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Learn about and understand the items, manufacturers, designers and periods as well as the specialist terms used in describing antiques and collectables. Either click one of the letters below to list the items beginning with that letter, or click on a category on the left side of the screen to list the items under that category.
Yixing ware teapots, also known as Zisha teapots, have a rich history that dates back centuries. These teapots are named after Yixing, a city located in Jiangsu province, China. Yixing has been renowned for its clay and pottery production since the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Here is a brief history of Yixing ware teapots:
The origins of Yixing ware teapots can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). During this time, Yixing clay, also known as Zisha clay, was discovered in the region. The clay is found near the banks of Lake Tai and is known for its unique properties, including its ability to retain heat and enhance the flavor of tea.
Yixing ware teapots gained popularity during the late Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). The teapots were favored by scholars, artists, and literati for their elegant and simple designs, as well as their practicality. They were highly regarded for their ability to brew tea with excellent taste and aroma. The teapots became closely associated with the literati culture of China. Many famous scholars and artists, such as Gong Chun, Chen Hongshou, and Wu Changshuo, were known to use and appreciate Yixing teapots. These teapots were often adorned with calligraphy, paintings, or intricate carvings, making them not only functional but also artistic.
Over the centuries, Yixing ware teapots evolved in terms of shape, style, and decoration. Various schools of Yixing pottery emerged, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular styles include Shi Piao (stone gourd), Fang Gu (square drum), Rong Tian (melted sky), and Xi Shi (named after a famous beauty in Chinese history). Each style had its own distinct shape and artistic elements.
Yixing ware teapots gained international recognition during the 20th century. They were highly sought after by tea connoisseurs and collectors worldwide. Yixing teapots became prized possessions due to their craftsmanship, natural clay, and their ability to enhance the tea-drinking experience. Yixing ware teapots continue to be produced and appreciated for their beauty, functionality, and cultural significance. Skilled artisans in Yixing handcraft these teapots using traditional techniques, ensuring the legacy of this unique pottery tradition.
Yngve Ekstrom (1913-1988) was a Swedish furniture designer, wood carver, sculptor, and architect. He was an important figure in the evolution of the Scandinavian Modernism movement. Ekstrom is best known for his minimalist and ergonomic designs, which are often made from natural materials such as wood and leather. His most famous piece is the Lamino armchair, which he designed in 1956 and remains in production today.
Ekstrom was born in Hagafors, Sweden, the son of a furniture factory worker. He began working in a sawmill at the age of 13, but also studied drawing, painting, music, and art history. In 1945, he co-founded the furniture manufacturer ESE-mobler (later renamed Swedese) with his brother Jerker and business partner Sven Bertil Sjoqvist. Ekstrom worked at Swedese for over 40 years until his death in 1988.
Ekstrom's designs are characterized by their simplicity, functionality, and comfort. He was influenced by the work of other Scandinavian Modernist designers such as Bruno Mathsson and Alvar Aalto, but he developed his own unique style. Ekstrom's furniture is often made from bent plywood, which allows for strong and lightweight designs. He also used traditional materials such as leather and fabric to create pieces that are both stylish and comfortable.
In addition to the Lamino armchair, Ekstrom designed a wide range of other furniture, including chairs, tables, sofas, and storage units. His work is known for its high quality and craftsmanship. Ekstrom's furniture has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, and he has received numerous awards for his designs.
Yonezawa Toys, also known as Yonezawa Japan, is a renowned Japanese toy company that gained prominence in the 1950s and onwards for its production of innovative and high-quality toys, including robots, jet racers, motor vehicles, and airplanes.
Yonezawa Toys was founded in 1950 by Yasuhei Yonezawa in the city of Tokyo, Japan. The company initially started as a manufacturer of tin toys, which were highly popular during that era. Yonezawa focused on creating toys that combined mechanical features, imaginative designs, and meticulous craftsmanship.
In the 1950s, Yonezawa Japan began producing a range of mechanical toys, including robots. These robots were often inspired by science fiction themes, such as space exploration and futuristic technology. Yonezawa robots featured intricate mechanisms, such as walking and spinning actions, blinking lights, and even shooting projectiles in some cases. These toys captured the imagination of children and collectors worldwide, becoming highly sought after for their mechanical complexity and aesthetic appeal.
Alongside robots, Yonezawa also produced other exciting toys during this period. One notable line of toys was the jet racers, which were battery-powered tin vehicles that simulated the speed and movement of jet planes. These toys featured colorful designs, realistic detailing, and spinning wheels, providing an exhilarating play experience for children.
Yonezawa expanded its product range further by venturing into the production of motor vehicles and airplanes. The company released various tinplate cars, trucks, and motorcycles, many of which featured friction-powered mechanisms for motion. These toys mirrored the popular automobile designs of the time and became favorites among children and collectors alike.
In the realm of airplanes, Yonezawa introduced tinplate models that resembled classic propeller planes and jet fighters. These toys often incorporated wind-up mechanisms or friction motors for propeller rotation and rolling action on the ground. Yonezawa's attention to detail in the design and execution of these toys made them highly coveted by toy enthusiasts.
