Heller Model 255 Deep Loaf/Pate Pan by Vignelli

As you've probably figured out by my previous post on Heller glass bakeware, I have an affinity for these Vignelli designed items and am on a constant lookout for them. Other than the two quart casserole with au gratin cover, I've only found a few incomplete bottom halves - my luck finally changed with this Model 255 Deep Loaf/Pate Pan, which I found at a local Goodwill.

This small, rectangular pan measures about 7" wide and 9" long. There were several square and rectangular dishes made for Heller - these actually pre-date the round casseroles by two years having been released in 1975 (the round in 1977 to be clear). I was quite excited to find this one intact, without any blemishes or chips.

From the catalog page, these are supposedly microwave-friendly, however if you want to keep any you find I wouldn't recommend cooking anything in them. I've had some discussions with my friend John Stephens, who turned me on to these, who seems to think they have become fragile with age. Since I've picked up 3 bottoms missing lids, I'm guessing that they are a bit brittle. In any case, I've grown to like them quite a bit so this one is a keeper.

-- John

A Couple of Teak Danish Items

Not much to be found lately at the thrift stores - at least not much worth buying. Seems most of the modernist items that I like have been snagged up by others. On Friday I found this nice teak tray - it's nothing special but well made, measing 22.5 inches long by 11.5 inches wide. It's also fairly unblemished (a couple of small edge scratches):

I like the bevelling of the edges:

It has a light "Denmark" stamp in the center of the bottom oh and the price was right a $1.91:

This second item I found a few weeks ago - it just sort of caught my eye as most teak items do. I believe it to be a trivet - this one made by Dansk with the usual markings and also the right price at 99 cents:

It's about 6.5 inches in diameter...

As always, thanks for reading and good luck in the hunt!

-- John

Dansk Teak 802 "Surfboard" Tray

My latest find almost wasn't - last weekend I stopped in a Goodwill and basically walked through the whole store without finding anything. Fortunately I walked back through right when a staff member was putting out a few pieces in the "wooden things" aisle - that's when I spotted this tray.

I call these "teak surfboard trays" for lack of a better name - the tapered ends curve up into the handles. This is the first I've owned, however I've always greatly admired the style and design. My friend John Stephens tells me that this is the second-from largest size, measuring in at about 28 inches or so in length (eyeball measure).

This example has great, intact laminations (boards are cut and laminated side-by-side to make up the width). Notice the darker smudges - that's candle wax. I've wiped down the tray with a bit of mineral spirits and have removed all but a hint of the circles. I then applied some Danish Oil. I haven't decided whether to wipe it down again or apply another layer and call it done (no pics of the finished item yet - this is definitely a keeper).

One thing I like in particular is the construction - this image is blurry but you can see the sliding dovetail for the "feet" trimmed with a few passes of a chisel at the end.

I believe this is an earlier example, bearing all the marks: serial number, "ducks" logo, "Dansk Designs Denmark Inc" and copyright symbol.

Good luck in the hunt! John

Heller Two Quart Casserole Designed by Vignelli for Heller

It's been a while since I've found something worth posting about - this time I found this Heller Two Quart Casserole with Au Gratin Cover Designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Heller - these started production around 1975. I've always admired the one that my friend John Stephens has - first seeing it during a pot-luck at the house where they brought a yummy dish presented in the casserole dish. I was very lucky to find this example for less than $5 at a Goodwill near work. This one is marked Heller, Made in USA and Microwave Safe - no chips in the lid or dish at all. Measures about 9 3/4″ in diameter at widest and 5 1/2″ tall and very heavy - the interesting texture is from grooves moulded into the glass. Very happy to find this during a serendipitous moment...

-- John

Yellow Dansk Kobenstyle Sauce Pot by Jens Quistgaard

As I mentioned in my very first post, I am intrigued and look for the odd or rare mid-century modern item. In this case I managed to find this Kobenstyle sauce pot for a paltry $3.53 at Goodwill. I already have a few other pieces, including two large and one medium dutch ovens (red, yellow and turquoise) and a large yellow paella pot (really more of a covered skillet only I don't have the lid) so this was a welcome addition, and the first such that I've found at Goodwill (the others were found at yard sales or flea markets). The bottom is marked Dansk Designs France and IHQ. The handle is turned teak. This is one of the better condition pots I've come across - they usually are chipped up a bit as the enamel can be quite fragile.

