Forthcoming Attractions: Mid August 2013

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selection of vintage homewares at H is for Home including white goose neck desk lamp, US Advertising sign for Alox shoelaces, trio of 1950s counting & alphabet picture books, orange electric food processor, potato masher and chocolate biscuit tin

We’ve picked up a varied selection of interesting, vintage bits & bobs at this week’s Thursday flea market. They’ll be going into our shop very soon.

vintage US cardboard advertising sign for Alox shoelaces

You probably couldn’t help but notice the HUGE shoe in the background of the group shot – it’s a vintage American advertising sign for Alox shoelaces.

orange & white vintage electric food grinder

Orange kitchen appliances and vintage utensils are always sure-fire winners so we always pick them up when we come across them.

trio of vintage 1950s nursery rhymes, ABC and counting picture books

These vintage 1950s children’s reading & counting books are in such excellent condition. Apparently the original owner was an ex-nursery school teacher who made sure her charges took great care with them!

illustration from vintage 1950s children's alphabet book showing "H is for hot cross buns"

We’ve always been adamant that H is for ‘Home’ – but apparently not. H is for ‘Hot Cross Buns’ and don’t they look delicious ones?

white vintage goose neck desk lamp

Vintage desk lamps are also a hit with our customers. We’ve had this particular design of lamp many times over the years – great shape & very functional. Perfect for the home office or bedside table.

vintage Christmas chocolate biscuit tin

Our favourite item this week is probably this vintage chocolate biscuit tin. The Christmas-y illustration is delightful and it’s in tremendous condition.

Lefor Openo

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vintage biscuit tin with illustration by Lefor-Openo of a flower seller girl with her market stall | H is for Home

We picked up this rather lovely biscuit tin this week. It dates from the 1960s and is on just the right side of kitsch for us.

detail from a vintage biscuit tin with illustration by Lefor-Openo of a flower seller girl with her market stall

The tin was produced in England, but features a very cute, Continental flower girl – she must be in Britain though, she’s selling her wares at 2 shillings & sixpence a bunch!

We’ve long admired the work of Lefor Openo – the French design duo of Marie-Claire Lefort & Marie-Francine Oppeneau. They’re mainly known for their poster designs – lots of them featuring beautiful mademoiselles – and this girl is definitely one of theirs! One of their most famous illustrations must be the sultry Francia, a Gitanes “fumeureuse”.

vintage Gitanes advertising poster designed by Lefor Openophoto credit: Lamarde

There are always Lefor Openo posters, postcards and other illustrations available to purchase on eBay – and at very affordable prices too!

M & S Packaging

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selection of Marks and Spencer food items with special Diamond Jubilee and London Olympic 2012 packaging

M & S continues to produce some fantastic packaging. We bought a few items last week – and thought we’d share photos with you in case you haven’t seen any of it.

Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box illustrated with characters of a cop and Texan tourist wearing a stetson

We’ll start with this pizza box for the pastrami pizza – with its New York cop and stetson-wearing tourist.

detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a cop detail from a Marks and Spencer New York pepperoni pizza box showing a cartoon illustration of a Texan tourist wearing a stetson and a camera around his neck

The characters are very reminiscent of Miroslav Sasek book illustrations from the 1950s & 60s.

Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of British bobby, Union Jack flags, school children, birds and bunting

The other products we picked up have much more of a British feel – perfect for this Diamond Jubilee & London Olympic year.

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of birds and bunting

These chocolate teacakes are covered with Union Jack bunting & flags. What does that pigeon know that we don’t?

detail from Marks and Spencer chocolate teacake packaging decorated with illustrations of a British bobby, Union Jack flag and bunting

Next up we have the old red telephone box.

Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box with figures including a British Bobby, city gent and punk

It’s harking back to the days when telephone box queues were a common sight – pre mobile phone days – the variety of characters each waiting their turn.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a city gent

We just love the punk rocker blowing his bubblegum.

detail from a Marks and Spencer shortbread tin in the shape of and decorated as a red British phone box showing the figure of a punk

It’s a close run thing, but our favourite item of the batch is probably the biscuit tin below. Again, the artwork is very Sasek inspired – with a bit of Bill Charmatz thrown in.

limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London and other British landmarks

The design a real classic with scenes of the British Isles to the sides and traditional London sights to the lid.

detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of Green Park detail from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games showing an illustrations of the Mall

Also, the tin will last years and can be used over & over again.

lid from a limited edition Marks and Spencer biscuit tin produced to commemorate the 2012 London Olympic Games decorated with illustrations of London landmarks

It’s fantastic when you buy a useful & beautiful storage tin – crammed full of lovely biscuits that you just have to eat first!!

Cup of tea, Mr Darcy?

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vintage biscuit tin produced by A Romary and Company Limited decorated with Regency period figures of dandies promenading and ladies in a horse drawn carriage and a cup & saucer produced by Royal Grafton

Any Jane Austen fans out there?

vintage biscuit tin produced by A Romary and Company Limited decorated with Regency period figures of dandies promenading and ladies in a horse drawn carriage

We’ve got the perfect vintage biscuit tin for you!!

detail from a vintage biscuit tin produced by A Romary and Company Limited decorated with Regency period figures of dandies promenading and ladies in a horse drawn carriage

Dating from the 1950s and made by A.Romary & Co Ltd from Tunbridge Wells, it’s decorated with Georgian dandies doffing their hats to the coquettish ladies riding atop their horse drawn carriage – all in their period finery.

detail from a vintage biscuit tin produced by A Romary and Company Limited decorated with Regency period figures of dandies promenading and ladies in a horse drawn carriage

So settle back with your chocolate digestives for the next episode of Pride & Prejudice – perhaps you could even tempt your own Mr Darcy round for tea & biscuits!