Auction alert: Mid Century Design

This week, our featured auction is the Mid Century Design sale that takes place on Friday 20th August, commencing at 10:30am. That’s tomorrow folks!

Mid century modern is one of our favourite eras for interior design, it was really hard to narrow down the lots we wanted to share. There are so many quality pieces of furniture, art, pottery, glass, lighting and the rest.

Although the auctioneers – W&H Peacock – are based in Bedford, bidding at this sale is entirely online.

Do be aware, on top of the final hammer price there’s a buyer’s premium inc. 17.5%+VAT (plus an additional online commission of 5%+VAT if you bid via thesaleroom.com). Budget wisely if you’re planning on bidding.

Lot 6: Ernest Race for Isokon Plus, a Penguin Donkey Mark II bookcase in white, label to the underside *Originally designed in 1963
Est £250 – £350

Lot 18: ’Brillo, For Instant Shine’, print with embellishments, numbered B1-12-64, 20 x 35cm
Est £40 – £60

Lot 49: Jens Quistaard, a 1960s Danish teak lattice tray with six moulded glass dishes, together with a pair of teak salt and peppers by Digsmed
Est £150 – £200

Lot 147: An orange moulded glass table lamp with an abstract brightly coloured shade
Est £50 – £80

Lot 158: Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset, a French two-seater ‘Pumpkin’ sofa in orange, together with the matching stool

Lot 164: A faux bamboo brass finished two-tier cocktail trolley with glass shelves, in the French manner, h. 77cm

Lot 167: A Bernard Rooke ‘Totem’ pottery lamp with a matching shade, signed
Est £150 – £200

Lot 239: A Franco Albini wicker lobster pot footstool
Est £50 – £80

Lot 244: A 1970s woollen floor rug, the cream ground with orange, yellow and black abstract shapes, 160 x 94cm
Est £30 – £40

Lot 287: A Dutch three-tier shelving unit enamelled in yellow, red and grey by Tomado, w. 66cm
Est £100 – £150

Forthcoming Attractions: End-May 2021

Even though 2021 seems to be flying by, we’ve somehow found the time to update our web shop three times this month! With everything slowly opening up here in Wales and over in England, we’ve been heading out on buying trips to both old haunts and new territories.

Here’s a small selection of the freshly-picked vintage items that we’ve listed online this week. Click on each image to be taken to the individual product page.

Forthcoming Attractions: Late August 2018

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the items heading to our web shop this week… and what an eclectic mix it is too! From mid-century modern classics to rustic vintage industrial.

The gorgeous little work stool likely came from a workshop or factory. It’s got a lovely patina with traces of original green paint – lots of marks and indentations indicating a busy & useful life! The stool’s not finished yet though. Still strong & sturdy, it would function as a little step stool, chair-side mug or book holder, small work bench for crafting or even a display stand.

The vintage leather medicine ball also has a very attractive patina – like a freshly-fallen conker! It would still function perfectly well for its original use; i.e. physical exercise. Alternatively, you don’t have to move a muscle and just stare at it – perhaps occasionally lift it up and give it a rub… it’s very tactile. It looks great amongst other vintage sports items or alongside a stack of vintage leather cases.

Then there’s an absolute classic piece of mid-century modern design – namely the Cathrineholm coffee pot designed by Grete Prytz Kittelsen, with lotus leaf pattern by Arne Clausen. We only pick these up when condition is very good. This one certainly is that and comes in the very pleasing pale blue & white colourway. Ready for use or display (it’s another object that you’re allowed to just look at and admire!).

Last, but not least – and dating from a similar era – we have a lovely vintage desk lamp produced by Prova. It’s a very nice design – good looking and practical. The head can move up & down and side to side. We’ve had quite a few of these over the years in various colourways and we’re big fans.

Orange vintage Siltal saucepan

We picked up this very striking orange vintage saucepan during the week. It’s mid-century modern combined with ancient Egypt!

The range was manufactured by Italian company, Siltal in the 1970s for food writer and chef Robert Carrier. He was a big name in the cookery world around this time – perhaps you remember him on TV. If not, you might very well have come across his vintage cookery books and recipe cards in charity shops.

Mid-century modern treatment of more ancient life or art can be very successful – Roman, Etruscan and medieval subjects spring to mind. Egyptian imagery is a new one to us.

This Siltal saucepan itself is beautifully made – quite reminiscent of Cathrineholm in materials and style. Siltal is still manufacturing products today, although they seem to concentrate on fridge-freezers and washing machines nowadays. So you’ll have to look out for vintage examples if you like the look. The pans were made in a variety of colourways – and there were also ancient Greek and Chinese ranges too. This large lidded example will be going into our antiques centre space priced at £45. It’s pretty heavy, but we could post out if required.

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: vintage homewares

Auction alert: Mid Century Design

Forthcoming Attractions: End-May 2021

Forthcoming Attractions: Late August 2018

Orange vintage Siltal saucepan