It has been a busy time at The Purple Moon the past few months. We celebrated the fifth anniversary of the opening in downtown Charleston last month, had the blowout “vault sale”, and participated in the monthly ArtWalks- not to mention Festivall.

The project which has been on our back burner for some time though was the reworking of our websites to better serve our clients and keep folks up-to-date with all aspects of our business. Finally, that work is complete and we hope you’ll check it out.

Our main site, http://www.thepurplemoon.com, is now an entry point to our four websites which focus on a particular area of The Purple Moon.

We are launching a new Mid-Century Shop which highlights many of the exceptional vintage 20th Century items available at The Purple Moon. This site has new search capabilities, more detailed photos and descriptions plus is integrated for use with social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In addition, it is far easier to update so we will be able to share newly arrived items in faster.  The improved shopping cart and checkout process enables you to purchase items with ease.

The new Mid-Century Shop makes browsing and shopping easy

In addition to our mid-century household furnishings and accessories, art has grown to be an important part of The Purple Moon. With exhibits of vintage art as well as contemporary art by some of the regions hottest artists we wanted to better showcase these shows and exhibits. With that in mind we launched our Gallery site in May with detailed information about current artists and scheduled openings. This site has featured artists bios and examples of their work. While not an e-commerce site, feel free to contact us if you would like to inquire about purchasing works shown here.

The Purple Moon Gallery site highlights art shows and represented artists

As many in the Charleston area know, The Purple Moon has grown to also handling estate sales in region. While we are very selective and only do a few of these a year our PM Estate Sales site serves as the place for information regarding this service for both potential sellers and buyers. With videos and detailed descriptions of the items available at our sales we are able to connect collectors with items they are seeking and quickly liquidate estates for sellers. When you check out this site make sure you sign up for our email alerts so you can be the one of the first to know when we schedule a sale.

PM Estate Sales manages estate sales to benefit sellers and buyers alike

Finally, our Just a Modern Guy blog, which is where you are right now, fills in the gaps for all of these sites. We focus on aspects of collecting, detail the history of mid-century design and just generally cover areas we think may be of interest to our readers. This will now also be the place, in addition to our Facebook page, where we will let you know of new information on one of the other sites.

You are here!

Many suggestions by our friends have been incorporated into these site redesigns and we will continue to improve them as we go from here.  We hope you’ll take some time and explore our new formats and let us know what you think.

Twiggy Wearing a Richard Loftus Old England Watch - 1967

Richard Loftus designed a line of watches in 1967 for Accurist to be sold at the Apple Boutique owned by the Beatles and located on Baker Street in London’s famous Chelsea section. The bold watches with their PVC plastic straps became all the rage and were worn by not only the Beatles but also other Pop icons like Twiggy (shown above) and others on Carnaby Street and in trendy London of the swinging 60’s.

Richard Loftus Union Jack Watch by Accurist - 1967

I ran across this watch today and boy is it a beauty. Still retaining the original strap - and in full working condition - this watch is a classic of 1960’s Pop design.

This watch is currently on display at The Purple Moon - but I bet not for long!

The Purple Moon is currently seeking dependable, hard-working, intelligent people to assist in all aspects of our retail vintage shop and gallery. Applicants should be motivated, eager to learn and willing to work in all  areas of the business.  Saturdays and some evenings are required.

Apply in person at The Purple Moon, 906 Quarrier Street, Charleston on Tuesday - Friday from 11am to 5pm or on Saturday from 10am - 4pm.

You may download the application below and bring it with you (preferred) or fill out an application form when you come. Feel free to attach a resume but please also complete an application form.

All applications must be dropped off in person - no phone calls or mail-ins please.

Download Application (PDF)

For details visit here.

This small, but high-quality, estate has the treasures you are looking for in the great condition you expect from The Purple Moon. This estate includes a very rare Blenko 5929L decanter, sterling silver from Alvin, Jackson and Poole, silverplate items galore, dinnerware from Castleton and Lenox, figurines from Lladro and Hummel, artwork, and a 1974 Sohmer Company console piano with a huge amount of vintage sheet music and music books.
 
Great living room, dining room and bedroom furniture including a Thomasville dining set, French Provencial bedroom and a fabulous 1950’s bunk bed set! Sofas, chairs, accent table and much more.
 
Sale begins promptly at 10am on Saturday, February 6. NO ADVANCE SALES!

