It Was Popular In The '60s — Now This Mid-Century Designer Is A Valuable Thrift Store Find

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Cultivating a rich, expressive home design doesn't happen by accident; it requires careful curation and an eye for exceptional home goods. However, it might feel trickier to capture a cohesive, layered design in your kitchen since it demands such a high level of functionality. Just like any other room, blending the new with the old is a great place to start. There are plenty of old-school kitchen items to peruse at the thrift store. If you're aiming to incorporate some fun retro flair into your kitchen, look out for George Briard kitchenware. These rare, vintage pieces are as valuable as they are beautiful.

This brand was exceptionally popular in the 1960s. Known for its opulent yet eclectic edge, George Briard featured elaborate, colorful illustrations often gleaming with gold accents. Jascha Brojdo was the artist behind the company. His prolific style played a hand in shaping iconic styles of the era, such as the mid-century modern movement. Ukraine-born Brojdo lived in Poland for most of his life until he moved to the United States in 1937 to study at the Art Institute of Chicago. Once he graduated, he did a brief stint in the US Army before he moved to New York City. There, he started his journey into the design world, decorating metal serving trays. He later expanded into other kitchenware and home goods such as glassware, ceramic platters, and even side tables.

After some time, he was brought on to design for the M. Wille Company. At this point, he started marketing his commercial pieces under the pseudonym Georges Briard. It wasn't long before Brojdo went on to become an award-winning designer. George Briard was exceptionally popular from the 1950s to the 70s, appearing in high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus and Bonwit Teller.

George Briard still produces home goods, drawing from Brojdo's original whimsical designs. They offer tea cups, candles, and other kitchenware items. However, this latest launch of products offers only a fraction of what George Briard produced in its heyday. If you want to get your hands on an original piece, you can easily find one on 1st Dibs or Etsy. The catch is, they tend to resell for a pretty penny. As an example, you can expect to spend upwards of $200 for a full glassware set or over $100 for a cheeseboard.

If you're lucky, you may be able to find one of these cherished collectibles at the thrift shop. You can also scour flea markets and estate sales. Just be sure you've found the real deal before you get too excited. This vintage dishware brand is fairly easy to identify. Look for the 'Georges Briard' signature on the bottom or front of the kitchenware to confirm its authenticity. The lavish, eclectic designs are also quite easy to spot once you're familiar with Brojdo's style. If you're unsure of a piece's authenticity, consult an appraiser.

This nostalgic kitchen decor adds an instant sense of wonder to your kitchen. Don't be afraid to allow your George Briard pieces to meld into the background, adding texture without necessarily being the focal point. Brojdo once said, "Furnish your home so that things are 'discovered' by your guests. You may have a very dull house if one can see everything with the sweep of the eye when one enters the room." These pieces are functional, living decor. While displaying them in a china cabinet isn't wrong, it may be more inspired to allow them to play throughout your kitchen more organically.