We are delighted to have been included in Vicky Sanderson’s  Toronto Star column On the House as one of her must-shop places for Mid-Century Modern.

We love her accurate little summery of Atomic:

“Owner Lawrence Blairs loves Scandinavian art glass, modernist studio jewellery, abstract sculpture, and post modern Italian design. The store is also home to an extensive reference library on twentieth century design and decorative art”

Thank you Vicky!

We love the colour combination and form of this unique side table created for the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.

The table is unlike anything we have ever seen both in form and construction. The top appears to be made up of mosaic tiles in vibrant colours of orange, hot pink and yellow.  The nature of the surface and its application remains a bit of a mystery to us as each tile feels raised and individual just as traditional mosaic tile but has the feel of a softer polymer based material.

Constructed from almost 1″ thick plywood with solid steel hairpin legs this table was certainly built to a high standard.

The underside of the table shows a label with the Montreal 76 logo, serial number, series number (118/1600) and room number.  All indication would suggest that this table was specifically made for the 76 games, perhaps for an athlete lounge, meeting room or hotel room, and therefor very likely to have never been offered to the general public.

Speculation aside this table is a striking and historical example of Canadian design!

This piece is currently available to view at our shop 965 Queen St West or in our online store.

During the holiday break we received a wonderful book entitled ‘Modern Furniture in Canada – 1920 to 1970′ by Virginia Wright.

As the title suggests the focus of the book explores the history of modern furniture design within Canada  chronologically from 1920 to 1970.

The book aims to educate the reader on Canada’s distinguished record in modern furniture design and production, some of which has gained international importance whilst others remain largely unrecognized.

Wright charts theses developments through engaging and informed narrative combined with numerous archival photographs, drawings and other original documentation.

Hi-lights of this publication include accounts of Eaton’s department store display pieces brought back from the Paris Exposition of 1925, the first production of plywood seating for assembly halls in Ontario and the world’s first moulded  plastic furniture produced as a prototype by the National Research Council in 1946 – three years before the more well known designs by Charles & Ray Eames in the USA were revealed!

Other aspect of the book focus on how modern industrial materials such as steel tubing, plywood and rubber were incorporated into the production of commercial and institutional furnishings and how these designs reached a wider public audience through exhibitions and media.

‘Modern Furniture in Canada – 1920 to 1970′ is essential reading for any one interested in the evolution of modern Canadian furniture design and its position within the world.

A welcome addition to our reference library!

‘Modern Furniture in Canada- 1920 to 1970′ by Virginia Wright can by purchase through Amazon here.

We would like to wish all our clients a very happy holiday and a healthy & peaceful 2013!

We thought that you would appreciate these Canadian snowflake stamps produced in 1976 – true to life with every snowflake being unique! {image via CDR}

Atomic will be closed from 2:00pm on December 24th until January 3rd.

We will re-open on Friday January 4th.

Happy Holidays!

With only three days to go here are a few last minute suggestions…….

All items are available to view and purchase at our shop at 965 Queen St West or in our Online Store.

Tell the time in style with this iconic ´Museum´ wall clock designed by Nathan Horwitt for Howard Miller.

Circa 1970.

$350

A beautiful trio of modernist vases by Tamara Aladin for Riihimaki, Finland.

Circa 1970.

$450 the set

Form & function with this great thermal carafe designed by Erik Magnussen for Stelton, Denmark.

1976 – present

$60

Light up life with this petite mod table light.

Circa 1970

$65

A beautiful hand painted ceramic vase designed by Inge-Lise Koefoed for Alumina, Denmark.

Signed & numbered on base

Dated 1968

$350

With less than a week away before the big day here is the second instalment of our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide. In this instalment we focus on beautiful modernist jewellery. All items are available to view and purchase at our shop at 965 Queen St West or in our Online Store.

An abstract `Marriage of Metals` collar necklace in Sterling silver and brass combination.

Hand made in Mexico

Circa 1970.

$250

A unique abstract Sterling silver ring with part oxidized finish.

Circa 1970

$180

A minimal and elegant silver Torque necklace. Hand made in high purity silver.

Stamped 950

Attributed to Mexican origin.

$280

A sculptural organic sterling silver ring set with a central spherical Turquoise.

Contrasting bright silver with oxidized finish.

Circa late 1960`s

$180

A stylish Sterling silver geometric link bracelet designed by Versani, New York.

Brushed finish with oxidized channels.

Stamped `Versani`

$350

With the holiday season well and truly upon us we thought that now would be an appropriate time for the first instalment of our 2012 Holiday Gift Guide.

All items are available to view and purchase at our shop at 965 Queen St West or in our Online Store.

We hope you find our suggestions inspiring and helpful!

If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

Enjoy!

Get your loved one organized this holiday season with this stylish and functional architect´s utility/office cart.

