W.R. Rocky Ferris Autoscape Photorealism Art

Rocky Ferris Roxy Drive in

rocky ferris roxy drive-in 3

rocky Ferris roxy drive-in 2

This graphic interpretation of a quintessential shark fin and dual bullet tail light of a ’59 Cadillac captures the essence of this classic GM design. The refined lines of the Caddy are juxtaposed with a cozy couple in their Chevy at the Roxy Brown Lantern Drive-In. W.R. (Rocky) Ferris celebrates his early talent and passion in this screen printed image, number 25 or 58, printed in 1978, with applied water color, and white Conte’ crayon.

rocky ferris 59 corvette 1

rocky ferris 59 corvette 2

rocky ferris 59 corvette

This idyllic image is titled “59 Vette.” It is a W.R. Ferris screen printed image, number 28 of 70, with applied water color, and white Conte’ crayon. It depicts a scene common to many households, particularly during those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” We washed and waxed the car by hand, of course, collectors still eschew any other methods. My fourth grade teacher had a ’59 Corvette just like this, a gift from her father upon her graduation from college. The details of the checkered flag are even noted in this nostalgic, photorealistic homage to the past and the car of your dreams.

rocky ferris 54 corvette

rocky ferris 54 corvette 2

rocky ferris 54 corvette 2

This image is titled “1954 Corvette.” It is a screen printed image, number 2 of 97, with applied water color, and white Conte’ crayon. It depicts a view from the buyer’s perspective of the steering wheel, dashboard, and surrounding cars on a car lot. The artist attends with passion, graphically, to the infinite details of the industrial design including the speedometer, the tachometer, oil pressure gauge, … A ‘ vette enthusiast will feel like they are in the driver’s seat.

rocky ferris kissimmee

rocky ferris kissimmee 1

rocky ferris kissimmee 2

Back in the day, fuel stations dispensed not only gasoline but service “with a smile.” Gasoline, including Texaco, at this service station was pumped, oil levels were checked, windshields were wiped, self-service was not even a concept in consideration. The artist who at the time spent winters in Marathon, Florida, illustrated this open bay garage located in Kissimmee. The perfect backdrop for a period film shoot. The details in both the classic vintage cars, as well as the scenic landscape are fine examples of photorealistic style. The image is not dated formally, however, if one looks closely, the artist uses the date of completion in the license plate: 31678. It is a W.R. (Rocky) Ferris screen printed image, from 1978, number 27 of 53, with applied water color, and white Conte’ crayon.

rocky ferris artist description

This and three other hand tinted prints by Walter Rockford Ferris, aka Rocky Ferris, were purchased in the summer of 1978 at the Ann Arbor, Michigan Arts Festival. They have been displayed in one residence or another in the family since that time. We disassembled this and the other pieces to clean, photograph, and replace the acid free backer, prior to listing in its original metal, period 70s frame.

“Walter is one of those unusual person who has combined all phases of his life to make them work for him and he expresses them within his work. He is an artist and always has been.
It was his childhood goal. His appreciation for quality, design, and presentation was introduced in his youth in New England. His preoccupation with autos began in his teens and was rekindled with his first antique auction ten years later. At 30, Walter changed his occupation from commercial artists to fine artist and started drawing what he loved… autoscapes.
It is the individuality of the most commonplace, especially during the 30s, 40s, 50s, that has inspired him to recreate this mood. He has exhibited in numerous national shows, lives in Florida in winter, Michigan in summer, and drives a Plymouth Woody.”

His work is in private, corporate, and public collections. He has received numerous commissions, and prestigious awards at art festivals.

His individual style has evolved over the years he describes as “many lives.” Living on a boat and creating miniatures for years, then back on land with a studio, he describes his work as “Tropical Surrealism.” He no longer paints simply photorealistic images, he makes “the normal seem abnormal and abnormal seem normal… surrealism.” A member and an instructor at the Key West Art Center, Key West, Florida, as of 2006. Discovered through numerous sites and links, he may be quoted as stating that “photorealistic images of which are not real or present and come from my mind are what make me feel truly creative.”

Modern 60s White Panasonic Cube Radio

Panasonic "cube", model R-47A radio Panasonic "cube", model R-47A radio Panasonic "cube", model R-47A radio

 

Vintage in a historical sense, this plastic transistor radio referred to as the Panasonic “cube”, model R-47A exhibits pure modern design and pays homage to Eero Saarinen by eliminating a “slum of legs” with a singular tulip pedestal. Manufactured in the 60s by Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, the cube measures approximately 4″ x 4″, 5.5″ tall; elevated on the iconic tulip base.

The plastic is a sophisticated matte finish, off white. The dial face is silver behind a clear eye. The graphics are mod, if not groovy, frequency numerals are in purple with a clear dial needle punctuated by an orange bubble design that can be seen through the edge of the clear plastic. The AM only frequency,volume, and on/off are controlled by two ridged silver dials on one side. The speaker is on the opposite side comprised minimally of perforations in the molded plastic. There is a jack for an earphone on the back.

Minimal in design, it has a few minimal nicks or scuffs among its simple angles, curves, and surfaces. These minor imperfections do not effect the significance of this iconic mid-century piece. Tested for full range of volume and frequency tuning, the radio requires a single 9 Volt battery (not included.)

