Posts Tagged ‘Marks and Spencer’

Fair Finds

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

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selection of antique & vintage homewares bought at Lincoln Show

We made the trip to Lincoln Antiques and Home Fair on Monday. Our alarm was set for 5.30am, so it was quite an early start in the cold and the dark. Add in a few hours driving and you have to hope that the effort will be worthwhile.

selection of antique & vintage homewares bought at Lincoln Show including a bolt of vintage 1950s fabric, set of sky blue Czech enamel containers, circular Nymolle pottery plaques designed by Bjorn Wiinblad, trio, vintage Marks and Spencer blue and purple floral curtains of fat lava West German vases and antique 18th/19th century wooden pie/bread peel

Fortunately it was – and we picked up some very nice pieces – some favourites are shown here. It’s mainly vintage, mid 20th century stuff; but we couldn’t resist a couple of country antiques too, such as this beautiful 18th century bowl and bread/pie oven peel.

selection of antique & vintage homewares bought at Lincoln Show with antique 18th/19th century turned wooden bowl highlighted

We bought quite a few West German ‘fat lava’ pots, concentrating on bold reds & oranges. Their prices are certainly on the rise. Other ceramics included the wall plaques designed by Bjorn Wiinblad for Nymolle of Denmark. Each one represents a month of the year and features a loving couple’s story – from courtship to parenthood. We like the whimsical, folk art design and we’ve actually got a set on our kitchen wall.

selection of antique & vintage homewares bought at Lincoln Show highlighting a set of 1950s teak coasters in a matching lidded holder

A slightly more recent piece of wood was to be found in the shape of this 1950s/60s teak coaster set. We’re not sure who the maker is, but it’s got real quality to it – it’s very Scandinavian and has a gorgeous, warm colour.  There was no shortage of enamelware to be found – we plumped for this set of graduated blue kitchen pots – the largest has an impressive 18 litre capacity!

selection of antique & vintage homewares bought at Lincoln Show

The sewing box dates from the 1960s and is made of a plastic weave material. Some people call in Dandycord – which we think was a trade name or brand of PVC flooring. The same material was used in the manufacture of these sewing boxes. You also see chairs, plant pot holders, magazine racks etc from the same period made from it. We were given a real flash of flower power colour when we lifted the lid!  Equally bold & bright were the lovely little teatowel and this absolutely stunning roll of unused 1950s fabric, with it’s classic vase design & period colour combination of yellow, red, grey, black & blue.

It’s always tempting to stay in a warm bed, but we’re glad that we didn’t when we look back at this haul!

Tin-tastic!

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

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trio of Marks & Spencer biscuit tins designed by Sanna Annukka

Marks and Spencer are selling these Christmas biscuit selections…

Marks & Spencer chocolate chunk selection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

…with gorgeous tins designed by Sanna Annuka.

Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

Future classics with their vintage Scandinavian folk art feel.

Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

She was responsible for this Swiss biscuit tin last Christmas – it’s currently changing hands for £15-£20… without the biscuits!

detail from a Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka showing a Swiss milk maid

We’ve bought ours early this year – they’re sure to be popular again.

detail from a Marks & Spencer chocolate chunk selection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka showing alpine trees

We’ll be giving a few tins as presents – but some will have to go under our own tree!!

Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin

They’ve also got a butter shortbread tin with a sweet little Scottie dog on the front.

detail from Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin showing a black Scottish terrier with a red tartan collar and lead and an envelope in his mouth

We recently posted a blog featuring illustrations by Miroslav Sasek – we don’t know who designed this tin – but it also has a vintage feel is very reminiscent of his work.

detail from Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin showing legs of two mean and a woman and small flock of pigeons

Here are the actual illustrations from the book…

illustration of a Scottish terrier from vintage book, "This is Edinburgh" by Miroslav Sasek

…published in 1961.

illustration of a Scottish terrier from vintage book, "This is Edinburgh" by Miroslav Sasek

It’s not only going to be a tin-tastic Christmas in our house – looks like it’s going to be biscuit-tastic too!

Takes the biscuit!

Friday, August 27th, 2010

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Marks & Spencer 125th anniversary commemerative biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

We think this is a future classic… having said that, it probably already is!

Marks & Spencer 125th anniversary commemerative biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

This biscuit tin was sold through Marks & Spencer only this Christmas gone. They’re already being resold for £15-£20 (without the Swiss biscuits!).

detail from Marks & Spencer 125th anniversary commemerative biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

It’s a special commemorative tin celebrating 125 years of Marks & Spencer. It was designed by Sanna Annukka. She’s half English and half Finnish – and the illustration has a real vintage Scandinavian feel.

vintage framed "carefree by coach" travel poster designed by Biggs

It reminds us of this original 1960s travel poster we had framed to display in our antiques centre pitch.

detail of vintage framed "carefree by coach" travel poster designed by Biggs

Not only the general style, but also the landscapes and even the colours.

detail of vintage framed "carefree by coach" travel poster designed by Biggs detail of vintage framed "carefree by coach" travel poster designed by Biggs

The poster entitled Carefree by Coach is signed by ‘Bigg’. We have to confess, we’ve not been able to find out anything about him or her… but it’s a fantastic illustration.

detail of vintage framed "carefree by coach" travel poster designed by Biggs

We might have been tempted to pack a flask & sandwiches… and hop on board for our ‘carefree’ trip through the countryside!

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