The Mid-Century Modernist

Cheese Tray with Ceramic Tile and Jars

Callooh Callay on Etsy boasts a huge stock of interesting vintage goods. On the “Sold” list (sadly) is this fantastic tray with a white ceramic tile, two white ceramic jars for jam or chutney, wooden lids, a stainless steel knife, and a plastic spoon.

Why do I have such a tray fetish, by the way? Is this an affliction common to mid-century modern lovers?

Mid-Century, Modern Flickr Pick: The Standard Hotel Downtown LA

“The Standard Hotel Downtown LA”, recently submitted to our photo group by ChimayBleue

The restaurant at The Standard Hotel in downtown LA.

Service à Orangeade by Jean-Pierre Vitrac

Maxime Clair, whose impeccable home I featured a few weeks ago, has two of these fantastic Service à Orangeade for sale. Jean-Pierre’s Vitrac’s design, a melamine pitcher with stacking mugs that fit neatly in its handle, foreshadows Massimo Vignelli’s popular Heller dinnerware by two years.

Maxime also selling a Boby cart in brown, a color not being manufactured today.

360° Video of Hans Olsen Dining Set

Good photography can be the difference between a successful or ineffective eBay listing, and some sellers go to great lengths to capture their lots well, shooting at various angles in studio quality light and staging tasteful scenes to put the item in context.

The amusingly named Danish Mafia are taking eBay presentation to a new level, using video for their latest auction. Their Hans Olsen Dining Set (a unique delight that we’ve covered before) is captured in HD Quality 1080 video, meticulously filmed with a camera rig that captures the piece in 360° without human intrusion — until the slick demonstration at 1:10 of the table’s built-in expansion mechanism.

This may mark the beginning of video as a standard for mid-century furniture listings on eBay. I expect to see more from other sellers in the near future. But it would take a lot of patience and expensive equipment to do it as well as the Danish Mafia have done.

Teak Goblets

“Modern Danish Style Teak Goblets”, recently submitted to our photo group.

Never seen anything quite like these. Practically, they may seem ridiculous, but optically, they are wonderful. Either way, a great find by Barry Smith. The set of eight can be yours for $72 from his Etsy shop.

Salt and Pepper Shakers

“salt and pepper shakers”, recently submitted to our photo group. The lucky owner, Richard Fortner, says:

bought these in Saugatuck, Michigan at a great retro shop called Swell Times...they remind me of somthing Jonathan Adler would do but these are vintage...

Tulip Table and Panton Chairs

“new dining table”, recently submitted to our photo group by m.bibelot.

More from Jasmine’s fantastic Bay Area home below.

Windows in Hollin Hills Virginia

“HH Dining Interior”, recently submitted to our photo group by Mr Biscuit

These great windows bring in all the light and views of floor-to-ceiling glass while maintaining the benefit of waist-high sills. Love it. I believe this is a view of the house form the outside.

The obligatory dining room setup is a Saarinen Tulip with Eames plastic chairs. See more of Andrew Wilson’s snapshots from the Hollin Hills House + Garden Show. Learn more about the Hollin Hills community (smack in the middle of a historical colonial-themed area in Alexandria, Virginia) at the residents blog and see images of homes in their Flickr account.

Saarinen Tulip Table and Eames DCM Chairs

A dining area in a Nashville loft, recently submitted to our photo group by Reid Rolls. Interior by Beth Haley.

» Eames DCM Chairs on eBay
» Saarinen tables on eBay
» Saarinen Photo Group on Flickr

Reversible Game/Dining Table by Hovmand Olsen

Another blast from my past, Modernicus is selling this Danish table with reversible top for $595. It’s a brilliant, versatile thing. One side is leather, one is teak. I remember our family flipping ours often to suit the occasion: dinner or monopoly. Measures 31“ long, 31” wide, and 28“ tall. 56” long when expanded.