Design by Giovanni Pelis for Neolt, Italy. Circa 1970.

$385

The perfect match for your favorite armchair. A mod low side table with magazine/storage shelf for that copy of Monocle!

Painted plywood, steel tulip base and fluorescent blue acrylic top.

Made by Opal Mobel, Germany

Circa 1970.

$580

Relax in style with this iconic low back management ´Soft Pad Series´ chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller.

Solid Aluminium frame with brown leather upholstery.

Circa 1970

$1,200

Throw some light on the subject with this futuristic desk light made by Herman Miller, Michigan, USA.

Plastic and metal construction with cast iron base and adjustable shade.

Circa 1970

$250

Store all your holiday reads in this stylish mid- century steel and leather folding magazine rack.

Circa 1960

$285

Just in this iconic Executive ´Soft Pad Series´ task chair designed by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller.

First designed in 1969 the ´Soft Pad Series´ utilised the same frame as the earlier ´Aluminium Group´ designed by Eames in 1958

With its leather cushions and sleek styling this chair is the perfect marrage of form and function.  It is simply the ´Rolls Royce´ of task chairs and the only logical choice for the modernist residential office.

Our example dates around 1970 in beautiful aged brown leather.

The December edition of our Design Selections is now out.

With the holiday season fast approaching we suggest some beautiful and unique pieces for the people on your list!

If you would like to receive this monthly mailing feel free to sign up here, or click the Subscribe button at the top right hand of our website.

Happy holidays!

We are delighted to have been featured in the current issue of PRODUCT magazine.

You can read the article here or pick up a printed copy from any of these listed locations in the city.

Special thanks go out to the dedicated PRODUCT team for their creative photography, curated questioning and sense of fun!

We love the form and colour combination of this Mod pedestal alarm clock made by Blessing, West Germany.

Circa 1970 this model has a mechanical movement which means winding is required every couple of days. Not such a hardship considering the great design and soothing ticking that it produces.

Also a plus is the alarm which sounds like an old school bell, much easier on the ear than most modern alarms!

For additional info & photo`s click here.

We always endevour to show beautiful mid-century glass from Scandinavia,  Italy,    Czechoslovakia and beyond.

This beautiful ´Soap bubble´ vase created by Per Lutken for  Danish glass factory Holmegaard is one such example.

Per Lutken became chief designer and art director at Holmegaard in 1946, but it was only after visiting the Milan Triennale in 1954 that Lutken pioneered a new modernist design aesthetic. He introduced more free flowing forms in lighter colours such as grey, bronze, green and blue. The resulting designs epitomized the organic shapes that came to be associated with Scandinavian design during the post war years.

The soft undulating forms of his designs reflect an empathy with the material being used and also characterize the Scandinavian idea of ´living glass´.

We currently have a nice little collection of Per Lutken dating from the mid 1950`s to early 1960`s in characteristic organic forms and colours.

Each piece is signed in diamond point on the base.

Feel free to contact us for further info on this collection or if you have any general questions regarding mid-century glass, we are happy to assist.

We are delighted to have been featured online in The Grid under the City_places section.

You can read the article here.

Special thanks go to Ian Worang for his curated questioning and stylish photography.

We love the pop sensibility of this iconic side table designed by Canadian novelist and visual artist Douglas Coupland.

Entitled ´Hockey Night in Canada´ this fun series was made by Edmonton based company PURE design in a number of colour choices, with red and blue being one of the more striking combinations.

The top was constructed from die cut laminate and mounted on a signature steel base. Apparently the table proved difficult to manufacture and subsequently was discontinued early on in production. Rumor has it that roughly only  a thousand of each colour actually made it to the showroom floor!

Dated 2004

For additional info & photo`s click here.

{bottom image via CDR}

Yesterday evening we attended the opening night of Art Toronto 2012 held at the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto.

Now in its 13th year, the Toronto International Art Fair provides the opportunity to view the work of some of Canada’s best contemporary artists as well as international representation from galleries based in the UK and the rest of Europe. This year the special focus was on Asia with thirteen galleries exhibiting work from China, Japan, and Korea.

The attendance was strong and energy levels high as collectors, gallery owners and artists shared opinions and ideas whilst ultimately selling and acquiring art.

Works which particularly appealed to us included:

Toronto based artist Angela Leach represented by Herringer Kiss Gallery.

The work of Los Angeles based artist Alex Couwenberg represented by The Jennifer Kostuik Gallery

The work of Tom Wesselmann exhibited by Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal,QC

The work of Denis Juneau exhibited by Galerie Simon Blais, Montreal, QC

A new series of sculpture by Toronto based artist Jiri Ladocha represented by Julie M Gallery, Toronto

Art Toronto runs from October 26th to October 29th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. Tickets can be bought online here.