Here’s Humphrey!!!

Humphrey B. Bear porridge bowl,
made in Australia 1983

This is a porridge bowl: featuring Humphrey B. Bear; star of the Here’s Humphrey! television show since 1965.

Humphrey is a partially clothed bear [famously- he wears a hat, waistcoat, collar and tie, but no pants] – who cannot speak. So- each show in the Magic Forest is narrated. Humphrey just has to gesticulate and wildly nod his head to enact his part. But- again- famously- the costume is so heavy that the actor playing Humphrey is actually a trained dancer.

Humphrey is now ‘heritage listed’ and a ‘national icon’. He has won a couple of Logies.

All without speaking a word. Maybe- just maybe- that is the secret to his success. There are many Humphrey B Bear collectors out there.

This porridge bowl, by Thomas Trent [backstamp c.1983] is in great vintage condition, and is for sale: $AU15

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Koala canisters

Kraft koala canisters
made in Australia 1980s

More glass kitchen canisters! These are made by Kraft, and are in the shape of koalas. Originally sold with Vegemite or Peanut Butter, the form of the koala is much more apparently when the glass is filled with any kitchen food stuff [lentils spring to mind- only because they seem so hipsterish- as two of the koalas – with the red lids- are knitting.]

These canisters were made in the 80s; they have plastic lids [which are still air-tight and good for storing stuff]; canisters made in the 60s and early 70s had metal lids which weren’t so practical for re-use. Like the canisters below, the lids came in all manner of colours to make it easy to tell the jars apart. And they came in two sizes: as here, where we have one smaller size and two of the larger size.

The set of three canisters are for sale: $AU75

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80s badness

Fitz & Floyd ‘Bad Guy’ mug
made in USA 1980

OK folks, we’re in the Eighties now. I know that’s an unusual period for this blog- but bear with me.

This is a ‘Bad Guy’ mug [the best kind, let’s be honest] – he’s a bad cowboy breaking into a safe – his hand is on the dial- : and in the middle of the mug there’s a bag of loot, which you discover once you’ve drunk the poison/liquor/substance held within.

Presumably there’s a Good Guy out there- but I haven’t come across one just yet. Fitz & Floyd are becoming very collectible, so if you have any interest in collecting, maybe now’s the time to start. I have featured Fitz & Floyd salt and pepper shakers before- and both sets were snapped up by collectors.

This Fitz and Floyd mug is for sale: $25

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vintage iittala

iittala Poppa candleholders
made in Finland, 1982

Continuing my love affair with Nordic glass, here are two sets of iittala candleholders, with their original candles [c. 1982] and in original boxes [one with lid.] Some of the candles have light discolouration due to age, but the candles haven’t been used -or indeed- taken out of the box.

The glass candleholders have their original iittala stickers, and were designed by Valto Kokko Ahlstrom [pattern no: 2659.] They were designed and released Christmas 1982 and the candles came in red, green and brown- for Christmas. I get red and green, but brown? Maybe a Finnish tradition.

Buy now for Christmas! The candleholders are for sale: $AUD60

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Superstar!

Superstar TCR-1001
made in Hong Kong 1985

Hankering for a 4.5 inch analogue TV, AM/FM radio and LCD clock all in one convenient ensemble? Well, look no further. The TCR [TV, Clock, Radio] is for you.

This tiny, all-in-one unit [compare to the size of kewpie doll!] has it all. Sure, the analogue TV is only good for sound, not visuals – since the whole world has gone digital- but the radio and the clock work a treat. And a bit of a tweak by a technowizard will have that TV playing again. And it will totally fit on your bedside table.

See the review of this piece on www.radiomuseum.org – and attest for yourself the advantages of a 3 in 1 [circa 1985.] It runs on both AC/DC and batteries- you can take this baby anywhere.

