Ceramic acquisitions: August & September

The next category of additions is ceramic vintage and retro pottery, including tableware and ornamental items. Firstly from the Russian company of Lomonsov a flask decorated with traditional figure in red and gold - a handsome piece

Russian ceramic flask

Some very good quality retro tableware from Denby, as usual well made but heavy - a jug and oil and vinegar set in the Burlington pattern in blue designed by Glyn Colledge.

Denby tableware

Next a mixed collection - Villeroy & Boch cup and saucer in the Acapulco pattern, Midwinter cruet pieces in the Oakley pattern, Midwinter Spanish Garden bowls and two Italian egg cups. The Villeroy and Boch were purchased at a recent flea market, the other pieces were found in our garage!

Miscellaneous ceramic items

Here is another Egersund serving bowl from Norway to add one already in the MillCottageRetro store (found at a fleamarket and purchased from the same lady as the Villeroy and Boch). The other item is a National Trust container designed by Dorn Williams, 1978 and which was found in the garage!

Tableware items from Norway and the UK

I am not sure about the origin of these items but I think that they may be from Czechoslovakia as one has PRAHA included in the design. There is a paper label underneath which I have not researched yet but I just liked the design and texture. Found at the same fleamarket as the above pieces.

Many of these are already in our Etsy Store and the rest will follow before the end of this week. Hope you like them!

Glassware thrifting finds: August & September

Some interesting pieces have been acquired for MillCottage Retro during August and September, both tableware and art glass. The drinking glasses are a fabulous burst of colour on a shelf or in a cabinet, just what we need at this unpredictable time of year weatherwise. and to brighten up those dark mornings!

Eclectic mix of mid century modern drinking glasses, some bought at Vintage Festivals, some at charity shops

Two super cute glass birds in swirly colours and a stately art glass vase in opaque green and transparent blue glass bought at a fleamarket and a car boot respectively

Super geometric piece of pale amber art glass still with 'Made in Finland' sticker, probably Rihimkai from the 1970s, bought from fleamarket

Set of four aubergine drinking glasses with typical modernist shape but no maker's mark or label, I think from charity shop. [Already sold]

More Portmeirion thrifting finds

Here are some more Portmeirion items acquired recently, except the Black Key set which I have had for some time.

Below is a coffee set with four place settings in the Cypher pattern, an early Portmeirion design from the early 1960s. The colour was called brown to distinguish it from the ochre in the Totem range

Next we have an open sugar bowl in the Cypher mustard variation and a milk or cream jug in olive green Totem.

Finally a set of Black Key on the glossy white background which was again a popular design from the 1960s. Some of the cups have crazing so only some of these will be sold on Etsy.

This is all I have in the various Portmeirion ranges for now and they should be on Etsy by the end of the week.

It is always debatable whether to list cofee and tea sets as sets or whether to sell the pieces separately and it is something which I may review.

I have a number of sets listed by various potteries but may decide to split them if they are more saleable that way.

September thrifting finds: Part I: Portmeirion

This September's thrifting trips have uncovered a few Portmeirion pieces: 

This is a blue version of the Totem pattern first introduced in 1963 - unfortunately one or two of the items have small chips so only three of the mugs will be listed on Etsy together with the covered jug which, also unfortunately, had some restoration to the knop which will be reflected in the price. These pieces were found at a flea market.

This is a Greek Key design coffee pot with sugar bowl and milk jug in the gold on matt brown variation. This colour was introduced in 1972 but was not so popular so is more difficult to find today. These pieces were found at a local car boot sale.

This is a set of the Black Key pattern on an orange background but, though there are five cups in the photo, one cup was found to have a chip and so only four will be on offer on Etsy. They were found at a flea market.

Another tankard in the popular 1960s Zodiac series, in this case depicting Aquarius, the water carrier. This was purchased online.

Events: Robert Welch Exhibition

The exhibition is at the Court Barn in Chipping Camden which is home to a small permanent display dedicated to the Guild of Handicrafts established by C R Ashbee in 1902. 
Robert Welch trained as a silversmith at the Royal College of Art in London in the early 1950s, but in 1955 established a studio in Chipping Camden where he worked for the rest of his life.

Welch had an early association with Old Hall who produced a variety of stainless steel wares and for whom he designed the Alveston range. The cutlery he designed won a Design Council award in 1965.

Range designed for Old Hall

In the 1960s he developed a range in cast iron, especially candlesticks

Cast Iron candlesticks

In the 1960s he also designed twenty items of domestic silver retailed at Heals

This impressive candelabrum is on loan from the Goldsmith's Company

 Scandinavian influence is apparent in these salt and pepper mills

His son and daughter continue the range which is available in the shop in Chipping Camden High Street and where there is another permanent display of his designs.

The exhibition at Court Barn continues until the 28th September.

Summer Events: Brighton

We spent a week in Brighton last month and had a busy time shopping in the North Laine vintage area, visiting the beach and walking along the Prom!

