Stories Of Italy Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

KAWS is an American artist, toy and clothing designer. Born in New Jersey under the name Brian Donnelly, he became interested in graffiti very early on. He earned a BFA and began working for Disney. His artwork gained popularity and he began traveling and designing toys and clothing while continuing art and sculptures. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.

The story behind Balenciaga begins with Cristóbal Balenciaga.

As a child in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain's Basque region, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid.

In 1917, Balenciaga established his first fashion house, named Eisa, for his mother, in the trendy resort town of San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family. When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937.

Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart SA in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.

Find a large selection of Balenciaga apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

The Blue Willow pattern depicts elements of a story inspired by Chinese legends, featuring two lovers that run away to be together. They are ultimately transformed into doves. Find an array of porcelain pieces featuring the Blue Willow pattern on 1stDibs.

The story behind the Japanese cat traces back to ancient folklore. In the tale, a cat saves the life of a samurai who turns out to be quite wealthy. To show his thanks, the man made a very generous donation to the temple. In Japanese culture, cat sculptures and figurines are symbols of good luck and known as “maneki-neko.” Find a range of Japanese decorative objects on 1stDibs.

The real story of the Mona Lisa may never be known for certain. However, most art historians believe that Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, posed for the painting. Biographies of Leonardo da Vinci and other historical documents from the Italian Renaissance suggest that the del Giocondos commissioned the work to hang in their new home and to mark the occasion of the birth of their son. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of fine art.