Tchochkes

Dinner plate

Dishes are really something special, especially this unique product line designed by Finnish designer Klaus Haapaniemi for iittala.  The patterns seen here are inspired by traditional Finnish folk tales, what a strange little owl. 

Espresso cup

If you are interested in adding these to your dinnerware collection, the dinner plates go for $40.00 each, the espresso cup can be had for $11.00 each and mugs for $22.00 each.   Unicahome ships internationally with a minimum oredr of $100.00.

Mug

Plate

I can see using these decorative dishes along with a set of whites.  These would be a welcomed gift in my home. 

Moss Online is a store that features high end luxury goods which cost an absolute ridiculous price. However, they would cost even more if you bought them in Israel, and they ship here. So, if you feel like taking advantage of  the strong sheckel / falling dollar, and you are in the market for something insanely priced but exclusive as well - this would be the place for you.

Honestly, I while I love their goods I have to admit that I think it’s downright silly to pay… well, you’ll see that rant after I show the item…

Tord Boontje makes a stunningly beautiful chandelier, there is no denying that one. He also charges an arm, a leg, half of a head of hair, and an ear for them. The small pink Blossom chandelier above, made from Swarovsky crystals, costs $22,500. A lamp that costs more than a new small car. A small lamp that costs more than a small new car. And the lamp doesn’t drive.

I love decanters. Crystal decanters filled with exotic liquers - or pretty colored Koolaid for all I care. I don’t drink liquer or Koolaid - and both have such nice colors. As this is a decanter from Moss it is crystal and designed by Rudolf Eschler in 1934.  Because I know you’re wondering, it cost $525.

This ridiculous looking chair is made out of clay on metal skeletons. As clay is fairly easily broken I would recommend using this more as a conversation piece than an actual chair. Plus it doesn’t exactly scream comfort.

Moss takes themselves quite seriously. Their description of the chair: ‘Clay Furniture address the issue of form-giving in industrial design, revealing, literally, the designer’s ‘hand’ in this intimate process, today normally concealed through the use of a computer (but there, none-the-less).’

Really. Gosh, I feel so enlightened and arty suddenly. I think I’ll go put on some glasses and a black turtleneck.

This silly red chair was designed by Maarten Baas and costs $2,900

The rant begins here: Stop reading if you are not interested.

The Witches sticks above cost $770 and are made in an artists something or other by underprivilaged people in Guatemala. The price of this item pisses me off. The average salary in Guatemala for a non-urban area anywhere from $13 - $14 a month to $100, depending on how rural and run-down the area.

‘The average income for families in San Andrés is about 700/month/household (about $94).  In villages around the town of San Andrés, the average income drops to about $13-40 per month/household.  Conditions in surrounding villages are much more severe as they usually lack running water, electricity, stores, and most importantly, employment’

Let’s say that they are paying an artist to make this by hand and it costs them about 1 month to make a set (this is extremely unlikely). Let’s say they pay this artist around $50 for the work. Let’s even say that the wood is rare and expensive - another $20 for materials. Where do they get off charging $770 for 6 kitchen utensils? I don’t care if it’s a Tord Boontje - someone is making far too much money off of this and I can guarantee you it isn’t the poor sod in Guatemala. I am all for helping the underprivilaged and giving work to those in need. I just think they would be able to sell more and give those same artists more work if they priced the item in a range that doesn’t alienate your typical consumer.

Plus they look like they just stepped out of Hogwarts, literally. He even calls them witches kitchen. Please.

Once again Artlook has found a hot item.  Shown here, Doggy Bank is very similar in style to a sculpture by the popular kitsch artist Jeff Koons; featured last month in the American magazine Elle Decor.  This looks like a case of “the copy cats” to me but I’m not talking… 

No one can deny that Sygalle Giveon-Leshman’s pottery is colorful. Her patterns are lively, her technique strong, and those colors - it’s a rainbow on every pot.

She used to share a gallery in Zichron Yaakov with Nava Abel, my sister-in-law. Her website only has a fraction of the work that she does on it - and in my opinion it doesn’t show some of her best stuff. She does light covers, sinks, tiles, plates, vases, and more.

