Snake Auction Observer 069: The ashtray as design gateway; plastic, plastic, plastic; rare espresso machine, Cassina's best chair dirt cheap near NYC

Plus two differing takes on Gehry's wood hockey chairs and enough plastic to shink a fishing skiff

Snake is a reader-supported design intelligence newsletter. Today, an Auction Observer: lots of Italian design, an insane deal on a perfect leather couch, an even better deal on a favorite internationally modern designer chair (his second best), a rundown of a great Memphis-adjacent auction, a look at modular shelving and thoughts on ashtrays. If you dig this sort of writing, consider signing up for a sub, which includes essays, Q&As, designer profiles and more. But first,

Housekeeping:

• I’m quoted in this article about vintage IKEA furniture on eBay.com. A life’s dream. Thank you to reporter Katie Heaney for getting in contact; here is the GQ story I wrote a few years ago on the topic.

• Check out the new Perfectly Imperfect site/app, PI.FYI. Impressive capital-free social media, like Makeoutclub. I’m on there as @SNAKE.

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Auctions Observed:

Bedin Gideon lamp for Megalit, Ct., ends Tues: Martine Bedin, covered in this newsletter before—the Milano superlight, perhaps the best funny piece of furniture ever made—may have mastered the form. This particular lamp is as special. Lots of detail, still somewhat staid, flirting with ugly. Reminds me (would remind anyone) of the Toio, for Flos, by Castiglioni, esp. the exposed hardware here at the base, which resembles the top of the Toio. I suppose what makes it Memphis—Martine is o.g. member—and post-modern is its refusal to use strict right angles or containment. Maybe. Though maybe it’s just energy. Go figure, has never sold. Seller has many hits, including this Ana Meier chair (perfect), a lamp shaped like a guy, a Boby, teak. Just a perfect, perfect piece to stumble upon on auction. $250

Soavi for Olivetti ahstray, flat ship, NYC, ends Wed.: Life before the 400th page of Richard Kluger’s “Ashes to Ashes” was different: 40% of Americans smoked, a significantly lower slice of the population than that was diabetic, and everyone had ashtrays in their homes. Smoking is only good for you if you have 9% body fat and an insane VO2 max (not really), or are a character in a movie; more germane to this newsletter the good think about it is that it forced people to open for design in their house, and accessible, real ones. It is much easier to get a transgressive ashtray than couch. Or to graduate and have a few. There is nothing like that in the world now anymore. Charging pads? Sneakers? This particular tray is only about 8” long—looks bigger… in the photo it reminds me of Archizoom’s Safari;I like the idea of a steak-sized ashtray in the shape of a sofa—and is also available in blue, black, red, though not through this auction. Produced in mid-60s; Olivetti did Sottsass’ typewriter, other things; (Giorgio) Soavi made a couple other ashtrays. Part of a great auction that’ll populate the rest of this letter. $150

Vignelli for Heller plates, flat ship, NYC, Wed: Same auction; not much to say about these plates except it’s rare to see a set displayed in true rainbow. Often lots listed of these are monochrome or a couple colors. Say Tim Burton’s Joker. Those are very popular. A pacifying photo; this item, at $260, is a tad overpriced—IMO a set shouldn’t ever run over $140, even these colors—but like so many other smalls these aren’t cheap anymore like they were.

Mendini Dealbata vase for Zanotta, NYC, flat ship: In which postmodern design turns into demoncy, not in the Michael Graves/dentist way but in a realer and harsher iteration. To me this looks identical to the (inactive) Beherit from Berserk. The Beherit is a stone with several faces. (Not linking to it because I don’t welcome such things within the bounds of this newsletter.) Something about the angles on this lamp is un-Christian. Any theologians reading who care to explain? Mendini did lots of poppy, colorful campy items; the only one I really like is this chair, the Terra, for Bracciodiferro, which is distinctly apart from that aesthetic. Jasper’s been trying to sell this forever. Part of the ideal auction I mentioned above here—lots of Italian, lots of Memphis, fair prices. I’d say three dozen items are worth considering, a dozen worth buying—not quite emergency newsletter levels, but close. The ones which jump out most to me are:

• Castelli 4870 chair for Kartell—a perfect stand-alone modern chair, the extra almost wings (traps?) on the back make it.

• Babele 940 trays—I think desk accessories and smalls are part of the next wave, and the real way that most individuals with lives and jobs will include

  design into their lives. It’s more flexible, portable, easier to upgrade and there