On a more cultural level we visited the Royal Pavilion (second time for me) and the Museum which has a gallery devoted to 20th century design in which I managed to take a few pics.

On the central shelf in this picture are three vases designed by Guy Sydenham and Alfred Read for Poole Pottery in 1956/7; a Picasso vase in the shape of a bird (Pot Oiseau)made at Madoura Pottery, Vallauris, France c 1954; a Villeroy & Boche coffee set in the Acapulco pattern c 1970.

This is the same shelf from the other side in which you can see Walter Gropius designed black matte / gloss teapot for Rosenthal, c 1969 on the right, a Poole dish (as before) and an Alphabet coffee pot designed by Marcello Morandini in a shape created by Timo Sarpaneva for Rosenthal c 1976

On this shelf is an amber Totem Portmeirion coffee pot, cup & saucer & sugar bowl; Hornsea Heirloom coffee pot in green and a Midwinter Stonehenge Sun coffee pot and cup & saucer 

Here is a selection of glass including a pink handkerchief vase made by Venini c 1955 (Murano, Italy), a blue and yellow striped vase c 1960 (probably the same); a small clear glass vase with coloured bands by Flygsfors c 1961 (Sweden); a large free form vase by Max Verboeket for Maastricht Kristalunie c1964 (Netherlands) and a heavy globular vase designed by Edvin Ohrstrom for Orrefors, c 1950 (Sweden)

This is the back of the previous shelf on the left of which is a Harlequin Jug c 1955, designed by Dino Martens for Aureliano Toso (Murano, Italy); a delicate blue and white striped jug c 1954 by Dino Martens, as before; a blue dish c 1950 designed by Floris Meydam for Leerdam (Netherlands and on the right a vase designed as a leg and foot c 1976 by Bjorn Wekstrom for Nutajarvi (Finland) 

In the centre a dish designed by Julian Stair 1990

In the centre a plate designed for Rorstrand of Stockholm, Sweden in the Eden pattern, c 1958 

In the furniture section this bison was made for the Au Printemps store, Paris c 1925 

The sideboard was designed by Serge Chermayeff and made by Waring and Gillow, UK1928-9

The Long Chair made of bent plywood designed by Marcel Breuer of Germany for Isokon of London, c 1936

The Mae West's Lips sofa designed by Salvador Dali, c 1938 and made by Green & Abbott, London. In the 1960s it was re-interpreted as Marilyn Monroe's lips.

This is the Garden Egg chair, c 1968, designed by Peter Ghyczy, made as a polyester resin shell with channels around the edge to keep the fabric interior dry.

A view of all the chairs in a neat display

The descriptions attached to the photos are taken from the captions written by the Museum.

There was also a gallery displaying costume in which I took a few pics:

This is a Biba Suit (Biba established by Barbara Hulanicki) c1970

A Norman Hartnell coat donated from the collection of Mrs Davies: the Queen Mother had one the same which she wore to the races in the 1960s. Mrs Davies, planning to attend the same event, was contacted by the Hartnell couture house advising her not to wear the same coat!

Gina Fratini dress and waistcoat purchased as a wedding outfit, UK 1972

Bill Gibb dress ensemble, 1974, designed in collaboration with Kaffe Fassett

Biba dress, c 1970

Ossie Clark shirt dress, London 1969-74,Ossie Clark designs were worn by Mick Jagger and Twiggy in the 1960s

1960s mod suit worn  at the time by David Cooke (picture included on his Vespa)

Leather jacket worn by 'Rockin Bill', a biker in 1963 Brighton

Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 2001

Schiaparelli dress worn by Lady Desborough, London 1936

Out and about in August: Retrofestival

At the beginning of August we visited the Retrofestival at Maidenhead: for those who haven't been it has a little of everything. There is the usual vintage market with vintage and modern repro vintage clothing and jewellery, homewares, tableware, toys, enamel signs and so on. 

There were three marquees for the music events: the Black Hangar Stage, the Ricky-Tick Club and the Spitfire Pavilion. The Black Hangar Stage was mainly for 1950s rock and roll enthusiasts with a dance floor for those who like to get up and show off their moves. We were there on Saturday and saw The Doggone Honkabillies and The Little Girl and the Dillicats who we thought were very good. The Ricky Tick Club was for the 1960s r&b and soul enthusiasts: we saw The Fliks who are a three piece girl group that do 1960s girl stuff covering such artists as the Shangri Las, the Supremes, Lulu etc - I thought that they were great and had lots of energy. Later in the evening Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band performed and attracted large crowds. The Spitfire Pavilion was sited adjacent to the vintage cafe for those who enjoy their vintage tea and cake. Inside the Pavilion, later in the evening, was the Eliza Delite Burlesque Show, which also attracted large crowds.

At the Retrofestival there are always classic cars and military vehicles to see and also, perhaps more unusual for a vintage fair, steam engines and stationary engines with accompanying autojumble. There was a flying display and usual funfare.

Here are some photos from the day: