Ben Seibel Bonanza!

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Well, for me, anyway.  I never saw any Ben Seibel pieces anywhere for all the years I've been thrifting here. But in the past few months, I've found a few. 

What I found Saturday:

Eight pieces of Ben Seibel's "Country Cabin" design:  6 cups, the creamer and the bottom of the sugar bowl (no lid, alas). But they are all in MINT condition and were only 50 cents a piece. For 4 bucks out the door,  How could a girl say no?

They have that funky "earthy" (my interpretation) "70s" signature on their bottoms: "mikasa (with an upside-down "peace" symbol) potters Art Japan/ Ben Seibel design/PF 850.

I waited in vain for the saucers to appear, but they never marterialized from the thrift's back room. I'll have to check back this week if I'm by there to see if they were donated and are now out on the floor.

I have four of the cups hanging from a vintage, made in Japan orange "mug tree" that were so very popular in the 70s. It's all so very "Rhoda", very "Mary Tyler Moore", lol.

But really his designs are classics. Does anyone know if these are microwave safe? I've put them through the dishwasher with no problem.   

[Scott]

Just keep your eyes peeled in the thrift shops, SeSo, and you'll be able to build an enormous collection of Potter's Art dinnerware in no time at all. "Country Cabin" is a pretty common color treatment, so there's no reason you shouldn't be able to keep a collection of it growing and growing. It seems to be all over the place, and there are TONS of shapes in the line. It is among Seibel's last production lines, available in stores from the late 70s to early 80s, so its still coming into the thrifts in relatively good quantities.

If I were to place a bet, I'd say this is one late Seibel line which will appreciate in value in 30 or 40 years.

[genuineimitation]

hey thanks you guys! i clicked the "ben seibel" thread title. how have i missed this guy??? sometimes i feel so out of the loop... now i've got another designer to add to my internal search engine!

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Genuineimitation, if you want a quick and thorough grounding in mid-century modern, you should check out Scott's site (the link is included at the bottom of his  postings). I have learned so much from his site and have made some great choices thanks to his sharing of knowledge.

As always, thanks, Scott for your input.  But geesh--30-40 years from now?? I'll be in the Great Beyond by then, lol! Can I leave them to you in my will ? 

I will keep my eyes open for other pieces, though. You're right, though, I am finding tons of Mikasa in thrifts now. But unless I am sure it is Ben Seibel, either signed or annotated/attributed to him, I leave it behind.  I just don't have the room for "possbilies" These do look very groovy in my kitchen. I feel like such a 70s housewife with them on the mug tree, lol. Maybe I should be in "Interior Desecrations"

[Femme1]

Cool find, SeSo! I really like Seibel designs, too. I'm going to have to keep my eye out for this pattern.