Throughout the 1950s and onwards, Yonezawa Japan established itself as a leading manufacturer of tin toys, admired for its craftsmanship and innovation. The company continually adapted to changing market trends and incorporated new technologies, such as battery-powered and remote-controlled mechanisms, into its toys.
However, with the rise of plastic toys in the 1960s and 1970s, the demand for tin toys declined, leading Yonezawa to shift its focus to plastic toy production. The company continued to create a wide range of toys, including action figures, playsets, and electronic toys, catering to evolving consumer preferences.
Yonezawa Japan remains an influential name in the toy industry and the vintage tin toys created by Yonezawa during the mid-20th century continue to hold significant value among collectors.
Yoshiya, also known as Kobe Yoko Ltd., was a major Japanese toy manufacturer from the postwar period. The company was founded in Kobe, Japan in the early 1950s and produced a wide variety of mechanical and wind-up toys, including robots, vehicles, animals, and other figures. Yoshiya toys were known for their intricate designs and high quality, and they were popular both in Japan and abroad.
One of Yoshiya's most famous products was the Robby the Robot toy, which was based on the robot character from the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet. Yoshiya produced a number of different Robby the Robot toys, ranging from simple wind-up models to more complex battery-operated versions. These toys were very popular with children in the 1950s and 1960s, and they helped to make Yoshiya one of the leading Japanese toy companies of the era.
In addition to Robby the Robot, Yoshiya also produced a number of other popular mechanical and wind-up toys, such as the Space Dog, the Dancing Bear, and the Walking Chicken. These toys were known for their innovative designs and playful movements, and they helped to make Yoshiya a household name in Japan.
Yoshiya's popularity continued throughout the 1960s, but the company began to decline in the early 1970s. This was due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of labor in Japan and the increasing competition from foreign toy companies. Yoshiya eventually ceased production in the mid-1970s.
Despite its relatively short lifespan, Yoshiya had a major impact on the Japanese toy industry. The company's mechanical and wind-up toys were known for their high quality and intricate designs, and they were popular both in Japan and abroad.
Yrjö Kukkapuro (born 1933) is a Finnish furniture designer and architect. He is best known for his mid-century modern designs, which are characterized by their simplicity, functionality, and use of innovative materials. He was born in Viipuri, Finland (now part of Russia) and studied furniture design at the Institute of Industrial Arts (now known as the Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture) in Helsinki, graduating in 1958. After graduation, he worked for a number of Finnish furniture manufacturers, including Haimi and Avarte.
Kukkapuro's early designs were influenced by the work of Finnish designers such as Alvar Aalto and Ilmari Tapiovaara. However, he soon developed his own unique style, which was characterized by its use of new materials and its focus on ergonomics.
In the 1960s, Kukkapuro began to experiment with new materials such as fiberglass and metal. He also began to design more sculptural and expressive furniture. One of his most iconic creations is the Karuselli Chair, designed in 1964. This lounge chair, with its distinctive circular shape and comfortable design, has become a classic of mid-century modern furniture. Other notable deisngs were for the Saturnus chair (1968), and the Experiment armchair (1970).
His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries all over the world. He has also received numerous awards for his work, including the National Design Prize of Finland (1970) and the Kaj Franck Design Prize (1985).
Kukkapuro is one of the most important and influential Finnish designers of the 20th century. His work is known for its simplicity, functionality, and use of innovative materials. His designs continue to be enjoyed by people all over the world. Kukkapuro's furniture remains in production, and it is highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts of mid-century modern design.
Yvonne Rust (1922-2002) was a New Zealand pioneering potter, passionate arts teacher, and in later years, a prolific painter. She was born on 19 November 1922 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand. Her parents were Gordon and Annie Rust (née Buckhurst). Gordon was a Native Schools Headmaster working among Maori, and Annie was an accomplished artist who had been a tutor at Canterbury College of Art (today, Ilam School of Fine Arts attached to Canterbury University). Yvonne's early years were spent amongst M?ori, and from 1928, in New Zealand's northernmost community, Te Hapua, where she was the only white child.
She completed a diploma in fine arts in 1946 and became a high school art teacher, mostly in Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. She developed pottery skills in the communities in which she lived, starting eight studios. She also organised and directed the first national pottery workshop and school and started her own art school in 1959.
In 1967 she moved to the West Coast and started teaching at Greymouth High School. She established a pottery workshop in an old brewery near Greymouth, and with assistance from Barry Brickell and others, built a coal-fired salt kiln. In 1976 Yvonne Rust established the Northland Craft Trust and worked to secure a site in a disused quarry near Whangarei for a regional art and craft centre. The Centre, Quarry Arts Centre, opened in 1980.
In the 1983 New Year Honours, Rust was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service. A few years later, she began painting and later received an award for her work from the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington. In 1997, Rust returned to the West Coast to live in Runanga. She died in Greymouth in 2002, aged 79.
Yvonne Rust was one of the first potters in New Zealand to use local clays and glazes, and she experimented with a variety of techniques, including salt glazing and raku firing. Rust was also a passionate advocate for the arts. She was a founding member of the Northland Craft Trust, and she worked tirelessly to promote the work of New Zealand artists. She was also a mentor to many young artists.