Dansk produced the Kobenstyle line starting some time in the 50's and continuing into the 80's - the later versions I've seen have black/dark gray bottoms instead of having the enamel continuing round the bottom of hte pot. The line was designed by Jens Quistgaard (his mark is the "IHQ" that appears on some pots) and had some interesting innovations - the lids could easily be lifted using the handle of a kitchen tool - also, due to the cross-design the pots were easy to stack. Contrary to popular belief,  Dansk International Designs Ltd is and always has been an American company. Dansk was founded in 1954 by Ted Nierenberg (an American entrepreneur), with is partner Jens Harald Quistgaard, a Danish designer. Apparently over the course of 30 years Quistgaard designed most of the company's products. Some products are still being offered - a few years I purchased an updated version of these pots (the handles are hollow and rounded, but the pots are the same shape - couldn't resist the red!), and this past Christmas Crate and Barrel offered some Dansk-marked pepper mills and serving bowls. You can also find other items for sale on dansk.com.

Regarding enamelware - as I mentioned, it's quite fragile and should not be handled like a regular steel pot (it's basically glass applied to metal and the edges in particular are quite delicate). You should not use metal utensils (I prefer the wooden spoon myself) and avoid holding bright sauces in the pots for extensive periods (tomato sauce especially!). I haven't tried this method, but reportedly you can boil the whole pot in a larger pot filled with water and a bit of baking soda for 10 minutes fully submerged. Afterward scrub with a nylon scrubbie and the stains are supposed to come right out. You then apply some white vinegar to the finish and buff out back to an enamel shine. I've read that those were also the instructions provided by Dansk for the care of these pots.

I hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did researching it - John

So Why a Blog on Thrifting?

I guess I have a lot of idle time or something - or maybe it was due to my being brought to Flea Markets as a kid by my dad - in any case, I'm the type to be drawn to the random "Yard Sale" - "Garage Sale" - "Estate Sale" signs you see on weekends. I also frequent a handful of Thrift Stores including Goodwill (to which I also donate), Value Village and some other random spots. It's just something in my nature, to want to re-purpose an item or see new life in the old. I'd much rather find something than purchase new (it also makes me an eBay addict). In any case, I'll be posting to this blog from time to time with my latest finds.

So here's a list of items I look for:

1. Books - if you're priced a book lately, you'll know what I mean - I can often find a paperback at Goodwill for $1.50 that retails for $7.95 or so, and hardcovers are $2.50. Both are 50% off if it's the right color for the week. Yard sales are the best - I've often found whole boxes of books for a buck or two.
2. Knick-knacks - generally I look for modernist designed or international design objects. This includes the odd piece of ceramic, wood items (especially in rosewood, teak or other exotic), kitchen tools, etc.
3. Clocks and Radios - yeah, I like those too, especially items from the 50s-70s that are made of cool plastics, etc.
4. Vintage Toys - I rarely find anything other than board games at thrift stores, but have been lucky a few times at estate sales.
5. Paper Ephemera - I look for old posters, framed prints, booklets and pamphlets - this kind of goes with the book thing and my love for paper, good printing and design.
6. New Clothing - it's amazing how much new clothing you can find at thrift stores and tag sales - seems a lot of people buy clothes and outgrow (or maybe they get items as gifts?) - most recently I found a Monty Python T-Shirt "It's only a flesh wound" with the tags at Goodwill for $2
7. Modern Furniture - I'm always on the lookout for the occasional table, chair, etc. I just passed on two MCM dining chairs and a large shelf unit (the unit was $49 at Goodwill, made of walnut with a fold-out secretary) - sometimes you just have to let it go.

So for my first post, I thought I would talk about one of my latest finds - this is a Danish, marked, hand-carved teak serving tray. It immediately caught my eye. Unbelievably, it was also the "Color of the week" at Goodwill so I got it for 1/2 price - yup, less than $2.

55 cm long by 22 cm wide

Well marked "DENMARK"; "ODENSE" and Maker?

$3.93 B (so purchased for $1.97)

Notice the chisel marks!

 So how's that for a first post?

-- John