H is for Home Harbinger

We’ve had this London blog on the back burner for some time – London-related designs in books, ceramics and fabric.

It was in featuring Kenneth Townsend tiles in our last post that brought it back to mind. We focused on his ‘Menagerie’ series of tiles in that blog, but did briefly mention his ‘London’ series.

This Beefeater and city gent are two more great examples from this latter series.

He also did London landmark designs for Chance Glass during the same era.

Carltonware Pottery produced a series of moneyboxes – also from the 1960s – their Coldstream Guard and this Bobby on the beat are also at home in a London blog.

We picked up this copy of A View of London by Edward Pagram in our local book shop. The cover was calling out to us from the window display – when we saw all the sketches inside, it sealed the deal! This is just a small selection:

Another must-have book for the vintage London-ophile is This is London by Miroslav Sasek. His illustrations are truly stunning!

This lovely little booklet produced by TWA in the 50s is full of great advice for the US visitor.

We found this sweet felt picture on Todmorden flea market recently.

We’re particularly fond of this row of Beefeaters in front of Tower Bridge.

And what do you think about this fantastic vintage tea towel of Oxford Street and its famous Christmas lights…

…eager shoppers and famous Routemaster buses.

There’s some pretty tacky stuff on your average souvenir stall – but there are some fabulous designs being produced as well. This colourful London tea tray designed by Maria Holmer Dahlgren is one such piece which is on our wish list. The tray’s available from the Visit London online shop.

Or how about this mug from the London Transport Museum online shop? It’s taken from an original  poster designed by Aldo Cosomati in the 1920s.

There’s some really good stuff in both shops – well worth a look!