Vintage shaving cloths

We bought these vintage shaving cloths this week. Kept in traditional barbers, they were used for wiping cut-throat razors.

We thought they were fabulous – each having wonderful graphic illustrations featuring facial hair in its myriad of forms… and in one case, a little verse extolling the money-saving virtues of razor cloths over towels.

These vintage shaving cloths are made of linen and date from the 1950s/60s era.

Having dealt with vintage homewares for many years, endless linen items from Northern Ireland have passed through our hands – manufacturers such as Dunmoy and Ulster Weavers. In addition to tea towels and place mats, it seems that razor cloths were also part of their massive output.

We thought that they had lots of potential as wall decoration in a vintage styled barbers or hairdressers… or would be equally at home in a domestic bathroom. They could be suspended from a row of small hooks – or perhaps, better still, simply framed and hung – singly or perhaps in small groups.

Auction Alert: Summer Antiques & Interiors Auction

When we lived in Yorkshire, Hartleys Auctioneers and Valuers in Ilkley used to be one of our favourite places to pick up stock – and items for personal use too. They hold a regular fortnightly sale and then, less frequent, antique and ‘finest’ sales. Their upcoming Summer Antiques & Interiors Auction takes place on Wednesday 14^th June 2023 from 9.30am.

Hartley’s buyer’s premium currently stands at 20% + VAT. As well as being there on the day, you can phone or email in bids in advance or bid live online at EasyLiveAuction (incurs an extra charge of £3 or 3%) or The Saleroom (incurs an extra 4.95%).

Check Hartley’s website for their recommended shipping companies.

Lot 87: PETER HAYES (b.1946)

A studio pottery vase of flattened rounded oblong section with small neck, carved with an abstract wood pattern in a streaky brown glaze, seal mark, signed and dated (19)88, 7 1/2″ high (subject to Artists Resale Right)
Estimate: £100 – £200

Lot 88: BERNARD ROOKE (b.1938)

A tall stoneware sectional Totem lamb (sic) base with six part glazed and unglazed sections, apparently unmarked, 39 3/4″ high excluding fitting (Illustrated) (subject to Artists Resale Right)
Estimate: £250 – £400

Lot 91: A GERMAN GREEN DAUMENGLAS OR THUMB GLASS AND COVER

c.1800, of barrel form, the central section with six deep “thumb holes” within milled threads, 14″ high, together with a later smaller Daumenglas of barrel form, each side with three faux holes enclosed by applied milled threads, 6″ high (2) (Part Illustrated)
Estimate: £600 – £800

Lot 159: A UNISEX LIP MACH 2000 MAFIA MOON AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH

Designed by Roger Tallon, the circular chapter ring with red and white line markings, centre seconds hand and date aperture at 6, in an oblong case with red ball adjuster on original rubber strap
Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 187: A GEORG JENSEN SILVER NECK RING

Designed by Vivianna Torun Bulow-Hube with tension clamp and hung with a polished smoky quartz square pendant with bar suspension, both stamped and Torun numbered 169 and 132 (Illustrated)
Estimate: £600 – £800

Lot 189: A WENDY RAMSHAW SILVER AND AMETHYST STACKING RING

The six plain rings each set with a graduated close back collet set cabochon stone, London 1972, size M 1/2 (Illustrated)
Estimate: £700 – £900

Lot 203: A PAIR OF LARGE CHANDELIER EAR HOOPS

Of D form, collet set with turquoise, malachite and a ruby(?) on an applied filigree work ground, plain backs, the large hoops with loops to attach to smaller ear hoops
Estimate: £400 – £600

Lot 489: A SET OF TEN RECLAIMED METAL HERB LABELS

Each on a turned post with rust patination, 6″ – 13″ x 37 1/2″
Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 581: ERNEST RACE – A PAIR OF ANTELOPE CHAIRS

Designed for the Festival of Britain 1951, with white enamel metal frame and blue painted bentwood seat, remnant of label to one, 22″ x 15 1/2″ x 31 1/4″ (Est. plus 24% premium inc. VAT) See Lesley Jackson Modern British Furniture Design Since 1945 (V&A) page 105 plate 110 for a similar design
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 624: A VICTORIAN WALNUT FRAMED CHESTERFIELD DROP END SETTEE

Button upholstered in mustard yellow, on turned tapering feet with castors, 69″ x 34″ 28 1/4″
Estimate: £250 – £450

Auction alert: Danish/Swedish and English mid-century

146 lots are coming under the hammer on Sunday 12^th February 2023 at Harrisons Antiques. They describe the sale as a “Very Rare Danish/Swedish and English mid-century ONLY” auction. The sale, which starts at 10.30am, consists of almost 150 lots; there’s a large selection of vintage sideboards, dining and coffee tables, desks and sets of dining chairs.

The buyer’s premium is 20% plus VAT. Bidding via EasyLiveAuction incurs a further fee of either a flat £3.00 or 3% of the total price.