When you see her work en-mass it doesn’t look as chaotic as the examples given on her website. While her work is colorful and lively, it’s not overwhelming. I think the examples on her site are an extreme of her style.

Decorative Arts

Local artist Yael Novak’s whimsical work is positively devine.  Her ceramic sculptures are an artistic expression that are simple and sophisticated. Her work is of exhibition quality and can be found at ceramic co-ops in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

Imagine an online store in the world of Salvador Dali, where picture frames bend with corners and shirts cover tables. details - produkte + ideen is a store for the surrealist in all of us. Katrin Sonnleitner, of sock on a rock fame, sent me an email letting me know that she’s selling a puzzle doili (below) there.

The tableshirt (above) is by Fernando Brizio and costs 128 Euro’s. I would put a long thin vase with a single flower in the center of the neck.

The product selection is not especially wide. Mainly small tchochkes and some chairs. All of the pieces are clean and have a dramatic irreverent appeal.

Up the cups (below) are by the Icelandic designer, hrafnkell birgisson. I just looked at his main site, and this guy has done some very neat stuff. I hope to get some jpegs of his work, so I can write more about him soon.

The prices are what one would expect for small runs industrial design by artists. This is not your Philip Stark at Target, this is your future Philip Stark before he or she becomes a household name. The pieces have been well chosen and the style is consistent. Everything had a functional value set into the design.

Yvonne Schroeder did the corner frames (below). The prices start at 198 Euro’s.

What a great way to show off a panoramic picture.

Mind you, The Pecker by Patrick Frey & Markus Boge, (shown above) had the best name and simply had to be mentioned.

The shop is in English and German, and they ship worldwide. The shipping cost depends on the weight of the item.

After finishing the Tollman’s post I kept looking at their site (what a pleasure for the eyes - if you haven’t been yet GO THERE NOW.) I came across the Alessi Chin Chan Timer. Politically correct it’s not - but who cares? Look at those colors! Look at that pop design! How cute is that? I’ve been thinking I need an egg timer which can give me finer timing than my stove - and this is just perfect.

It reminds me of this Louis Vuitton pop bag designed by the amazing Japanamation artist Takashi Murakami. Below is a piece by him, so you can see his style. Hmm… maybe Tollman’s should have Takashi design something for them?

After waiting what seemed like donkeys years Tollman’s finally has their new site up - the site is brilliant and is well worth the wait. It gives background on the designers as well as a fantastic overview of the style of the store - übermodern.

I was in their Herzelia Pituach store a few weeks ago, and I have mixed reviews. Their product mix is consistent, clean, and their vision of the perfect home is clear. The state of the store itself, however, was a tad disappointing. The office secretary is by the front door and behind her desk is an electricity box and other unsightly things which one doesn’t need to see when shopping in a store. There were a couple of fire extinguishers leaning against a wall in a room display on the second floor. However, the important thing about the store is the merchandise - and with that, while the store was spare (probably because it’s so big) it was spot on.

I am absolutely in love with the Gioivannoni broom below. The color, the lines. It’s what industrial design is meant to be - turning an everyday object into a work of modern art. The furniture is equally stunning. The Philippe Starck bed is just waiting to be moved into the Yoo tower in Tel Aviv.

Their tableware, accessories, and other small decorative items are fantastic. They have the best of the European designers selection filled with color and humor. They are expanding their range to include kitchens and office. I’m certain that they won’t disapoint.

There’s an ever growing number of handmade boutique-esque shops in Tel Aviv and Maitou is one of them. They sell handmade lampshades (shown), hand-covered notebooks in leather, paper, and fabric.

The website is only showing a fraction of what the store has to offer. Loads of colorful home accessories fill this small space - worth a look if you happen to be in the north Dizengoff area of TA.

Vazu is an Israeli designed and manufactured out of polyeurathane and polyester. It got a mention on treehugger last year, which I find rather odd considering the materials it’s made out of.

If you live in a small flat and like your weekly Friday flowers then Vazu is perfect for you. It stores completely flat, comes in a multitude of patterns and colors, and doesn’t tear or rip.