Breitling Retail Store Display Advertising Sign

A scarce, likely one-of-a-kind, antique American Frigidaire enameled metal advertising sign, early 20th century, period Art Deco styling, the sign reads: "See Arkadelphia Hardware Co...

A one-of-a-kind antique wrought iron sculpture, comprising 18th and 19th century architectural elements, in a rustic parcel gilt finish, including door lock, latch, and skeleton key,...

A rare and important Art Deco period Century of Progress Display Cabinet designed by Wolfgang Hoffmann (Austrian, 1900-1969) for Romweber Company, Batesville, Indiana, United States of America. circa 1933-1936 Created for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, one piece design, having a rectangular showcase top with glass panel sides and a pair of sliding glass doors, over solid wood chest fitted with four drawers affixed with horizontal pulls, flanked by cabinet doors, opening to shelved interior. Rosewood, mahogany, richly figured blonde - golden birch or primavera, and glass. Signed, original label to drawer interior, featuring 1933 World's Fair mark impressed. **Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching sideboard - buffet (shown in last photo) is currently available separately** Provenance / Acquisition: Property from the important and iconic collection of Mr. James I. Rafftesaeth Jr., Dallas, Texas Acquired from highly reputable auction house, Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. 2022 Design Signature Auction catalog #8091 History: Wolfgang Hoffmann was born in Vienna, Austria in 1900. He is the son of famous architect, pedagogue and Wiener Werkstatte cofounder, Joseph Hoffmann (1870-1956). Early on, following his father’s s interests, he was trained in the decorative arts and design. Wolfgang Hoffmann once reminisced, “I spent eight years at the Realschule, then three years went to a special architectural school, where I perfected my technical knowledge of architecture and general construction. From this school, I was graduated to the Kunstgewerbeschule [Studying under Oskar Strnad and Josef Frank in Vienna]. After finishing this school, I had one and a half years of practical in a well known architect’s office. Thereafter I worked in my Father’s office for two years”. Hoffmann met his future wife, Polish immigrant Pola (1902-1984) when they were both studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule. Joseph Urban (1872-1933) was needing an assistant for his architectural business in New York and contacted his friend and colleague, Joseph Hoffmann in Vienna. Hoffmann recommended his son Wolfgang. Urban hired him and sent a first class passage ticket to Vienna for Wolfgang to travel to New York. Wolfgang married Pola and traded his ticket for two tickets to America in steerage, arriving in New York City in December of 1925. Leaving the Urban office after nine months, Wolfgang and Pola formed an independent design practice with offices on Madison Avenue in Manhattan with the purpose of creating contemporary interiors and industrial designs. Early work included theaters, stores, and apartments mostly in New York City. During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the Hoffmanns designed custom furniture for private clients. Some of these examples were shown in the February 1929 issue of House and Garden. Curiously, the examples’ design was attributed to Urban and the production to Pola Hoffmann, Inc. Established in the fall of 1928, the American Designers’ Gallery was “devoted exclusively to showing objects and interiors for practical use… by fourteen American architects and designers”. Its members included the Hoffmans and Urban as well as ceramist Henry Varnum Poor (1888-1971), architect Raymond Hood (1881-1934), artist designer Winold Reiss (1886-1953), graphic designer Lucien Bernhard (1896-1981), decorator Donald Deskey (1894-1989), and architect Ely Jacques Kahn (1884-1972). The Hoffmanns’ work was included in the American Designers’ Gallery’s two showcase events, its 1928 and 1929 exhibitions. Their dining alcove at the 1929 event featured a bench with a dinette table and two chairs in American walnut designed by Wolfgang and a rug by Pola. Lucien Bernhard, fellow Austrian immigrant who settled in New York a year before the Hoffmanns, operated the gallery and decorating service Contempora with Munich resident Bruno Paul (1874-1968). The Hoffmanns, occasionally participating with Contempora, designed a number of outstanding interiors, including the constructivist living room of 1930 for Mrs. O.R. Sommerich at 40 East 66th street. In 1934, Donald Deskey commissioned Wolfgang to design birchwood furnishings for the eclectic apartment at 625 Park Avenue belonging to Helena Rubinstein. In 1931, Wolfgang exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The same year, with Kem Weber (1889-1963) he organized the second and final exhibition of AUDAC- “Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts”- at the Brooklyn Museum. At this event, the Hoffmanns showed the dining room previously included in the American Designer’s Gallery’s 1929 exhibition in the Chase Bank Building lobby at 145 West 57th Street in Manhattan. In 1932 Wolfgang was asked to assist Urban in developing the color scheme for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair “A Century of Progress”. He was also commissioned to design the interior and furniture for the fair’s lumber industries house. There he executed its living and dining rooms furnished by Kroehler Manufacturing Company of Chicago; the boys’ room by Shower Brothers...

A scarce antique, circa 1920s /1930s, USG (United States Gypsum) porcelain enameled advertising sign, early 20th century, industrial American Art Deco Modern taste. The large blu...

Breitling - The Book, hardcover, English edition, 2009. 336 pages with ca 450 images. By Genoud, Herve. Printed in Switzerland. A specialist in chronographs and technical watches...

Step back in time with this charming 20th Century Belgian Metal & Wooden Sign on Stand, a vibrant homage to the golden era of advertising. "La Préférée Wie...

Breitling Aerospace Navitimer in 18k & titanium. Quartz w/ multi function digital display 40 mm case size. Ref 20048. Fine Pre-owned Breitling Watch. Certified preowned Sport Breitling Aerospace 20048 watch on a 18k & Titanium bracelet with a Titanium Deployant buckle. This Breitling watch has a 40 x 40 mm case with a Round caseback and Grey Arabic and Stick dial. It is Certified Authentic and comes backed by 12-month warranty. Each watch is inspected by certified in-house master-trained watchmakers before shipment including final servicing, cleaning, and polishing. If you have inquiries about this Breitling Aerospace watch...

Breitling Navitimer 1st series is more than just a watch; it's a functional instrument adorned with the elegance expected from a luxury brand. Its combination of historical significa...