Depression Glass

Depression glass is clear or colored glassware manufactured from the late 1920s to the early 40s. During the Great Depression this colorful glassware, a cheerful and inexpensive antidote to the dark days of that era, could be purchased at the dime store for about a nickel. Companies like Quaker Foods would place one in the box as an incentive for purchase, theaters would hand them out if you purchased a ticket. Very inexpensive to manufacture, from cheap material and free power in the mid west, by more than 100 companies depression-era glassware was massed produced from molded glass in many bright colors. Pink, cobalt and green are colors most in demand today, depression glass also came in amber, yellow, opaque white known as Monax, and iridescent. Some patterns buyers seek today are Cameo, Mayfair, American Sweetheart, Princess and Royal Lace.

Depression glass with other vintage finds from the antique market.

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These green cake stands would look beautiful at the dessert table filled with cupcakes.

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Finding and using amber Depression Glass to set a beautiful table.
The amber centerpiece bowl below makes a beautiful container for flowers

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Depression glass was also manufactured in yellow, it is hard to find and one of my favorite colors
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Next time you go antique shopping keep your eye open for this beautiful glass and start a collection, mix it in with the tableware you have and use it everyday or display fresh cut flowers from your garden.

Firoozeh Khorrami

DesignSchematic

Toney Duquette Jewelry

One of the designers I find most inspiring is Tony Duquette.

above images: Town and Country December 2009

Tony Duquette had a life long fascination with jewelry. The jewelry he designed was opulent, extravagant, and exotic. He first started to make jewelry during the 1940s' and gained an international following after his one man exhibition at the Louvre in 1951. Over the next 45 years the jewelry Tony Duquette created did not number more than 500, and before 1960 none were signed. He used precious and semi precious stones mixed with materials such as, antiques pieces, silver, gold, glass to name a few. With his masterful skill and sophisticated eye Tony along with his partner Hutton Wilkinson created one of a kind pieces that were valued for design and not gemology. He was commissioned to design jewelry by celebrities, socialites, even the Duchess of Windsor. In 1994 the jewelry was brought to the attention of Bergdorf Goodman in New York who commissioned Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson to design an exclusive line for the store. After Tony Duquette's death in 1999, his partner Hutton Wilkinson continues designing jewelry under the Tony Duquette name available exclusively through Sakes Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Hutton Wilkinson has shared much more about the jewelry and Tony Duquettes life in his books Tony Duquette and More is More:Tony Duquette


Firoozeh Khorrami

Design Schematic

Lusterware

Lusterware is pottery or porcelain with an iridescent effect caused by the metallic finish containing copper and silver or other materials. It's history is ancient dating back to Egypt and Rome, true luster technology probably began sometime between the 4th and 8th centuries AD. Luster glazes were applied to pottery in Mesopotamia in the 9th century; the technique soon became popular in Persia and Syria and migrated to Spain and Italy. In the 18th century the English were the first to apply platinum glaze to earthenware. This created the look of more expensive sterling silver, the so-called “poor-man’s silver”. A process that was introduced by John Hancock and Josiah Spode, known as silver luster or English luster.












Do you collect lusterware?


Firoozeh Khorrami, ASID

www.DesignSchematic.com