, 1960.

These photos I have collected are the works of Marcel Gautherot and René Burri. Gautherot, who was himself an architect, was an enthusiast of Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe. Gautherot was granted unprecedented access to the construction site of the building of Brasilia.

René Burri is a Swiss photographer noted for his photographs of political, historical and cultural events and also of key figures of the second half of the 20th century. His photographs of Brasília have become quite iconic.

Accesories...

(Tie- Homemade / Tie Clip - Vintage (Spain) / 1950's Modern Broach - Vintage

Jacket- Balmain)

Thrift Shopping Finds.

This vintage teak lamp, with ceramic inlay, was found in El Cerrito, at a charity thrift store for $5.00. I think I upset Eric by finding this first... The Finnish screen printed textiles are also new and have received their own post here. The Danish teak chair was found in Berkeley, on the side of the street, and was reupholstered by me in vintage Marimekko fabric. It looks to me to be manufactured by Farstrup, although the only mark is "Denmark" which I've often found with respects to the labeling of mid-century Danish furnishings.

I have been working for some time now on amassing a whole collection of this set, designed in 1964 by Massimo Vignelli for Heller. This set won the Compasso D'oro upon being released and has retained its cache as a wonderful icon of mid-century plastic design. This set has been acquired and is in permanent collection at the MOMA. I found these 4 white dinner plates this weekend, in a shelf of junky plastics. I felt like I had discovered a diamond! Eric also has had good luck with the Vignelli plates recently, bringing home a lovely purple one last night.

Brock California - Dinner plate, 11", "California Farmhouse" motif. Southern California Pottery Company, Inc. aka B. J. Brock Company was situated in Lawndale, California. Founded in 1947 by Bert Brock, the company closed in the mid 1950s.

This is my favorite design that I have seen on a Thermos. I find these ALL THE TIME, but I almost never find them in such nice condition, and with the plastic interior, as I have definably broken my fair share of the glass lined thermoses. Its just to hard not to accidentally jostle them. Anyways, isn't it sweet? I couldn't resist the clever pattern.

I found this set of six unmarked,1950's, barbecue themed - dinner plates... If anyone knows or has a hunch relating to the manufacturer of these, please drop me a line.

Vladamir Kagan

So today has been a great day for me discovering new design and manufacturers. This afternoon, I stumbled across the website of Vladimir Kagan. His furniture is WONDERFUL! His sofas are just to die for. I perticularly like his Free Form Sofa, or Floating Curve Sofa. Next time I have $50,000 burning a hole in my wallet (heh!)...

Above are my favorite examples of his work, mostly from the 1950's. Be sure to check out his website though, as his furniature varies quite a bit, and included here are the smaller simpler pieces. Even though I have already mentioned them above, be sure to notice the classic collection sofas... they are just beautiful.

Identified! Hazel-Atlas Glass Company...

So this afternoon I identified one of my thrifted sets of drinking glasses, by manufacturer and age! I had purchased these vintage clown motif-milk glasses from a favorite thrift store a few months back, and had no idea what the story about them was. While ogling e-bay, I stumbled across a photo of them. I have successfully identified them as being manufactured by Hazel-Atlas Glass Company. They at their peak had fifteen plants, including one right in Oakland, California. They turn out to be quite collectible manufacturer of milk glass. Isn't it nice when that happens? The company was sold in 1964 and with the change of hands, no longer manufactured under the Hazel-Atlas name, indicating that these are earlier. I would guess that they are mid 1950's.

New Bag!

I found this lovely Doctors bag at in Bakersfield California on my most recent vacation/thrift store tour of California. I had seen many beautiful doctors bags on my trip but this one really spoke to me. I liked the contrasting top stitching.

Chartreuse Sofa-Pop by Piero Lissoni for Kartell

Spacelander Electric Bike

When I was younger, Lenny and myself came across one of these while negotiating the purchace of a set of Bertoia chairs for our first apartment. I have not seen another image of this until today, when I stumbled across this image and was able to verify the make and model of this lovely piece of machienary. I remember that the one that I saw was a fiberglass one, indicated online to be almost impossible to put a value to, due to the rarity. Apparently, even the aluminum production models fetch from $10,000-20,000 depending on condition. I wish I had purchased it.

1954 Dodge Firearrow concept car

I stumbled agross this gem today obsessively googling Mercedes w114's. I am trying very hard right now to stay distracted until 7:00 when I buy my Mercedes. I am so excited, I could scream!

DOUGLASCAIN