Decorative Set of Fruits, Silvered Metal, Italy, circa 1950

Italian Mid-Century Modern design cylindrical container for breadsticks or decorative box in silver metal designed by Lino Sabattini, engraved Sabattini Made in Italy under the base,...

In the 1920s Gio Ponti, who defined 20th century Italian design, was the art director of Richard-Ginori, a venerable porcelain company established in the 18th century. When Ponti moved on in 1930, his protégé Giovanni Gariboldi, who also designed furniture and interiors, filled the vacated position. It would seem that Gariboldi found his model for these shell-shaped dishes in nature, but this is not the case. Rather, he channeled the essence of “shellness," and endowed his design with the faux verisimilitude of delicate ribbing along the scalloped edge. Yet he had them glazed in improbable candy-like pastel colors of pink, yellow, and blue. Originally used principally as ashtrays, no doubt, they could also be put to use as serving dishes for nuts and candies, or as decorative tabletop objects...

1970s Italian Silver-Plated Metal Cup.

The object on sale is a little bronze figurine modelled after an endearing pair of cocker spaniel pups, that was originally intended to hold salt and pepper dispensers. But it can al...