With a name like “Fat Lava,” it has to be good!

(Above) West & East German Pottery: Makers Marks & Form Numbers
New book by Kevin James Graham (available July 1, 2009)
174 pages, over 300 color photographs, thousands upon thousands of form numbers, over 200 companies are contained with, with year/era of introduction plus additional designer data, written in English.

(Above) From Spritzdekor to Fat Lava
New book by Kevin James Graham. (available July 1, 2009)
262 pages, 658 full color photographs, further 282 color marks photographs (940 in all). Details of 108 West & East German pottery makers from 1930s to 1998 are contained within, including the designers, decors with dates of introduction, includes some never seen before companies. This is the first book of its kind available in English.

(Above) Book by Mark Hill.
http://potteryandglass.forumandco.com
http://potteryandglass.forumandco.com/

HERE’S SOMETHING that you will either love, or absolutely hate. I haven’t made my mind up quite yet, but I am definitely leaning towards the “hate it” side. When I first saw a collection of this pottery at the home of a well-known NY art collector who has an exquisite eye, I have to admit that I was taken back a bit. “What was this collection of kitsch doing here?” I thought to myself? It was prominently displayed in a few key places in their lovely town house. So, obviously I had to inquire about it. They told me it was West German studio ceramics from the 1960s and ’70s—affectionately called “fat lava” by collectors. It was gaudy stuff, bright colors, shapes going here and there— almost verging on butt ugly to my thinking.

What I am showing you today is the more organic stuff in the pottery line. Out of all the fat lava styles, this is the line that I like best— well, I can tolerate it without getting queasy. Believe me, if you google “fat lava” you’ll see tons of it— and then you can make up your own mind. And, btw, it’s getting kinda pricey too. I'll bet that out here in the hinterlands of the midwest you can still find it cheap at garage and estate sales, flea markets, etc. (we’re the last to know what’s cool, anyway). But hey, maybe you can be the first on your block with a collection of “fat lava” ceramics.

There’s a book out on it now, by a guy named Mark Hill (see photo), and two new books by Kevin James Graham (July 1, 2009). You can probably get an of these books on Amazon. For the real pottery, you might have luck at your local Salvation Army Thrift Store or Goodwill stores.

And, there is a free forum about fat lava, pottery and glass that is on-line. Learn more by going here.

DIVING

Two vernacular photos from the collection. The airplanes are German, WWI, c. 1918, never before published actual action photograph. The second image, a simple snapshot of an elegant dive by a young girl, c. 1955.

YOGA

One of the things I like about writing this blog is that it gives me a place to put things that I have been carrying around in my head for a long time. Perhaps it’s presumptuous of me to think anybody out there cares what I think, or that what I have to say is even worthy of sharing. Given that, please consider this blog as an archeological site of beautiful, interesting and thoughtful things—all of which you are welcome to dig through, discover and take home if you want.

Two years ago I spent a few days in Brooklyn, NY on business. At the end of my visit, I was in a cab on my way to the airport when I spotted a simple, black and white sign for a yoga center. I wasn't able to photograph it, but I have never forgotten it for it’s simple and economical way of communicating what they do. I recreated it for you today from the font Futura, which to my recollection is closest to the font as I remember it. I really do not know if this is an original idea, or if it was ripped off from someone else’s ingenuity or from a back issue of Print Magazine, but it stuck in my brain permanently as wonderful. As the sign quickly passed my vision, I remember smiling and thinking, "Bravo!"

Wooly Chaps

You NEVER know when you’re gonna need a pair of wooly chaps, do you? I sure don’t. You can get these 1915 fur, leather and canvas babies this Sunday at Garth’s Auctions in Delaware, Ohio. The Randau Collection; November 28, 2008. www.garths.com

“Twin Peaks” guy adjusts pressure in year 2050

1950s Science Illustration ROCKS! In this illustration, the well-groomed “she-male” adjusts the water intake valve (above), allowing water to flow into the red thingy, which is then dispersed into the smaller thingy’s which, when poured into the tan, spray-painted gas can with added funnel (YOU CAN'T FOOL ME!) can be weighed by the blue scale. Oops, the green clock says it’s 11:30, time for lunch and that TV Dinner!

You might note that in the far distant future, science has reverted back to a vacuum-tube and heavy industry style of research. Who am I to question? 

The World Was Just as Strange 150 years Ago

(Above) IRON BOOTJACK: Here’s a very unusual cast iron bootjack in the form of a devil, whose horns are shaped to aid in the removal of tall boots. Simple and very graphic. The identical bootjack is pictured in Jean Lipman’s Flowering of American Folk Art, pg. 257. Size is 10-1/4 inches. www. onegoodeye

(Above) SYPHILIS GLASSES: Also from onegoodeye, is a rare set of green tinted four-lens spectacles commonly worn by sufferers of syphilis in the early 19th century. The design was patented by J.R. Richardson in 1797 and these ‘double D’ frames were hand made somewhere between 1800 and 1820.

R. Ege Antiques, St Louis

Whatever the season, Rick Ege's storefront window is worth stopping for. 
Here, I'm sorry to say you probably won't find anything your grandmother had... except maybe if your grandmother was Gertrude Stein or wa-aaay ahead of her time.

Rick Ege Antiques is located at 1304 Sidney Street in the historic Soulard District in St. Louis, and is by far my favorite place to look for great stuff. Rick's eye is one you can trust. If Rick has it— it's good, it's worthy, it's rare and it's wonderful. Normally, you would have to go to New York, Chicago or L.A. to find this level of quality. Rick is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Stay tuned here, because in future posts I'll show you more great things.  The number to the shop is: 314.773.8500.