József Rippl-Rónai

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I was reading about the history of Zsolnay glass factory in Hungary (Zsolnay, or 

formally Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt, is a Hungarian manufacturer of 

porcelain, pottery, ceramics, tiles, and stoneware), when came across these two 

adorable small porcelain plates from 1897-98 (i.e. they were designed over 

hundred years ago). The designer was Hungarian József Rippl-Rónai, who was a 

key artist (mostly painter) during the golden age of Hungarian art 1890 - 1910. 

Here is the first plate:

József Rippl-Rónai,
ceramic plate, 21.2 cm

See the last image in this post for the second plate.

From wikipedia:

József Rippl-Rónai (1861 – 1927) was a Hungarian painter, born in Kaposvár. After his studies at the High  School there, he went to study in Budapest, where he obtained a degree in pharmacology. In 1884 he  travelled to Munich to study painting at the Academy. Two years later he obtained a grant which enabled  him to move to Paris and study with Munkácsy. In 1888 he met the members of Les Nabis and under their  influence he painted his first important work, The Inn at Pont-Aven, a deeply-felt work notable for its dark  atmosphere. Later he returned to Hungary, where critical reception was at first lukewarm, but he eventually had a very  successful exhibition entitled "Rippl-Rónai Impressions 1890-1900". He believed that for an artist not only  is his body of work significant, but also his general modus vivendi, even including the clothes he wore. He  thus became interested in design, which led to commissions such as the dining room and the entire  furnishings of the Andrássy palace, and a stained-glass window in the Ernst Museum, (both in Budapest).  Between 1911 and 1913 his exhibitions in Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna were highly successful.

József Rippl-Rónai, 1902

József Rippl-Rónai, Woman in White Dotted Dress 1889,
Oil on canvas, 187 x 75 cm.

József Rippl-Rónai, left: Portrait of James Pitcairn Knowles 1892, Oil on canvas, 55 x 64 cm.

Right: Lady with Black Veil (Mme Mazet) 1896, Oil on canvas, 100 x 80 cm.

József Rippl-Rónai, Portrait of Margit Piatsek 1892,
oil on canvas.

József Rippl-Rónai, Study for a poster 1902,
Pencil and charcoal on paper, 95 x 22 cm

József Rippl-Rónai, Illustration to 'Les Vierges' 1895,
Colour lithograph

József Rippl-Rónai, ceramic plate, 21.2 cm

Black Rose Blooming

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Our "Black Rose" Aeonium arboreum var. atropurpureum 'Schwarzkopf' is in 

flower for the first time in about 15 years:

My Storybirds

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Kati Tuominen-Niittylä (b. 1947 in Finland) began working at the Arabia factory in 

Helsinki Finland in 1980 (see her English CV here). Her minimalist and timeless 

language of form appears in numerous serially manufactured products and one-

off works. Prior to the prestigious Kaj Franck Design Prize of 2007 Kati Tuominen-

Niittylä has received the Grand Prix, Honourable Mention and the Gold Medal in 

the Mino Ceramics Competition in Japan.

”I am a minimalist. My works are made of ark shapes. The shapes are in the end 

standards. Working with the shapes by changing scales and proportions creates 

an expression characteristic of the artist and the time.

”When I design objects I always start with the colour white. It shows the light and 

shades the clearest. White shapes are also the most interesting to work with.”

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Storybirds Oliver and Olga, 1994,
ceramic (Arabia, discontinued).

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Storybird Olga, ceramic.

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Storybird Oliver, ceramic.

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Gluck pitcher, 1993
 glass (Iittala, discontinued).

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Storybird Olga, ceramic.

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Gluck Pitcher, glass.

Kati Tuominen-Niittylä, Storybirds Oliver and Olga with Gluck Pitcher.

Today's Walk - Winter Beach

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From wikipedia:

The Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), previously known as the Masked Plover and often called the Spur-winged Plover or just Plover in its native range, is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia, particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent. It spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms and has several distinctive calls. A Masked Lapwing blinking (the nictitating membrane is used rather than the eyelids)

Masked Lapwing, a 360 degree vision?

Reflections - Talmud Highway

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A view from my study, a reflection on the linocut by Stanislaw Fijalkowski (born 

1922, Poland). The work is called:

Talmud Highway - In Commemoration of the Death of Tadeusz Brzozwski

See MoMA information about the work here (it's also in their collection).

Stanislaw Fijalkowski
Talmud Highway - In Commemoration of the Death of Tadeusz Brzozwski

Italian Design

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Here are a couple of Italian furniture we have at home. The Cassina armchairs 

are by Vico Magistretti (1926-2006): Maralunga design from 1973, and Veranda 

from 1983, and the bed and bedside tables are Poliform Anteo by Paolo Piva 

(note that the last image of the bed is from the net).