Villanti Italy 2 enamel pieces Produced by the Villanti Company of Italy, this pair of enamel items shows their distinctive use of heavy thick enamel in a colorblock application. The red piece is in the better condition, with only two area of enamel loss on the back side. The other piece is the first piece I bought and I thought the gray was part of the desired effect but I know better now. This part is in bad shape, as a lot of the enamel on the front has been worn off. Need a piece for target practice. This is it! Use this one as a real ashtray and put the red one on a Heywood-Wakefield blond wood table and add a funky accent piece to your Eames era decor. Price is for the pair.
Manufacturer: Vallenti, Italy  

Bovano Museum Piece 9" enamel blue bowl Measuring 9 inches wide and standing 1 1/8 inches high, this stunning piece of Mid-Century enamel by Bovano is fascinating.

Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this particular piece is quite different from the rest I have. The label on the back reads: Museum Piece! Especially made by Bovano for (and a space into which a name would be placed.) No two pieces are exactly alike. Small bubbles and thin line cracks are part of the technique and character of these unusual effects. THEY ARE NOT IMPERFECTIONS!

It is also signed with what looks like the Kimball Shop.

Either this was an attempt to sell seconds with manufacturing imperfections with clever marketing OR this is an attempt to educate the customer to the manufacturing flaws associated with the process. I can't be sure. In any case, this piece is beautiful. It has a dark green base color background with 12 gold bars and 12 cobalt blue lines coming from the edge of the bowl toward the center. In the very center there is a collection of jewels: orange, gold and a beautiful blue..very different. The back in counterenameled in Bovano's trademark black with only one of the original three felt pads to protect the surface upon which this bowl sits. Add it to your Mid-Century or Bovano enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Bovano Knight in Shining Armor plate Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 11 inch wide enamel plate features what I have named the Knight in Shining Armor pattern which consists of a mail clad knight carrying sword and shield. Both the shield and the horse's armor carried the French royal symbol, the fleur-du-lys. It is one of the most unusual Bovano motifs I have ever seen. In fact, this is the only piece of this design I have seen by Bovano. The background of the front done in shaded black around the central area feels like an early treatment. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses and the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn is still there. The 3 original felt pads are there but worn away. It is in excellent overall shape with no stress factures. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

bovano 15 inch Multi Gold charger Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this charger measures 15 inches wide. It is the largest round plate made by Bovano. It is in the popular Multi Gold pattern (my name) which features a chocolate brown background upon which many small yellow jewels were applied, topped by larger gumdrop size clear jewels which give the surface a great look and texture.

The piece has no damage and is in excellent condition. It retains the original gold circular paper label and the original three black felt pads to protect the table surface. Add it to your Mid Century enamel or Bovano collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Bovano 10 inch Green Sunburst plate Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 10 inch wide square enamel plate features what I have named the Green Sunburst pattern which consists of alternating rays of 3 colors (gold, charteuse, teal green) coming out of a asymmetrically placed focal area of small enamel jewels in the same 3 colors. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses. Although the standard label is missing on this piece, the 4 original felt pads are still there. It is in very good overall shape with some small stress fractures near the rim. It displays beautifully. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Bovano Red Flowers enamel covered lighter Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 4 1/2 inch tall cigarette lighter features a great design. Each of the four sides has bold stylized red 4 petal flowers on a black background. This pattern is shown on page 69 of the Spring 2003 Modernism magazine in Alan Rosenberg's article on enamel.

The bottom of the lighter has brown felt and the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn. It is in very good shape but it does have some rubs to the black part of the enamel in a few places, though no chips or breaks. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Bovano 7 inch Green Sunburst ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 7 inch wide enamel 3 rest ashtray features what I have named the Green Sunburst pattern which consists of alternating rays of 3 colors (gold, charteuse, teal green) coming out of a asymmetrically placed focal area of small enamel jewels in the same 3 colors. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses and the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn. The original felt pads are still there. It is in excellent overall shape Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Davidson 9" enamel Jewel plate Annemarie Davidson learned her enameling craft first from the great Doris Hall (1907-2001) in Cambridge, MA in 1957. In California she continued her studies with Curtis Tann. Her combination of geometric and organic form in her designs culminated in her most celebrated abstract designs, her Jewel line which features pieces of glass used to create free-form organic shapes which she calls Jewels. She also uses a sgraffito technique, incising straight lines from the center of her plate with the sharp point of a dart. Now in her 80s, she continues to produce work today.

This 9 inch plate, most likely from later than the 1961-1962 time period, is unusual for its size. It is scarce to find plates larger than her more standard 6-7 inches. This plate features 9 large yellow jewels surrounding 6 smaller cobalt blue and light blue jewels. The underlying copper color can be seen near the edges. A prominent Palm Springs CA dealer James Elliot-Bishop on his website has named this pattern as Grooveline.

The back of the plate has three large brown felt pads and is signed with her charcteristic AD interwined intiails and her paper label which reads Annemarie Davidson handcrafted enamels Sierra Madre California. Every piece was handcrafted by her alone, from start to finish. Excellent condition.

The work of Annemarie Davidson was included in the seminal exhibit titled Painting with Fire which opened in Jan 2007 at the Long Beach Museum of Art. She was one of 30 enamelists included with a one page entry on her life and work. Her page is page 266 of the catalogue.
Manufacturer: Annemarie Davidson  

Annemarie Davidson enamel Starburst dish Annemarie Davidson learned her enameling craft first from the great Doris Hall (1907-2001) in Cambridge, MA in 1957. In California she continued her studies with Curtis Tann. Her combination of geometric and organic form in her designs culminated in her most celebrated abstract designs, her Jewel line which features pieces of glass used to create free-form organic shapes which she calls Jewels. She also uses a sgraffito technique, incising straight lines from the center of her plate with the sharp point of a dart.

This 6 inch shallow bowl features another of her celebrated designs. This design uses overlapping leaves of brown over orange on a gold background. It can be seen in the seminal article by Alan Rosenberg in the Spring 2003 issue of David Rago's fine Modernism magazine on page 71. The dish shown in the magazine article is cobalt blue over a lighter blue and is circa 1960.

The back of the plate is signed with her charcteristic AD interwined intiails and her paper label which reads Annemarie Davidson handcrafted enamels Sierra Madre California. Every piece was handcrafted by her alone, from start to finish. It is in excellen condition. It is an impressive enamel of Mid-Century enamel art! Add it to your Davidson or Mid-Century enamel collection today.

The work of Annemarie Davidson was included in the seminal exhibit titled Painting with Fire which opened in Jan 2007 at the Long Beach Museum of Art. She was one of 30 enamelists included with a one page entry on her life and work. Her page is page 266 of the catalogue.

Manufacturer: Annemarie Davidson  

Bovano 10" Tricolor Confetti ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 10 inch wide enamel 6 rest ashtray with a 1960s era pattern I have named Confetti features 2 different color jewels on a standard dark orange background. I have named it Twotone Confetti! the jewels in shades of dark red and a pinkish orange vary in size but are all on the small side. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses. It has the standard Bovano gold paper label though it has faded and most of the three original tan felt pads. What is even more amazing is that it retains most of the original label from the Hudson's department store and its original price of $10 which was a good amount in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is in excellent condition but does have two tiny stress lines on five of the six ashtray rests, not unusual. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire CT  

Bovano 6" Tricolor Confetti ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 6 inch wide enamel 3 rest ashtray with a 1960s era pattern I have named Confetti features 2 different color jewels on a standard dark orange background. I have named it Twotone Confetti! the jewels in shades of dark red and a pinkish orange vary in size but are all on the small side. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses. It has the standard Bovano gold paper label and three original tan felt pads. What is even more amazing is that it retains the original label from the Hudson's department store and its original price of $5 which was a good amount in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is in excellent condition but does have two tiny stress lines on two of the three ashtray rests, not unusual. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire CT  

Bovano 6 inch Tricolor Confetti ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 6 inch wide enamel 3 rest ashtray with a 1960s era pattern I have named Confetti features 3 different color jewels on a standard dark gold background. I have named it Tricolor Confetti! the jewels vary in size but are all on the small side. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses. It has the standard Bovano gold paper label and three original tan felt pads. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire CT  

