TOP TABLE

I have just had this fabulous 1950s coffee table re-polished (thanks Emoke!), and what a stunner!! Great kidney shape with tapering tripod legs the top is a masterpiece of marquetry featuring an encyclopedia of inlaid wood, bird's eye maple, cherry, mahogany, teak, rosewood, walnut and cocobolo.

SWEET AS A NUT!

....meet 'Sweet Chestnut' - a lovely innocent girl who will be accompanying me tomorrow to the Airfield Market in Dundrum and keeping me company at the Dublin Flea on Sunday in Newmarket Sq. (print by JH Lynch, c1954).

...TAKE TWO

from the same manufacturer.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION.

This stunning 1950s desk lamp has just arrived. A cherry red tripod base with cream metal shade it is so evocative of the era and very Mad Men. It's a ManTique!!

TOP OF THE POPS

A rare and delicious find. This moss green Dansette 'Senator' portable record player is in tip top condition and has been fully serviced. What could be better than listening to your favourite Beatles album with that beautiful rich, warm sound coming from the classic combination of vinyl and Dansette. It's a hit! If you are interested, just drop me a mail for price and more photos.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

....well almost. It's certainly gets the most comments, and it's surprisingly comfortable! This stunning sculptural 'S' chair was designed by Tom Dixon in 1991 and although strictly speaking not retro, it fits in really well with our "Egg" and "Swan" chairs.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

I am often asked about the similarities between some of the post war pottery designs, and it can be hard to unravel the influences. Two factories that produced ceramic items with a similar aesthetic were Gustavsberg (Sweden) and Poole Freeform (UK). The photograph shows from (l to r) a Stig Lindberg vase from Gustavsberg and two Poole Freeform vases designed by Alfred Read. Both are hand painted earthenware, both use organic flowing shapes drawn from nature, but the Stig Lindberg vase pre-dates the Poole by nearly 10 years. Scandinavian design was well ahead of the pack in the 1940s and it was in the mid 1950s that UK and USA began to catch up using shapes colours and glazes being produced by the leading Scandinavian factories. They work well together and I often display Poole and Stig side by side. I have collected Freeform pieces over the years but rarely come across a perfect pair like these table lamps designed by Alfred Read in 1955 and painted by Gwen Haskins. http://www.kirkmodern.com/Item%20Descripttions/Lighting/PAR-GH503.html