Stories Of Italy Serving Bowls

KAWS is an American artist, toy and clothing designer. Born in New Jersey under the name Brian Donnelly, he became interested in graffiti very early on. He earned a BFA and began working for Disney. His artwork gained popularity and he began traveling and designing toys and clothing while continuing art and sculptures. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.

The story behind Balenciaga begins with Cristóbal Balenciaga.

As a child in the quiet fishing village of Getaria in Spain's Basque region, he worked alongside his seamstress mother. Showing immense talent, he earned commissions as a teenager from local patron Marquesa de Casa Torres, who paid for his tailoring education in Madrid.

In 1917, Balenciaga established his first fashion house, named Eisa, for his mother, in the trendy resort town of San Sebastián. He soon followed it with boutiques in Madrid and Barcelona, drawing such clientele as the Spanish royal family. When the Spanish Civil War put a hold on his prospects in Spain, the designer moved to Paris, opening a house on Avenue Georges V in 1937.

Balenciaga continued designing until 1968, when he retired after three decades of influential work and his fashion house went dormant. The rights to Balenciaga were acquired by Jacques Bogart SA in 1986. Under designer Michel Goma, who focused on ready-to-wear, the brand experienced a resurgence, with his first collection introduced in 1987.

Find a large selection of Balenciaga apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

The Blue Willow pattern depicts elements of a story inspired by Chinese legends, featuring two lovers that run away to be together. They are ultimately transformed into doves. Find an array of porcelain pieces featuring the Blue Willow pattern on 1stDibs.

The story behind the Japanese cat traces back to ancient folklore. In the tale, a cat saves the life of a samurai who turns out to be quite wealthy. To show his thanks, the man made a very generous donation to the temple. In Japanese culture, cat sculptures and figurines are symbols of good luck and known as “maneki-neko.” Find a range of Japanese decorative objects on 1stDibs.

The story behind Louis Vuitton is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture. The company's modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton, left his provincial French city of Anchay in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. When he arrived, he toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company with a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: "Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions." Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren't ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel's popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton's trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships; upright trunks offered hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased, and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton. In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company's flagship. Today, the fashion house remains one of the most iconic producers of leather goods in the world. Find a diverse assortment of Louis Vuitton bags on 1stDibs.