Mid-20th Century Decorative Art

A complete set of 12 beautiful red and white wall plates, designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Nymolle Denmark, 1970s. Each of these plaques represents ...

Large framed needlepoint wall hanging features a colorful mix of horses, birds, lions, and elephants. Wood backing stamped "Bohemia". Good con...

A complete set of 12 beautiful black and white wall plates, designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Nymolle, Denmark, 1970s. Each of these plaques st...

Bjorn Wiinblad, Danish artist, has created this beautiful series for German art glass & porcelain makers Rosenthal for their Studio-Line art edition. The Christmas decoration has bee...

This a complete set of 12, one for each month of the year. All are done in black and white and are in a very good condition. They have a small hole to thread a ribbon or a piece of l...

1970s VICTOR VASARELY "Live and let live love and let love". Rosenthal collectible framed German plate. Victor Vasarely Rosenthal Studio Line Limited Edition Porcelain Plate. By Vasarely born 1936. "Leben und Leben lassen, Lieben und Lieben lassen" "Live and let live - love and let love". Limited edition, signed and numbered. Plate is in good condition, size is 12". Frame is not in good condition, white became yellowish shows wear. Victor Vasarely, born as Győző Vásárhelyi on April 9, 1906, in Pécs, Hungary, was a Hungarian-French artist widely regarded as the "father of Op Art" (Optical Art). He is known for his pioneering work in geometric abstraction and the use of optical illusions to create visually captivating and dynamic artworks. Vasarely's early career involved studying medicine in Budapest, but he later decided to pursue his passion for art and enrolled in the Műhely (Workshop) academy in Hungary. He initially experimented with various styles, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, but his interest in geometric abstraction grew stronger over time. In the 1930s, Vasarely moved to Paris, where he continued to explore geometric patterns, lines, and shapes in his art. He believed that art should not merely imitate nature but should create its own language of forms and colors to engage the viewer's perception actively. This philosophy led to the development of Op Art, a movement that emerged in the 1960s and focused on creating optical illusions and visual effects through precise geometric patterns and colors. Vasarely's artworks often featured meticulously arranged geometric shapes, giving the impression of movement and three-dimensionality. He employed various optical tricks, such as the juxtaposition of contrasting colors and the use of repetition, to create an illusion of depth and visual dynamism. His artworks can evoke a sense of visual vibration and often challenge the viewer's perception. Throughout his career, Vasarely's influence extended beyond the art world. He believed in the democratization of art and wanted to make art accessible to a wider audience. He embraced mass production techniques, creating what he called "multiple originals" or "serigraphs" (a form of screen printing). These serigraphs allowed him to produce multiple copies of his artworks at affordable prices, making them more accessible to art enthusiasts. Vasarely's artistic legacy continues to be celebrated around the world. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums, and he remains an influential figure in the fields of Op Art and abstract geometric art. He passed away on March 15, 1997, in Paris, leaving behind a vast body of work that continues to captivate audiences and inspire artists to this day. About Rosenthal: German porcelain manufactory Rosenthal was originally founded as a ceramics-painting studio by Philipp Rosenthal Sr. (1855-1937) in 1879 at Schloss Erkersreuth in Bavaria, near the Czech border. Its first highly popular product was an ashtray inscribed with the words “Resting place for lit cigars.” In 1890, the company moved to the neighboring hamlet of Selb and, a year later, began to manufacture its own porcelain, since white porcelain was, at that time, in short supply. Rosenthal’s first complete table service was called Empire; it was exhibited along with other lines at Paris’s Exposition Universelle in 1900. With the dawn of the 20th century, Rosenthal began producing porcelain tableware and services formed and decorated in the latest styles, like the Jugendstil Botticelli (1903), the Art Nouveau Darmstadt (1905), and the all-white Maria (1916) lines. Successes with this au courant approach led the company to launch an art pottery division in 1910, dedicated to luxury tableware, vases, and other decorative objects. By the 1930s, figurines were another important Rosenthal product, most notably the Disney-licensed Mickey Mouse pieces introduced in 1931. In 1934, Philipp Rosenthal was forced to leave his company and country when his Jewish ancestry came under persecution by the Nazi regime. Despite the loss of its founder, the Rosenthal company remained the premier supplier of high-quality porcelain tableware to the Third Reich. After the war, in 1950, Philip Rosenthal Jr. (1916-2001) joined his father's company as an advertising manager. By 1958, he had become its CEO, continuing his father’s vision to produce high-quality porcelain in line with progressive tastes. Through the rest of the 20th century, Rosenthal was the most commercially successful porcelain producer in Germany. In the postwar era, Rosenthal’s most famous tableware lines have included 2000 by Raymond Loewy and Richard Latham (1954), Magic Flute by Bjørn Wiinblad (1959), Suomi by Timo Sarpaneva (1976), and Moon by Jasper Morrison (1997). The company has enjoyed many popular and critically acclaimed collaborations with designers and brands, like Salvador Dalì, Tapio Wirkkala, Walter Gropius, Andy Warhol, Ron Arad, Enzo Mari, Konstantin Grcic, and Versace. Rosenthal's product lines have encompassed more than ceramics over the years. In 1972, the company began producing furniture, under the subsidiary Rosenthal Einrichtung, in Espelkamp, Germany. Standouts from this arm of Rosenthal include Gunter Ferdinand Ris and Herbert Selldorf’s futuristic Sunball Lounge Chair (1969), Verner Panton’s Relaxer Rocking Chair (1974), Burchard Vogtherr's Vario Pillo...

Stunning wall plaque by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal. The plaque was produced in 1975 in an edition of 5000, and this one is number 1328. The text on the plate is German ‘auch die...

Wonderful collaged Printing Block wall hanging made from old printing blocks and an old drawer. Made in the 1960s it has the feeling of the artist Louise Nevelson but at a fraction...

A complete set of 12 beautiful black and gold wall plates, designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Nymolle Denmark, 1970s. Each of these plaques represents ...

Beautiful collectible plate from the famous Danish artist Bjorn Wiinblad (Bjørn Wiinblad). The plate was designed for Rosenthal, Germany and is deco...

Bjorn Wiinblad, Danish artist, has created this beautiful series for German art glass & porcelain makers Rosenthal for their Studio-Line art edition. Plates from 1975 with the Annunc...

Stunning colorful lacquer hand painted vintage 12 masks Chinese wall hanging. This is from the 1960s and is signed with a description attached to the back pictured in the photos. Gr...