Here is the preview video of this great sale:

Rue Emil Zol Céret - Deborah Herndon - 2009

 Charleston photographer Deborah Herndon will be opening her first solo show, “Details” at The Purple Moon on Thursday, December 17th.

Herndon’s exhibit draws from photographs primarily taken in Southern France and examines the small details frequently overlooked.

“The history and culture of a place is often reflected in the details,” Herndon said, “it is there that you discover the nuance of the scene.”

Deborah Herndon is a fourth generation West Virginian, graduated from Marshall University and holds a Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from St. Louis University. Her work has been judged into Allied Artists of West Virginia, Tamarack (Artisan Center) and the Allegheny Highlands Arts and Crafts Center in Virginia.

“Details” opens on Thursday, December 17th, with a reception with the artist from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Purple Moon, 906 Quarrier Street in Downtown Charleston. The exhibit runs through January 30th.

Mrs. Wassenberg & Esprie - 1954 - Felix Krasyk

Charleston artist Felix Krasyk will be releasing limited edition prints of six of his 1950’s paintings on Friday, November 27th, during this month’s Downtown Charleston ArtWalk at The Purple Moon.

Felix Krasyk spent the period of 1952 to 1959 in New York City working and learning textile design. He spent his days working at B. Altman’s and his evenings painting.

Speaking of those New York years Krasyk says, “I painted to keep myself from going nuts. Whenever I went home at night I closed and locked the steel apartment door and it felt like a prison. After all, I am a ‘country boy’ and I missed West Virginia.”

In 1959, Felix returned to Charleston, caring for his parents and working at Woodrum’s Department Store as a designer. He later co-founded Interior Design, Inc. in Kanawha City. Krasyk’s New York paintings were stored away.

There they remained until a 2006 exhibit at the University of Charleston’s Frankenberger Art Gallery. This inspired the artist to once again return to art after 47 years at age 80.

The Thinker - 1957 - Felix Krasyk

In February 2007, The Purple Moon presented an exhibit that mixed Krasyk’s 1950’s work with current pieces entitled Past & Present: a half-century of art. The majority of his 1950’s work and many of his new pieces quickly sold.

In The Charleston Gazette’s review of that show, Amanda Miller stated, “As someone directly influenced by the apex of modernism, Krasyk brings a quality of work back to Charleston reminiscent of West Virginia modernist Blanche Lazelle.”

Felix Krasyk and his work has been the focus of profiles in Charleston Magazine and in this piece for West Virginia Public Boadcasting’s Outlook Show.

These mark the first prints released by the artist and are limited to an edition of 10 for each of the six pieces.

The Purple Moon will also have on display original works by Mr. Krasyk.

Music Series #3 - charcoal on paper - Melissa J Tyson

Pittsburgh-based artist Melissa J. Tyson will be bringing her versatile work to Charleston in a new show opening at The Purple Moon on Friday, November 27th.

The opening coincides with the November ArtWalk.

Tyson uses ancient metalsmithing techniques such as alloying, soldering, forging, and enameling to make one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry pieces. She works with traditional precious materials, as well as her own hand-mixed alloys, found metal objects, and unconventional materials like bone and textile.

Also active in the fine arts, Tyson’s drawings, paintings, and mixed media works often share influences with her jewelry. Each incorporates found materials and explores themes such as traditional ornamental forms, topography, and sound.

Born in New Jersey, Melissa J. Tyson received a Bachelors of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design, and studied abroad in Russia, Mexico, and at the Hocschule für Gestaltung, Pforzheim, Germany. Melissa is fueled and inspired by travel and has shown internationally in St. Petersburg, Munich, Hamburg, Milan, and Seoul, as well as in several US states. She currently works out of her own studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Additional information and images of her work can be seen on the artist’s website.

Music Series #1 - charcoal on paper - Melissa J Tyson

Tyson’s show at The Purple Moon will include works on paper, mixed media pieces and handcrafted fine jewelry. The show opens with a reception with the artist on Friday, November 27th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and runs through December 24th.

The Purple Moon is located at 906 Quarrier Street in downtown Charleston. Hours are Tuesday – Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Just in time for the Holiday Artwalk Season the new and improved website for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk has just gone live.

Featuring more gallery details and in depth notices of shows, features and openings in Downtown Charleston the website has developed to meet the needs of the growing crowd of art enthusiasts making the ArtWalk trek each month.

The new website is also optimized to allow for easy sharing of information with your friends using social network platforms like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

So stop by, take a peek around, and plan on attending the next ArtWalk on Friday, November 27th in Downtown Charleston.