apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i love the dragon lamp. the cookie jar i can do without

anyone know where the shelving in photo 2 is from? vintage maybe?

Those raindrop pillows are pretty great.

I can't take my eyes off the cookie jar for some reason...

The raindrop pillows are cool and the painted raindrop bird and the banana vase.

I'm an Adler junkie though

oh I'm glad I haven't spent that gift card I got yet - I love the lamp and chair!

oh anyone know when these designs will be available for purchase?

I love everything he does. Love.


http://embritadesign.blogspot.com

Meh.

I need the whale salt and pepper shakers to keep my fish s&p shakers company.

Oh wow, the ceramic animals are wonderful- especially the giraffe!

OK. It's the Gripester and the Sour Critic back again.

I do like some of the things Jonathan Adler does. I found myself on the edge of buying one of his small vases that Barnes and Noble was merchandising at Christmas.

I visited his website recently and found myself pretty amused by what he has to offer, particularly the pharmaceutical jars.

I saw at a local retail store a dinnerware line of his aimed at the young demographic, and I was appalled at (1) the quality of the dinnerware (which was mass produced in China); (2) the price of the dinnerware for the quality of the manufacture; and (3) the derivative nature of the design. I was also concerned that younger people might be attracted by the bright eye appeal and not realize that better quality merchandise was available at much more reasonable prices. In short, I thought it was a rip-off.

Some fine designers have mass-produced wonderful dinnerware and made life more enjoyable for everyone who saw, bought, or used their work. Eva Zeisel comes to mind. Jonathan Adler's work is not of that caliber.

When you look at what he has done for the gift fair, one or two pieces stand out. I like the menagerie. But the prices are astronomical for what one is getting. Is there any arguable basis for the cost of the lamp? The construction is obviously cheap and the design is nothing that's going to become classic.

People should be aware that they can get the work of well-established artists for much less, and they certainly can patronize deserving new artists without paying this kind of premium. Put your money in your life, people, not into Mr. Adler's lifestyle.

Anyone info on the rug? I'm not even sure that it's Adler, but I love it.

AustinSarah2,

I really appreciate your griping and sour criticism. I love the way a lot of JA's stuff looks but I really don't have the money to spend on it. Whenever I go to his site, I am sorely tempted. Now I'll hold out for similar things that are made better and perhaps benefit someone who is not yet as successful as he is.

Man I wish the umbrella stand wasn't $300!

AustinSarah2/MadSarah,

I've actually been pretty impressed with the quality of his pieces (though admittedly have not seen the dinnerware in person). I have a couple of his canvas pillows and they're lovely as well as the hippo from his menagerie collection and the soldier from his grand tour line (both of which I adore).

That being said, you can usually find his stuff for less on eBay (or just wait for it to go on sale). I got the hippo off eBay for $100 less than retail and the grand tour soldier for 50% off through his website. It just pays to be patient (and do a little searching).

love that wire chair but why isn't someone remaking all the ones from that great lawn chair manufacturer of the 40's 50's and 60's woodard?!! can't be beat or maybe Adler can try? especially with those orange pillows!

love the pillows on the orange chair in the first shot. love love the little birdie with the raindrop feathers. love the colorful lacquer, particularly in the tables. Would love the dragon lamp if it were Target-priced (i.e. one of their more expensive on-line only items), but otherwise I have serious doubts, especially with a not-quite-white dragon. The banana-vases... well, since our blogger liked them, I'll just keep my mouth shut.

Lastly: What is up with the breast-covered cookie jar?

Still laughing over that mammmary cookie jar. Milk with your cookies anyone?

I can see that Maxwell and I have some opposing views.

This makes me sad. Maxwell has had great influence on me. The emphasis on keeping your own space clean and well-organized has caused me to pull together bad habits, and it's created a ripple effect, in that others who are close to me are also pulling together their bad habits.

So, hats off to Maxwell!

However, that Jonathan Adler wicker lamp that Maxwell picked out for praise doesn't strike me as graceful or durable, and I think it's a bad value for the money, as I have previously commented. The wicker chair that accompanies it in the picture seems to me to be very much like a Bertoia that someone simply stretched wider on a drawing (or a computer screen) and manufactured out of wicker (not wire).

Jonathan Adler undoubtedly has talent and flair, but his relentless drive towards out-size commercial success makes him put more out there than is creditable to his reputation.

Kushkush -- what's up with the breast-covered cookie jar is that it's meant (I think) to be a witty take on our fixation on the female breast, and of course, our deep-seated human drive to eat cookies. Not to mention a little riff on compulsive cookie jar collecting (a la Warhol). Making the ceramic a cookie jar is clever. I've seen multi-breasted images in Indian art. I think Jonathan Adler happens to be someone clever enough to pick up the theme and move it into a familiar context.

Nice stuff....if only because I like design from the 50's.
A bit too regurgitated for my liking. Not very fresh.

At least the breasts look like those of an actual woman instead of boob-job boobs...?

that cookie jar is ridiculous.

@bradyvickers
The shelving is a wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius for Royal System.
This system was provided by Aardewerk en Zo, specialist in Poul Cadovius - Danish modern wall units for your house and office: www.aardewerkenzo.com

I also love the striped rug; does anyone know where it can be acquired?