Bovano 6.5" Flower Power enamel ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this three lobed bowl measures 6 1/2 inches wide and stand 1 1/2 inches tall and is what I have named the Flower Power ( my name) pattern. It has bold stylized chocolate brown and olive green 4 petal flowers on a mocha brown background. This pattern is shown on page 69 of the Spring 2003 Modernism magazine in Alan Rosenberg's article on enamel. It is shown there in red on black. This variation seems to be less common

The piece has no damage and is in excellent condition. It is missing the original gold circular Bovano paper label but retains the four black felt pads to protect the table surface. Add it to your Mid Century enamel or Bovano collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Hildegard signed 8" low enamel bowl Signed Hildegard, this is a fascinating example of Mid-Century enamel in that the artist has used small pieces of Venetian style millefiori glass as her jewels. The jewels float on a deep green background, much like a standard Bovano background. The edge has the chocolate brown color seen on Edwards Star pieces. The back is counter-enamled in a funky bright green color and the signature is on a panel of white with the letters in green. There is some damage to the piece. Two edge imperfections on the back and an area of stress cracks on the side near the yellow millefiori near the rim. All in all, an interesting piece by an unknown maker.
Manufacturer: Hildegard  

Bovano 9" 6 Jewel bowl Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 9 inch deep blue background bowl is unusual for Bovano and would seem to be inspired by the standard design of the Edwards Star company of Los Angeles, CA. Edwards Star normally alternates large oblong jewels with area of a flame type design. Here, Bovano has used a central area of small golden mini jewels and used circular blue jewels in alternation with the oblong dark green jewels. It creates a very attractive design. This bowl does have some wear to it, though no firing cracks in the enamel jewels or edge chips. The back is counter-enameled in the trademark Bovano black shade. The bowl retains remnants of its original three felt pads. Its original gold paper label is in excellent condition. Add it to your Bovano or Mid Century enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire CT  

Bovano Red double covered cigarette box Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 10 inch long x 4 inch wide covered cigarette box features an 5 1/2 inch x 3 1/2 inch enamel top which has been fitted into the lid.

What is most unusual about this covered box is that it contains two compartiments. Though I assume it was for cigarettes, perhaps it was for playing cards. The enamel lid has a bold stylized red and chocolate brown background onto which patterns of C scrolls in brown have been superimposed creating a two dimensional effect. It is one of Bovano's most fanciful designs.

The bottom of the wooden box has four brown felt pads. The inside of the lid has the majority of the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn. It is in excellent shape. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Gerte Hacker 7" blue Dahlia bowl Done by well known enamel artist Gerte Hacker of Cleveland Ohio, this 7 1/2 inch wide low bowl is from her #200 Dahlia line. It features the use of gold lines to create the petals of the dahlia flower and a central area of white, black, pink and turquoise small dots or jewels to create the center of the flower. There is a white edge like on Edward Winter's pieces. The back is counterenameled in a rich reddish brown leather color and her full name is signed in gold. The piece is in excellent condition and a good investment as signed enamel pieces are taking off in today's marketplace.
Manufacturer: Gerte Hacker, Cleveland, OH  

Win Ng 9 1/2" deep blue jewel dish Made by well-known San Francisco artist Win Ng and signed with his name and San Francisco, this beautiful 4 inch wide low bowl is a masterpiece of enamel. Both Asian and Gay, Win Ng (1936-1991) was the subject of a recent 2005 retrospective at the Chinese Historical Society of America.

Win Ng worked in enamel early on in his career. His primary work was in ceramics and fine art. He later partnered with Taylor to create the well-loved and collectible series of Animal Orgy mugs as well as high end kitcheware which carried the Taylor Ng mark.

This particular 9 1/2 inch wide bowl has a green blue oilspot background onto which jewels in two colors of cobalt blue and deep red have been added. The rim was done in a dark chocolate brown color. The back was left in its original copper with no counter-enameling and carries his cursive signature and San Francisco along with the numbers SB9 indicating it size I assume. The piece is in excellent condition and a good early example of Win Ng's career. Add it to your Mid Century enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Win Ng, San Francisco CA  

Bovano Crescent & Jewel covered cigarette box Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 7 1/2 inch long x 4 inch wide covered cigarette box features an enamel top which has been fitted into the lid. The enamel lid has what I have named the Crescent & Jewel patern which consists of a crescent of small turquoise and orange jewels surrounding two larger turquoise jewels.

