Bambi night-light

Bambi night-light
made in Melbourne, Australia 1959

This fantastic nursery night-light- featuring Bambi, his mother and bluebirds -was made by Pan Pacific Plastics in Melbourne in the late 50s. Pan Pacific Plastic originally made dolls but in the 50s moved to making night- lights with themes drawing from Walt Disney or nursery rhymes. Night-lights are trending right now, and are very collectible; and Bambis even more so.

The night-light is in excellent working order, and uses a 15 watt lamp and AC/DC power. The bulb is the same one used for pilot lights in fridges – so readily available.

The Bambi night-light is for sale: $AUD75

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50s jug/vase

Diana J-7 jug
made in Sydney, Australia 1958

This art deco inspired jug had many incarnations: it was made from 1941-1966. This particular jug was made in the late 50s- when textured splatter glaze was all the rage. You have to hand it to Diana- they could reproduce an essentially 20s form in a whole range of finishes- from single colour, shiny glazes, to sponge dual glazes – to this sort of typical 50s ‘modernist’ glaze – to sell the same shaped jug in earthenware.

The J-7 jug has been documented by the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/menu.php and appears on anniescollectables.com as being worth $138. I think it can be equally be used as a jug or a vase. I have styled it here with Gerberas.

The Diana jug/vase is for sale: $AUD95

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50s Mini

Minolta ‘Mini’ folding slide projector
made in Japan, c.1950s

Another Mini projector! The first was a Hanimex, made in Australia, and now this Minolta from Japan- both made in same time period. The projector is tiny but with the push of a metal button it folds out to form a projector with a suitable focal length; what a marvel of 50s engineering

The Mini comes with its own funky white vinyl bag [black piping, metal zip, internal compartments for all the bits] a dual slide changer AND an ‘Autochanger’ and is excellent working condition. The Autochanger allows you to stack a number of 35mm slides on both sides so one needed hold up the slide-show too long.

The lens is 1:2.5, f=7.5mm, and it runs on 200-240 V, AC/DC. The current bulb is still working, and I have researched replacement bulbs: a $10 CDS 100 watt, 115-120 volt bulb will suffice. There’s a cute little bakelite on/off switch on the electrical cord.

The mini projector makes a beautiful vintage statement piece- and the funky vinyl bag is a bonus extra. [Display the projector, wear the bag!]

For sale: $AUD125

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Florenz pottery

Florenz mug, made in Sydney Australia, c.1955
Florenz vase, made in Sydney Australia, c.1956

Two Florenz slip cast pottery pieces- both with unmistakably kitsch aboriginal motifs. This was Australia in the 50s when Post-war arts and crafts saw a rise in the popularity of Australiana – replacing traditional English motifs with ‘Australian’ themes; invariably Aboriginal motif works were black, tan and white.

I have featured Florenz on this blog before- salt and pepper shakers, jugs, ashtrays- all with these stylised indigenous motifs- the items were for the modern new kitchen but also sold as touristware.

Pottery decorated with Aboriginal designs is becoming increasingly collectible. The mug comes complete with its original foil sticker- noting that it is hand painted; and the vase is incised with a hand written ‘Florenz’ on the underside; it too is hand painted.

Florenz pottery at its best: these pieces are for sale: $AUD90

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50s Diana jug

Diana jug
made in Sydney, Australia 1950

This is a fantastic Diana jug- described as J4 and selling for 9/- in 1950, when it was made. That’s 9 shillings- 9 ‘bob’ in the old parlance [or just less than half a pound!]

The jug was produced in this matt white glaze, and the brown and green drip glaze that has featured previously on this blog. I collect Diana in the brown & green colourings- but love the deco stylings of this jug and am sorely tempted to keep it.

I’ve styled the jug as a vase- the matt white glaze looks fabulous with the off-white colour schemes of most contemporary walls- and it’s nice to have a retro piece that has a few functions.

The jug is for sale: $AUD75

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