Den Permanente Catalog 1972 (Selections)

As a follow-up to my post about Den Permanente, here are some pages from the 1972 catalog.

Borge Mogensen sofa, chair, trolley and table, Kvadrat rug, 

Top: H. Vestergaard Jensen sideboard and dining table, Larsen & Madsen chairs.
Bottom: Hans Wegner everything, Nanna Ditzel nursery chair.

Eros

Online advertising has really pulled the rug out from under magazine publishing, at least in its mass-distributed form. One of the byproducts of this has been the rise in popularity of the specialty magazine (or journal, or bookazine, or magbook or whatever). They tend to have a higher price point than your typical newsstand read, and they are beautifully printed and have great, specialized content. The idea isn't new however, and one of the greatest examples of the subscription magazine/journal is Eros, a groundbreaking magazine from the early 1960s.

First published in 1962, Eros was a magazine devoted to eroticism. It was geared toward intellectuals and in its four issue run covered a broad range of stories about sexuality in history, politics, arts and literature. Available only through mail order, it featured top talent, starting with a fantastic design by the legendary Herb Lubalin (even then a leading typographer and art director) who was engaged to help elevate the project above the era's popular notion of sexually-oriented publishing.

Feeling Cordial

Doing some spring reorganizing this week and came across one of my favorite drink styling photos ever.

It has served as an inspiration on several occasions, including as part of the invitation to a cocktail party I held at my swank Lafayette Towers apartment during the 2008 election cycle and the subsequent piece I did for Detroit Public Radio about partisan politics and the healing power of disco.

Taken from the wonderful 1971 "Playboy Host & Bar Book," a still-excellent beginner to intermediate resource for any party-giver.

Addiction

As I drove past Greektown Casino this morning I saw an elderly woman getting out of a cab to go in for, presumably, a day of nickel slots. I questioned to myself how someone could find that entertaining, and thought about the way that people get addicted to the high of winning and just end up losing. What a terrible thing, don't do it little old lady!

And then I stopped and reprimanded myself for (a) judging someone else's good time (as usual) and (b) being a total hypocrite. Because nothing beats the high of a good vintage score, especially after a dry run.

I obviously jinxed myself with my last thrifting post because it's been miserable going since. I was planning to go on hiatus for a while, and then at the last minute yesterday decided to hit a couple of my regular spots. A guy I know on Facebook posts every week about "speaking into your existence" and willing yourself to have a good week, so I tried to will into existence some Arabia Ruska dinnerware, an original Braun Aromaster or a Sony PS-F5 linear tracking turntable but my optimism was not rewarded. 

At my final stop, lingering to prolong my chances, I ended up poking through the books (generally a fruitless endeavor at thrift stores). Jackpot.

I don't know how a trove of vintage architecture books ends up in a random thrift store in a working-class suburb, but I'll take them. Naturally the hiatus is a distant memory - I'll be back out there thrifting the next time the opportunity arises. It's a sickness, people.

This Just In

Exciting news!  We didn't get a chance to mention on here that there is a Hugh Holiday Bash this Tuesday night (there is, it starts at 7, you should follow us on Facebook for breaking news), but we're excited to announce that The Kwame Sutra authors M.L. Elrick and Jim Schaeffer will be on hand to autograph their smutty little book for you! 

Buy lots of them, get them signed, give them to friends, be a star!

Today at Hugh

Why don't you swing on down to Park Avenue and see us at Hugh today?  If you haven't been yet it's quite a day for it.  If you have been, why not impress a friend? Plus there's new stuff you haven't seen yet.

Don't forget, the gift certificate bonus program is going on.  Come get your 20%.  It's like you're a Hollywood agent.

In the meantime, I'll be here reading the Esquire Cartoon Album: 25th Anniversary Volume from 1957 ($22).