The 3 in 1 is for sale; $AUD95

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Pixel art

baxtergrafils wool tapestries
made in Australia 1983

My son [Gen Y] likens cross stitch to ‘pixel art’ and I can see his point. He is also my photographer- so as we style my collection for images to post to the blog he lets me know what he likes and absolutely DOESN’T like.

He is the child of two designers- so naturally has a firm opinion on my collection. Which I applaud and learn from; I love his interpretation of things made before he was born. I unfortunately lived through the 70s and 80s in Australia- the time that design forgot – and so sometimes have a less rosy view.

But- I love these tapestries because they are stylized botanical specimens, crafted in Australian wool on hand-printed gauze; Oscar likes them because they are strong graphic representations of pixel art.

And I love them for another reason: I have a friend who intends to fill an entire wall of her house with found and reclaimed tapestries; I think these should be included.

The strelitzia [Streliztia reginae] and bell fruited mallee [Eucalyptus preissiana] completed tapestries are for sale: $AUD95

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Charles & Diana tin

Charles & Diana biscuit tin
Crawfords, Great Britain 1981

“The Marriage of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, Wednesday 29^th July 1981” is inscribed in suitably fancy script on the side of this biscuit tin. Originally holding 1.1lb Petticoat Tail Shortbread, the tin is somewhat worse for wear, with patches of rust on the HRH visages– but I believe amongst the coterie of tin collectors that this is considered okay, and even preferable.

I like this image of their HRHs- Diana isn’t looking shy or demure and Charlies looks like he’s starting to see the ridiculous side of life. And though the image is a little tarnished, the lid still fits well and provides a good seal.

This tin would be a good gift for a royalist or republican alike: and is for sale- $AUD20

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Koalas

Koala cushions
made from vintage Australian linen

Following from my recent post, here are a few more upcycled cushions- made by my own fair hand. Koalas! Koalas from the years 1969 and 1983. Nothing says Australian retro like a nice old koala – and these linen tea towels have never been used [for the usual, obviously. They have however been used to make cushion covers.]

The cushions are sized to take a 400 x 400mm insert [15.7 x 15.7 inches.] They are fully washable and would make a great gift- especially if the calendar date or koalas in general have a particular association for someone. Think zoo-keeper born in 1969, for example.

The cushion covers are for sale: $AUD40 each

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Superstar 3 in 1

Superstar TCR-1001
made in Hong Kong 1985

Hankering for a 4.5 inch analogue TV, AM/FM radio and LCD clock all in one convenient ensemble? Well, look no further. The TCR [TV, Clock, Radio] is for you.

This tiny, all-in-one unit [compare to the size of the cupie doll] has it all. Sure, the analogue TV is only good for sound, not visuals – since the whole world has gone digital- but the radio and the clock work a treat. And a bit of a tweak by a technowizard will have that TV playing again. And it will totally fit on your bedside table.

See the review of this piece on www.radiomuseum.org – and attest for yourself the advantages of a 3 in 1 [circa 1985.] It runs on both AC/DC and batteries- you can take this baby anywhere.

The 3 in 1 Superstar is for sale; $AUD95

70s reproductions

The Salter scales, cast iron, made in Staffordshire, England 1970s
Robbie the robot, tin toy, made in China 1970s

I am generally not a fan of reproductions. But occasionally, I find reproductions that play homage to the original without trying to pretend to BE the original. Those reproductions I can live with.

Here we have a Salter scale, cast iron, made to an exact mid 19th century likeness, but with a handy modern addition- that being it’s an accurate weighing machine. I use it for weighing parcels and letters to figure out postage costs – and it looks fabulous on the hall table too.

Robbie the robot first appeared in 1956 in the film ‘Forbidden Planet’. Then he appeared as a tin toy, made in Japan, which is now sought after and extremely collectible. Then in the 70s the same maker re-issued the toy [although now made in China!] with a hilarious warning on the box : “For collectors only, not suitable as a toy.” My how things have changed. For that line alone, I think Robbie is worth having around.