Richard Nissen

There were many companies producing teak housewares in the latter half of the 20th century, and the biggest by far was Dansk Designs. The originality and quality of the designs produced made them a sensation from their introduction in the 1950s well into the 1980s (and of course again today). The history of the company and the designer, Jens Quistgaard, is well-documented.

Less is written about the other companies that followed that trend. Companies such as Digsmed, Laurids Lonborg, Ernest Sohn and others all made interesting designs in teak over the years, but in my experience the company that really hit the mark on quality rivaling that of Dansk was Richard Nissen of Denmark. So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to discover that they were, in manufacturing at least, the same company.

Nissen ice bucket and bowl, at the 2nd Hugh pop-up, 2010.

Exotic Wood

An unexpectedly satisfying week at the thrift stores. Thanks February.

Clockwise from upper left: Part of a set of really hip cocktail glasses from an unknown manufacturer, but basically a stemmed version of the Libbey St. Regis cocktail glass; sitting on a stack of Brazilian rosewood veneer chargers from Japan.

Dansk Kobenstyle pot in white; on top of a Dansk Rare Woods tray, this one in Mutenye wood. It wasn't free, but it wasn't expensive, and only the second time I've discovered Rare Wood in the wild. The other time was a rosewood ice bucket with a poorly repaired split top for $500 at an estate sale, which needless to say neither I nor anyone else bought.

A set of Sasaki Handcrafted rocks glasses, most with labels, surprisingly undamaged and complete at the Salvation Army. Those of you who thrift know what a miracle this is.

Rounding out the exotic woods, two teak bar boards from Den Permanente, the legendary Danish design store in Copenhagen.

Source Material

The old Playboy buying/gift guides from the 60s and 70s are some of the highlights of the magazine, and early on were part of the inspiration for the first Hugh pop up. The products were vetted, the styling was straightforward, and for a lover of vintage stuff there is always something cool to see.

Take, for example, this bar gear guide from 1961. A Dansk Fjord bar tool set was $15 (about $120 today if you trust the consumer price inflation calculator). Dunhill had some pretty hip silverplate bar accessories with that 8 inch cocktail jigger and tapered cocktail shaker. And Raymor was selling a streamlined martini pitcher I'd be happy to stumble on today.

Open for Business

Hugh for the Holidays is open for business!  The shop maintains the Hugh late-to-bed, late-to-rise schedule, and you can find our hours over in the right-hand column. 

Because Hugh is jam-packed with great one-of-a-kind vintage stuff, the inventory is constantly changing.  Stop in each week to find something new.  Hell, stop in daily!  Here's a quick peek at some of the offerings.