Harrisons is located between between Barnsley and Doncaster in South Yorkshire if you’re interested in collecting any won items. If this isn’t a convenient option, they offer a postage service:

Small parcels (up to 1kg): £9+VAT
Medium parcels (1-3kg): £15+VAT

Delivery of furniture items to UK mainland for 1 item £85 excluding certain areas. Please contact us for more details on larger items and for more then one item. Also 2 man delivery also available.
Small items sent via parcel courier and sent at the buyers risk. Harrison’s will package to the best of our ability.

Lot 6: Bang & Olufsen Retro design 40″ Flat screen TV with motorised base

Estimate: £200 -£400

Lot 25: 6 Ultra rare Swedish chairs

By Sven Erik Fryklund for Hagafors Mobel

Lot 33: Frem Rojle round Danish teak table + 4 tuck away chairs

Estimate: £800 -£1,200

Lot 48: Rare blonde Ercol 493 elbow chair

Lot 54: Rare blonde Ercol love seat

Estimate: £200 -£300

Lot 56: Danish teak mid century trolley

Estimate: £100 -£200

Lot 78: Danish ceramic tile top nest of tables by Ox Art for Trioh

Lot 85: Le Corbusier mid century leather & chrome 3 seater sofa

Estimate: £400 -£600

Lot 112: Kofod Larsen mid century vinyl back headboard for G-plan

Estimate: £150 -£250

Lot 132: 4 Retro Italian Mid Century chairs

Estimate: £50 -£100

Lot 144: Janine Abraham + Dirk Jan Rol wicker chair

Estimate: £250 -£300

Lot 142: Danish trolley for Johannes Andersen for Toften

Estimate: £150 -£200

Lot 145: 9-Bay Danish Ladderax/wall unit

Modular with lots of spares
Estimate: £300 -£400

Auction alert: 20th Century Design sale

Burstow & Hewett – who are located in Battle, East Sussex – are holding their 20th Century Design sale on the 22^nd September 2022 from 10am.

We featured Burstow & Hewett earlier this year and here they are once again. They really do sell the best quality mid century modern furniture, homewares and accessories.

There’s a buyer’s premium and internet surcharge of 24% inc. VAT on top of the winning bid amount. Online bidding is also available via the EasyLiveAuction and The Saleroom websites. Check their websites for additional charges.

Lot 1502: HANS BATTRUD, a set of 6 Scandia bent wood dining chairs, height 93cm
Pitting to leg frames, some wear to rubber feet consistent with age and use, no labels.
Estimate: £500 – £800

Lot 1504: An ALESSI electric kettle for Philips, type HD2001/A, in original box
Unused condition, in original box with wrapping and papers.
Estimate: £60 – £100

Lot 1506: A mid-century Digitor alarm clock, width 10cm
Some paint chips to face, working order.
Estimate: £30 – £50

Lot 1515: VICKE LINDSTRAND for Kosta, a rare large size ruby red Zebra vase
Circa 1955, numbered LH1114, height 21cm. Good condition, no chips, cracks or restoration. Originally sold by the Swedish design store Wettergens.
Estimate: £600 – £800

Lot 1522: TONY CRAGG, a designer trowel for Homebase in 2000
In partnership with Tate Gallery “At Home with Art”, in original box. Good condition, box has tears to lid.
Estimate: £30 – £50

Lot 1523: JULIETTE BELARTI, a tile topped coffee table
On brushed steel frame, signed tile, H 38 x 109 x 66cm. Good condition, no chips or cracks to tiles.
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 1535: A mid-century design bolt of cotton fabric, with cactus and watermelon design
Together with another panel (88x 235cm). Good condition.
Estimate: £60 – £100

Lot 1544: A mid-century teak and cork table lamp
With new hesian (sic) shade, overall height 75cm. Good overall condition, untested.
Estimate: £60 – £80

Lot 1595: A Staples Ladderax mid-century shelving unit
With single door wardrobe and 4 shelves, W124cm, H201cm, overall depth 42cm. Supports have been overpainted, chips and marks to shelving and wardrobe sections more evident on underside of shelving.
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 1619: Peill and Putzler, Germany, a 1970s glass table lamp
With makers label, H 27cm x dia 35cm. Very good condition
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 1597: CHARLOTTE PERRIAND, France, a mid-century Les Arcs leather and chrome chair
Height 81cm. Good original condition, pitting to frame and marking to leather.
Estimate: £250 – £350

Lot 1616: GIO PONTI for Uffici Montecatini by Parma Antonio and Figli, Italy, a pair of tubular steel side chairs
Circa 1936, height 82cm.

Lot 1627: ROBERT WELCH, a rare original 1960s lustre enamelled cast iron Sun dish or charger
Diameter 30cm. Good original condition, some surface marking.
Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 1658: LOUIS POULSON (sic) for Poul Henningsen aluminium pendant lamp
Shade diameter 50cm. Good condition, recently rewired and tested.
Estimate: £200 – £300

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: Mid-Century