Modern Design

Bernard Villemot, Bergasol, 1976


Bernard Villemot, Bally, 1979


Bernard Villemot, SNCF, 1973


Bernard Villemot, Perrier, 1976


Bernard Villemot, Le Drap 3+3+3, 1955


Bernard Villemot, Perrier, 1981


Bernard Villemot, Perrier, 1978


Bernard Villemot, Wagons-Lits, 1964

Here are some more example by French artist Bernard Villemot. Bernard Villemot was a French poster artist who lived from 1911 to 1989. He was perhaps the most well-known and well-respected French poster artist of his era. Beginning in the 1930s, Villemot started producing his classic stylized pieces. His works represented economy of form, featuring bright colorations, bold messages, and an inimitable style. Indeed, Villemot built up his huge reputation not just by appealing to fans, but also by wowing the international lithographic community.

After initial critical success, Bernard Villemot was hired by a number of major corporations to design advertising posters. For Orangina, the European sparkling soft drink, Bernard Villemot designed a particularly bold poster series. For Perrier, the sparkling table water company, Bernard Villemot created esoteric and curious arrangements. Bernard Villemot invented similarly original work for the Bally company.

Bernard Villemot often compared his work to visual telegrams. He believed in clear messages, bold expression, and cleverness. He also gained a wide reputation for depicting curvy women in a number of racy contexts. His lithography was defined by sharp lines, cheerful imagery, and charm. Original mint condition Bernard Villemot posters, framed and signed, are now typically worth on the order of several thousand dollars. His work is, if anything, eminently collectible.

While Bernard Villemot found commercial success, he also found critical success. In 1966, his major posters were singularly exhibited at the Musee de Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France. In 1981, the renowned Bibliotheque in Paris reviewed his work. He also won several major awards, such as the Martini Gold Medal, and garnered favorable reviews from even the harshest art critics of his time.

Love this cubist Italian poster which probably dates back to the 1950's. Very much in the style of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Nice colors. Designer unknown.

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If you are looking for the ultimate coffee table book that could spark conversation with guests, Taschen's upcoming 'The Big Butt Book' might be just your thing. The female butt, tush, culo, or derrière has always inspired awe, fantasy, and slavish devotion.  Granted, it may be too much of a good thing, especially when you have your parents in law for a visit.

Wonderful French poster from the 1950's to advertise toys and gifts for the entire family. "La Bonne Maison" was a retail store in St-Denis, a suburb in Paris. Unknown artist. Published by Cinemato in Paris, circa 1950's.

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When New York Sleeps is a nice new book with photographs by Christopher Thomas. Imagine a New York devoid of people, its empty streets, bridges and waterways as silent and magnificent as an Ansel Adams landscape. This is the New York that Christopher Thomas reveals in duotone photographs that are at once haunting and nostalgic. Employing a large-format Polaroid camera, Thomas shot many of these images in the early hours of the day or with long exposures, sometimes waiting hours for a chance to take these shots without any people in them. The result is a rare glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge without pedestrians; Grand Central Station without commuters; Fifth Avenue without cars, vendors, workers or shoppers. Not only do these photographs allow viewers to appreciate the spatial and architectural splendor of these New York City icons-they also evoke a dreamlike feeling that is unusual in visual depictions of the city. Timeless, yet unmistakably contemporary, this collection by an internationally acclaimed photographer is an important addition to the pantheon of photographic essays of New York's most beloved settings.

New York Times Square 42nd Street 1980's

LIFE has released some very interesting photographs of 42nd Street in the summer of 1986 shortly before it was cleaned up. 42nd Street when the good times rolled as photographed by Ted Thai for LIFE.

And this is how 42nd Street (almost) looks like today:

Amphibious cars had their brief moment in the 1960's. After all, who would not want to drive their car into a canal? Perhaps 007 had something to do with it.

Red Mushrooms with White Dots aka Amanita Muscaria.
Nature's design at its best.
Tripped out perfection.
Look, but never consume.
Like my mother always told me; the more beautiful the more poisonous.
Like some people perhaps.

Another image of the fabulous space age table clock by Angelo Mangiarotti designed in 1965.

Angelo Mangiarotti designed the Eros Table in 1971 for the now defunct Italian manufacturer Skipper. The Eros Table was released in various sizes and materials including the pictured white Carrara marble version. The Eros Table displays the typical style of Angelo Mangiarotti: gravity based interlocking designs with no traditional joints.

A beautiful space age modern table properly named Eros...any questions?
Get a room you two!

White Gufram Cactus

Love this Marco Zanuso Policromi Table which is from a limited and sold-out edition of 6 pieces. Very Josef Albers. Nice.

Ensombra Patio Umbrella

We will try to compile a list of nice modern patio umbrellas before summer. The Ensombra patio umbrella caught or eye with its sleek minimal look and smart system which allows wind to pass through. The Ensombra outdoor umbrella was inspired by oriental art. Its simple opening system recalls how fans work, through a repetition of a module that turns on its central axis. Odosdesign reinterpreted a traditional object by applying new materials which, together with its structure, provide it with great visual lightness. New materials are employed to achieve a combination of light, color and shades that turn a garden or terrace into an idyllic and lively space. This beautiful modern patio umbrella received multiple awards: First Prize Grand Design Awards London, First Prize Gioia Casa, Delta selection and CDIM Selection Professional.

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We are completely sold on the sleek contemporary outdoor furniture line by Spanish manufacturer Gandiablasco. Now we only need summer and a great location! Gandia Blasco modern outdoor furniture: Gandia Blasco produces durable and stylish modern outdoor furniture for any outdoor space including garden, patio, pool side and beach. The outdoor furniture collection includes furniture, garden chairs, garden tables, outdoor daybeds, lounge seating, chaise lounge, outdoor benches, parasols & pool umbrellas, modern patio furniture sets and much more. Some of the most popular outdoor furniture items include the Gandia Blasco Day Bed, the Ensombra Parasol which is a pool side umbrella and the Sun Loungers which are perfect for beach and pool areas.

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