vintage store: glass glorious glass - the end of history

My recent trip to New York City with my ever faithful NYC weekend friend got me humming Broadway. An homage to Oliver:

Glass, glorious glass!

What wouldn't we give for 

That extra bit more?

That's all that we live for!

Wonderful glass,

Marvelous glass,

Fabulous glass!

My fourth trip (yes--I am counting) to:

The End of History
Mid-Century Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (4.6)

548 1/2 Hudson St.

New York, NY 10014

(212) 647-7598

The End of History

If you have the slightest proclivity toward mid-century modern glass, get thee to The End of History. The proprietor, collector and keeper of the store, Stephen Saunders, has amassed a mid-century modern glass collection worthy of a museum. And, during these recessionary times, this vintage boutique is turning its inventory quite nicely.

Rebecca's 5 Point Rating Scale (1-not-so-great and 5-fabulous):

• Store Size / Inventory - 5 (OMG)
• Merchandise Quality  - 5 (incredibly unusual and beautiful pieces)
• Organization - 5 (very organized by color, thank you very much)
• Pricing - 3 (museum pricing for museum pieces, but still achievable for the common man)
• Service - 5 (Stephen is knowledgeable, helpful, ships fast, and remembers me year after year)

Total Rating is 4.6 (5 stars)

Link to Yelp Reviews

We first spotted The End of History strolling down Hudson street a few years ago in Greenwich Village. We stopped, completely mesmerized at the brightly colored class displays in the shop window. "What is this place?"

Wonderland?
Mecca?
Valhalla? 

We had to go in.

We first spotted The End of History strolling
past the store windows. We stopped, transfixed.

Oh my. We were not disappointed. Glass as far as the eye could see. The store is somewhat dazzling. It takes a minute to focus at the front door, assaulted (in a good way) by lime green, pumpkin orange, sky blue and lemon yellow. Give it a moment and please don't swoon (breakables). With careful searching and the advice of Saunders, you can find something unique for your home, office or friend.

Yes, the windows look even better from the other side.

Saunders doesn't need to advertise, because pieces from his store are frequently mentioned in decorating books, online articles and in print. His collection easily includes thousands of pieces, and he has more in storage and out on loan for magazine shoots.

Red is the feature color for October.

Japanese magazine, Spur, July 2012

When the Japanese magazine "SPUR" asked the award-winning fashion designer Phillip Lim where he recommends their readers shop when in New York City, he pointed to The End of History as one of his must-see spots. It is quite true that he loves our shop...as evidenced by his ongoing patronage.

The yellows, greens and blues, circa mid-fifties, how delicious!

Genie stoppers on these bottles - cool, huh?

The shapes ... yum-o.

The Rob Report, April 2012

So where does Saunders find his colorful treasures? “Twenty years ago when I started collecting, a lot of these pieces were being sold at yard sales because people thought they were junk. Now, I send pickers to antique markets across the country and overseas because they have become so popular; and I think my shop has really contributed to that,” he says. “I am allowing people to rediscover things. I buy things that I love and re-present them as the luxury goods they once were. Everything goes through a period in which it’s unfashionable, but now that it has come back for the second time, it’s here to stay.”

Bottle green glass

\

Murano shell bowls, anyone?

White and gold ceramics

New York Magazine online listings:

The small, two-window storefront gives way to a visual explosion of vintage glassware—azure lamps, yellow vases, deep-green hurricanes—all categorized by color. The novel approach to arrangement is only a fraction of the allure here: 10,000 vintage pieces make up the world's largest, international collection of mid-century glass and ceramic ware.

Lamps, lamps lamps -- still my beating heart.

White lamps. I have a soft spot for white lamps, from my mom.

Martha Stewart: Collecting Mid-Twentieth Century Glass Vessels - nice little picture montage as well, worth clicking through to get a feel for mid-century glass:

In the two decades following World War II, glassware went wild. Decanters shaped like genies' bottles, amorphous bowls, and flamboyant pitchers became de rigueur. Turned out in Popsicle reds, acid yellows, and jewel-tone blues, it was as if glassblowers flipped a Technicolor switch. "These were the magic years," says Fritz Karch, Martha Stewart Living's collecting editor, "when glassblowers were at their most imaginative and creative." It also marked the final years of certain mineral-based colors, which were brighter than the synthetic hues that replaced them.

Tempting.

Does this give you a feel for the vastness of the collection?
Check out the ceiling! More wonderfulness.

So at this point, you are probably thinking, "tell us already."

Who could resist these little treasures?
Not glass, but ever so sixties.

From The End of History

A stunning set of three geometric objects for the table top. White ceramic forms in strikingly simple shapes, made in Italy in the 60s by Mancioli for Raymor. This is the kind of decoration could mix well in either a traditional home or in a modern space as well.  

See you next year Stephen.

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