The bottom of the wooden box has four black felt pads. The inside of the lid has the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn. It is in excellent shape. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Edwards star Gumps brown 9 1/2 inch enamel Produced in California by the Edwards Star Original company, this 9 1/2 inch enamel dish shows this firm's characteristic use of a bold dark base color and oblong jewels alternating with large wide panels. There are 5 deep orange / reddish oblong jewels and five chocolate brown fan sections. The center area is done in chocolate brown and lighter gold tones. There is no edge chipping or damage. Excellent condition. The back shows the copper metal of the body as it is not counterenameled on the back.

This dish was made for the San Francisco department store Gump's, which is now closed
Manufacturer: Edwards Star  

Edwards Star 10" enamel blue gold plate Produced in California by the Edwards Star Original company, this 9 7/8 inch enamel dish shows this firm's characteristic use of a bold dark base color and oblong jewels alternating with large wide panels. There are 5 cobalt blue oblong jewels and cobalt blue sections with the same color border to each panel but with a variation of texture. It is unusual to see an Edwards Star piece which uses only one color for its design. It certainly does make it stand out more from the background as a unified design statement. The blue color is deep and quite beautiful. There is no edge chipping or damage. Excellent condition. The back shows the copper metal of the body as it is not counterenameled on the back. It has the original three felt protector pads and is signed: This Edwards Star Original for Gump's San Francisco.

This dish was made for the San Francisco department store Gump's, which is now closed
Manufacturer: Edwards Star  

Edwards Star Original Multi-dot 10" plat Produced in California by the Edwards Star Original company, this 9 3/4 inch enamel dish shows this firm's characteristic use of a bold dark base color and many small jewels. There are 16 deep orange 28 round turquoise jewels. There is no edge chipping or damage. Excellent condition. The back shows the copper metal of the body as it is not counterenameled on the back.

This dish was made for the San Francisco department store Gump's, which is now closed
Manufacturer: Edwards Star  

Edwards star Gumps green blue 9 " enamel Produced in California by the Edwards Star Original company, this 9 3/4 inch enamel dish shows this firm's characteristic use of a bold dark base color and oblong jewels alternating with large wide panels. There are 5 yellow oblong jewels and five 2 tone green sections with a deep blue color border to each panel. There is no edge chipping or damage. It has the trademark edge which almost looks like it is beaded. Excellent condition. There are some internal cracks to the oblong jewels but the enamel over them is smooth and not cracked. I can only assume the stress cracks happened in the firing process. The back shows the copper metal of the body as it is not counterenameled on the back. It is signed An Edwards Star Original from Gump's, especially created for Joan and Peter Knott. Finding the owner's names is highly unusual for Edwards Star pieces.

This dish was made for the famous and elegant San Francisco department store Gump's, which is now closed
Manufacturer: Edwards Star  

Bovano 6" chocolate brown Gold Jewel pla Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 6 inch wide enamel 3 rest ashtray with a 1960s era abstract pattern features 2 colors: a chocolate brown background and a row of connected Golden jewels. This is one of the harder to find patterns by Bovano. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses with three black felt pads, one missing. The normal gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn is present and in excellent shape. It is in excellent shape. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT  

Bovano 6 inch Green Sunburst 4 rest ashtray Produced by the Cheshire CT firm of Bovano (started in 1953 by John BOnsignor, Gene VAn Leight and Warren NOden), this 6 1/4 inch wide enamel 4 rest ashtray features what I have named the Green Sunburst pattern which consists of alternating rays of 3 colors (gold, charteuse, teal green) coming out of a asymmetrically placed focal area of small enamel jewels in the same 3 colors. The back is done in the typical black counterenamel Bovano uses and the gold circle label which reads Handcrafted by Bovano of Cheshire Conn. The 3 original felt pads are still there. What is unusual about this piece is its basic shape, that being a circle with 2 flanges to the side which give it an Art Deco very geometrice shape. It is the only piece using this shape I have yet found.

It is in very goodoverall shape. There are some tiny areas of chipping to the enamel on the underside of the rim and one area of stress fractures but it presents well. Add it to your Mid-Century Enamel collection today.
Manufacturer: Bovano, Cheshire, CT