Wooden Kitchen Mallets

Higgins Studio: Fish Design Glass Art Ashtray, c. 1950s

Original handmade fish design ashtray, signed Higgins, c. 1950s. 

Michael and Frances Higgins, who met at the Chicago Institute of Design, were pioneers in glass fusing, or a "glass sandwich." A design is created on a piece of enamel-coated glass. Over this, another piece of enameled glass is laid. The pieces are then placed on a mold and heated. Under heat, the glass “slumps” to the shape of the mold. The design itself is fused between the outer glass pieces, with additional layers adding to the texture and color.

Originally the studio operated out of their Chicago apartment until 1957 when it was relocated as a result of a partnership with Dearborn Glass Company of Chicago. During that time, they produced a wide range of products until 1966 when they returned to private studio work, with their studio located in Riverside, Illinois. 

Michael died in 1999 and Francis in 2004. 

This ashtray is 1/2-inch in height and is rectangular in shape that is 5" in width by 7" in length. It is signed with the freehand gold Higgins Dearborn Signature.

Joyce Willie: Kwakiutl Dance Apron, c. 1960

Joyce Willie, Kwakiutl Dance Apron, 23" x 21," c. 1960

David Batz Ceramic Basket

Ivory Bracelet

This is a vintage hand-carved Eskimo carved bracelet by Inuit artist J. Omiak of Teller, Alaska. It features ten rectangular beads, five of which are delicately carved in high relief of Arctic animals -- an Arctic fox, a walrus, a polar bear, a whale and a seal. The animals display scrimshaw accents filled with black pigment. The bracelet is signed on the interior "J. Omiak" with black pigment.  

This bracelet is strung on white elastic cording, and measures about two-inches its the interior. It measures about 2-3/4-inches in diameter overall on the exterior.

David Walsh: Old Growth Redwood Bowl

"G+ Bowl 12184" is a signed and numbered hand-turned bowl made from figured Old-Growth Redwood. It measures 4" at its widest diameter and 5.5" tall at its highest point.

The Old-Growth Redwood David Walsh uses is sustainably-sourced, reclaimed California Redwood stumps that were left by the first loggers of the late 19th Century. Some of these trees were alive over 2,500 years ago, and over-logging has increased the scarcity of this precious wood. David Walsh's pieces are made of all-heartwood Old-Growth Redwood, which is extremely resistant to decay and insects. The wood has remained perfect even after lying outdoors for up to 140 years. Because of this, the color is much darker and the wood harder. In some pieces, the exterior surface has developed a lovely black color from the exposure to the elements. Owning a piece of Old-Growth Redwood means having a part of natural history that will last far into the future.

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