As a design product, this Panasonic “cube” radio is a rare find in working condition exhibiting not only innovation and invention but featuring elements of other design disciplines of the 60s. This radio would be a treasured beginning or addition for someone interested in MCM design, a radio collector, a graphic artist, an industrial designer, a 60s music or record collector, …

Measurements: 5.5″ tall, 4″ wide, 4″ deep

Vintage Nan Swid Silver Plated Three Piece On-Ice Bowl

NanSwid-b-8245
NanSwid-b-8251
NanSwid-b-8247

This gorgeous three piece set includes one bowl, a tray insert, and a glass bowl insert. Two of the three pieces could be used independently of the others. An ideal use would be for an hors d’oeuvre that should remain cold. Imagine: ice in the bowl, shrimp arranged on the tray, a cocktail sauce in the glass bowl. Or, better, the elegance and beauty of caviar presented in this refined vessel. Marked Nan Swid with sticker “Made in China” this bowl was created prior to 1982 when Nan Swid and Addie Powell left Knoll International and founded SwidPowell.

Known for producing objects with form and function, SwidPowell commissioned pieces from internationally known architects. Architects included Richard Meier, Robert A.M. Stern, Frank Gehry and other design luminaries. The wares they produced ranged from silver to porcelain, candlesticks to tea pots.

The two pieces are silver plated, the third, glass. All pieces are in very good to excellent vintage condition.

Measurements: 10″ diameter x 4.75″ tall, glass bowl 3.5″ x 2.25″

Vintage Metal Dairy Pail 4 Quart with Handle

dairy Pale

dairy Pale side view

dairy Pale base

This vintage metal dairy pail is in very good vintage condition. Utilitarian, this pail could serve numerous functions in the home while retaining its rural dairy or industrial good looks. It is approximately 10.5″ tall and nearly 7.5″ in diameter. The buckets handle is strong, swivels out of the way and is built to withstand heavy loads when necessary. Its rustic charm is lovely for a display or prop or, given its original purpose, it would also be a handy air or watertight storage for anything including dog food or cat food. No doubt you will discover other uses for this fine vintage container with lid. It has no dents, some minute scratches, they are barely discernible masked within the beautiful patina.

Karim Rashid for Nambe Studio Jimini Cream and Sugar Vessels

Nambe Jimini Cream and Sugar Vessels
Nambe Studio Jimini Cream and Sugar Vessels
Nambe Studio Jimini Cream and Sugar Vessels
Nambe Studio Jimini Cream and Sugar Vessels

International design star Karim Rashid knows few bounds. Industrial designer, graphic designer, interior designer, … his dna has effected brands and their products we live with and reach for daily. Samsung, Artemide, Alessi, Umbra, Method, as just a few. His influence on design is phenomenal, profound, his mark is recognizable, iconic.

Jimini, as this two piece cream and sugar duo (numbers 6107 and 6108) are known, was designed by Karim Rashid for Nambe Studio, in 1994, prior to his commission for Alessi. Made of the trademark Nambe alloy, food safe, easily cleaned, and maintained. Nambe is a foundry near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since 1951Nambe has been known for its sandcast, handcrafted and finished artisan process. No two pieces are exactly alike. They exude casual luxury with their trademark alloy finish and functionality.

The pieces are in very good to excellent vintage condition. Difficult to find, if not rare, they are highly collectible as Nambe coupled with Karim Rashid design affiliation.

Russel Wright “American Modern”

russel wright pottery
russel wright pottery
russel wright pottery
russel wright pottery
russel wright pottery
American artist and 20th century industrial designer Russel Wright’s (b. 1904- d.1976) earliest art training occurred under Frank Duveneck at the Art Academy of Cincinnati as a high school student. Initially destined for a legal career, he later attended Princeton University but left to pursue work under theatrical set designer Normal Bel Geddes, George Cukor, and others. In 1927, he began his own design firm specializing in theatrical props in New York City.

Russel Wright became a licensed brand phenomenon before the concept was used broadly by more than a small group of manufacturers of consumer goods including G.E. or the automotive industry’s big three: Ford, Chrysler, G.M. Now, brands are also identified with other descriptions such as “awareness” and “image.” His trademarked signature appeared on all the various products associated with his name.

Russel Wright espoused that “good design is for everyone.” He was said to believe that the “table was the center of the home” and designed lifestyles with not only his ceramic and spun aluminum tableware but architectural, landscape, furniture and textile designs. His designs were not only practical but simple, as were his contemporaries’, during the design period which occurred during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s known as Modernism.

Among his numerous collaborations to produce his designs, his relationship with Steubenville, an Ohio ceramics company, to produce his “American Modern” dinnerware is noteworthy. The design, produced between 1939 and 1959, is the most widely sold American ceramic dinnerware.

Wright later designed many popular lines including his work in Melmac, a melamine resin, and early plastics with various manufacturers. His “Residential” dinnerware line received the Museum of Modern Art “Good Design Award” in 1953.

His company, Russel Wright Studios, has offices in New York and California, as sole licensors of Wright’s industrial designs and products for corporate and public clients. Mention of the re-issue of pieces from the “American Modern” line now produced by Bauer Pottery, may be found in publications such as now defunct Bon Appetite, as well as Dwell, Metropolitan Home, and other lifestyle magazines.

Our collection consists of over 70 curvy, sleek pieces from the “American Modern” line which includes not only those photographed but other highly sought after examples in Granite Grey, Sea Foam Blue, and Coral colors.

Pieces from the collection we chose to photograph include 1) pitcher, celery tray, salt + pepper shakers 2) salad bowl, gravy server 3) lidded butter dish, divided vegetable 4) salt + pepper shakers, lidded sugar bowl, covered bowl 5) three demitasse cups sans saucers.