L is for… London

'L is for... London' blog post banner

top of a vintage biscuit tin with illustration of Marble Arch, London

There’ll be many eyes- all around the world – focusing on London this week with the Royal Wedding happening on Friday…

…so ‘L’ just has to be for London!

detail of the top of vintage biscuit tin with London illustrations of such as a Pearly king and queen, beefeaters, street hawker etc

We’ve gathered images of H is for Home shop stock items – past & present, that celebrate the capital city…

detail of the sides of vintage biscuit tin with cartoon-like illustrations of tourists at London sites such as Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square
…famous landmarks, archetypal characters and classic scenes.

vintage tea towel featuring a London scene with a crowd of double decker buses at night around Christmastime, probably Oxford Street

They’ve appeared on all kinds of products…

vintage Chance Glass pin dish featuring a London double-decker bus designed by Kenneth Townsend
…lots of tins, pottery and book illustrations…

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a London beefeater

…and tea towels, posters and postcards.

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a pair of Chelsea Pensioners

We’d be tempted to have quite a collection if we were London dwellers!

vintage Kenneth Townsend tile featuring a London gentleman with bowler hat, briefcase and umbrella

We can’t resist a few pieces, even though we live out int’ sticks oop North.

vintage 1959 London Transport postcard. "Roundabout" designed by Victor Galbraith

We often see London-tastic products in the glossy interior magazines and websites – and we usually forget to bookmark them!

vintage 1960s Trans World Service menu cover depicting two horse guards in helmet and bearskin

However, you’ll always find some good stuff at places like the London Transport Museum or V & A Museum web shops…
vintage Carltonware moneybox in the shape of a London bobby

…and take a look at the “London Calling” Etsy Treasury that we’ve put together.

P.S. – Another special London event started last week – commemorating the original 1951 Festival of Britain.
triptych of images of an original 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition brochure
We loaned a few items to Kiera Buckley-Jones from BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine. She has recreated rooms from the period. Read her blog series charting its development here. We’re hoping to take a little trip down south to see it before it finishes in September.

4 thoughts on “L is for… London

  1. Hello,

    I came across these Kenneth Townsend, chance glass plates on your website(under L is for london, link is attached here.
    http://hisforhomeblog.com/celebrations/l-is-for-l

    I have been looking all over the internet to find any information on them, you were one of the few that had actually posted something about them. So I thought you may be helpful. I have emailed about 2 other people and one of them directed me your way….

    I recently purchased the set of 6 of the Kenneth Townsend glass plates by Chance Brothers at an antique shop in Texas. I was curious if you had any idea what these might be priced at. They are in really great condition and I am happy to add it to my home. But I am so curious of their value. I live in America and unfortunately can't find much information about this artist. I am very interested in his work. Please get back to me at your convenience.

    -Ainsley

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