Forthcoming Attractions: Late April 2015

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vintage collectables shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

We’re not great fans of getting up early, but if you want to find good shop stock you just have to make the effort sometimes. In the depths of winter it’s just tooooo painful!! But something felt like it was the right time to hit the markets & car-boots again this weekend – like hedgehogs emerging after hibernation from their pile of leaves! We dusted off the alarm clock and got going at 5am on Saturday morning. Here are some Forthcoming Attractions from the week’s search for vintage collectables.

vintage Chad Valley clock tin shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

The early bird might indeed catch the worm, but we caught some birds of our own. This gorgeous 1960s egg cosy set comprises two teak egg cups and linen cosies with wonderful chicken decoration – what a cheery way to start the day. We also picked up a lovely Lord Nelson Pottery rolling pin from the classic ‘Gaytime’ range with its psychedelic flower and bird design.

vintage egg cosy set shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

More fauna with this cute little Chad Valley savings tin featuring the nursery rhyme ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’. The lid has a clock face with movable hands. Kids can learn a nursery rhyme, how to tell the time – and the value of saving the pennies!

vintage orange daisy enamelware shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

We were actually talking about this range of enamelware the day before we went to Saturday’s market – ironically saying that we didn’t come across it as often as we used to! Lo & behold, we find a coffee pot and a kettle. They date from the 1960s/70s and were produced in the former Yugoslavia. We love the simple daisy pattern.

vintage rattan basket enamelware shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

And how about this gorgeous repeating apple design? This vintage basket has its fabulous original cotton liner and waterproof/stain-proof cover. A real favourite find this one!

vintage replacement deck chair slings shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

Summer must be just around the corner if we’re picking up garden accessories. These vintage replacement deckchair covers might be just the thing if your outdoor seating needs sprucing up.

vintage paper ephemera shortly to be listed in the H is for Home webshop

Last but not least, is the striking Blackpool Illuminations brochure featured in the main photo. Amazingly, it’s from 1930, so not far off being a hundred years old! It’s part of a wonderful collection of ephemera we bought last week. It all dates from the 1920s to the 1950s. We’ve just started sorting through it, but there are all kinds of fabulous brochures, magazines and advertisements from this early to mid twentieth century period. The photo above is just a small sample, so we think we’ll have to return to it in more detail in a future post.

Bookmarks: Grete Prytz Kittelsen – The art of enamel design

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Grete Prytz Kittelsen - The art of enamel design book with a selection of Lotus enamelware

Grete Prytz Kittelsen – The Art of Enamel Design by Karianne Bjellå Gilje explores the work of one of our favourite product designers.

Grete Prytz Kittelsen - The art of enamel design book title page

It was written not only with Greta’s close cooperation, but with extensive contributions from her – in the form of interviews, added text, selection of images and so on. You really are getting to know the artist intimately.

portrait of Grete Prytz Kittelsen standing

Greta was one of the foremost Scandinavian designers of the Mid-century Modern era – in addition to which, she also collaborated with many of the other great names from the period.

Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed jewellery

She had “a thorough knowledge of materials, vast technical skill, independence and originality.”

red Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed necklace

Her work has directly touched the daily lives of countless thousands with her ranges of beautiful yet practical kitchen & tableware.

green Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed enamel tea set

She’s rightly praised for making good design accessible, as she simplified the production process wherever possible, thus keeping retail prices affordable.

sculptural Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed necklace

She’s immediately associated with the iconic Lotus cookware produced by Cathrineholm of Norway in the 1950s – ironically, the repeating leaf pattern of the Lotus range was the work of another designer – Arne Clausen.

selection of Cathrineholm Lotus enamelware

She was responsible for the form & colours of the range – and apparently preferred the enamel without the additional decoration.

Cathrineholm Lotus catalogue

Her range of products is vast – pots, pans, plates, cruets, bowls and cutlery.

Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed salad bowl and servers

There are decorative objects too, such as candelabra & vases…

Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed square plates

…and not forgetting the beautiful jewellery – we just love her jewellery!!

blue sculptural Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed necklace

The book is very well written – comprehensive, entertaining and informative.

sculptural Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed Cathrineholm bowls

It’s full of wonderful archive images, product advertisements & brochures.

Grete Prytz Kittelsen working in her studio

Also, fabulous photographs of her work – which is some feat, as the beauty of enamel is very difficult to capture in print.

colourful Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed bangles

The book concludes with a wonderful reference section, including a fully illustrated catalogue of works and chronology.

Grete Prytz Kittelsen jewellery catalogue

It’s a must-have book for anyone who shares our passion – or is not yet familiar with her work.

sculptural Grete Prytz Kittelsen-designed boomerang necklace

[Many thanks to W.W. Norton & Company for the review copy]

Charity Vintage: Kaj Franck for Finel mushroom design bowl

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vintage Finel mushroom design bowl by Kaj Frank for sale on eBay for Chrity by & in support of CLIC Sargent(ends 1 May, 2014 15:38:37 BST)

This vintage Finel mushroom design bowl, by Kaj Franck, is up for sale on eBay by & in support of CLIC Sargent*. It’s on at a very reasonable price – buy it now for £44.99 plus there’s free P&P.

We regularly sell Finel enamel items in our web shop. We actually have this very bowl in our own personal collection. We love the black & white mushroom illustration. We’ve only ever seen the enamel bowl (in different sizes), but the design is available on a lidded saucepan, chopping board and even pottery cups, plates and bowls (for Arabia).

*CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. They provide clinical, practical and emotional support to help them cope with cancer and get the most out of life. They are there from diagnosis onwards and aim to help the whole family deal with the impact of cancer and its treatment, life after treatment and, in some cases, bereavement.



Charity Vintage: Orange Cathrineholm bowl

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vintage orange & white enamel Cathrineholm 'Lotus' bowl up for auction on eBay for Charity by Strut for Charity | H is for HomeOrange Cathrineholm bowl being sold in support of Strut in the Community*
(Ends 6 Feb, 2013 20:18:33 GMT)

Last week we helped a charity to publicise a Miroslav Sasek matchbook that they we’re auctioning on eBay. Then we thought – why don’t we do this more often? And so we shall!

This is the first of a new feature where we highlight vintage goodies listed on eBay where 100% of the sale is given to charity.

*Strut in the Community offers respite care for children with special needs by organising After School Clubs, Youth Clubs, Playdays & Residential Holidays.