30s sugar canister

Sugar canister
made in Australia, 1930s

A wonderful example of a depression era canister – this aluminium sugar canister evidences all the hallmarks of the 30s- drilled, green bakelite handles, mismatched green tones, applied ‘Sugar’ label, and graduated rings to the cream base.

Anodised aluminium was in its infancy- and achieving colour matching next to impossible. So each green lid was slightly different across the whole set of five canisters [and added to this of course, is colour fading over time.] Meanwhile bakelite technology was forty years old- you could get any colour you wanted there.

The size of this canister tells you something about the storage of sugar in the 40s. This canister was second in size only to the Flour canister. Everything else in the series was smaller: Suet, Rice, Tea and coming up last, Coffee. My how things have changed in the modern world! [Coffee should always be the largest!- and what the hell is suet?]

The canister has a few dings due to age, but the anodised aluminium base and lid are in good condition. The canister is for sale: $AUD45

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30s sugar canister

Sugar canister
made in Australia, 1930s

A wonderful example of a depression era canister – this aluminium sugar canister evidences all the hallmarks of the 30s- drilled, green bakelite handles, mismatched green tones, applied ‘Sugar’ label, and graduated rings to the cream base.

Anodised aluminium was in its infancy- and achieving colour matching next to impossible. So each green lid was slightly different across the whole set of five canisters [and added to this of course, is colour fading over time.] Meanwhile bakelite technology was forty years old- you could get any colour you wanted there.

The size of this canister tells you something about the storage of sugar in the 40s. This canister was second in size only to the Flour canister. Everything else in the series was smaller: Suet, Rice, Tea and coming up last, Coffee. My how things have changed in the modern world! [Coffee should always be the largest!- and what the hell is suet?]

The canister has a few dings due to age, but the anodised aluminium base and lid are in good condition. The canister is for sale: $AUD45

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party like it’s….1950s

Melbourne bar tray, made in Hong Kong, 1950s
Glamaware anodised aluminium teapots, made in Australia 1950s

Welcome to 2017. And welcome to my retro ideal.

This is a fantastic bar tray, featuring a rather [re-touched] photograph of Melbourne in the 50s. Oh! The glamour!

And a pair of Glamaware anodised aluminium gold teapots, never been used. More glamour! The handles and knobs are bakelite. The anodised aluminium is gold! Bling and functional- that’s my kinda 2017.

Welcome in 2017 with some bar ware, and some good ol’ fashioned tea ware. Best of both worlds!

The tray is for sale: $AU25 and the teapots: $AU45
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Hickok- Positively Finer!

Robex-Hickok beakers,
made in Australia 1960s

Anodised aluminium beakers are the ‘holy grail’ of collecting: everyone wants them. Here we have an original Robex-Hickok leather case [steer hide] with brass fittings – with its original steel bottle-opener.

Robex-Hickok were renowned for their luxury leather luggage : but for a brief moment in the 60s they decided to produce picnic ware- for promotions. The original three beakers [shown left; blue, yellow & green] are marked; “Hickok, Positively Finer” on the base.

Unfortunately the other three beakers are missing; but I have found some extras – the pink, yellow, orange and green beakers [shown right] – but they are unmarked, and have some scratches and dents. I am still hunting for the missing Hickok beakers – but maybe you have found them?

The leather case has some internal wear issues [around the hinge] but the original beakers are in good vintage condition. The collection is for sale: $AUD40

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Anodised aluminium egg cups [sold]

Anodised aluminium egg cups
made in Sydney, Australia 1950s

These anodised aluminium ‘harlequin’ egg cups are Sydney made, and Sydney bought but have no manufacturer’s name or marking. They’ve had one owner who purchased them in the 50s- and never used them for the cupping of eggs. That’s how I know they were made here, despite not having any markings.

Anodised aluminium was made by a number of companies in the 50s and 60s- sets of beakers, flasks, plates and egg cups came with exotic names such as ‘Tahiti’ and ‘Caribbean’; but were made by the more prosaic Stokes & Sons. Other manufacturers included Duchess Aluminium Ware and ETA. All came in a range of fantastic bright aluminium colours – hence the term ‘harlequin’.

For all your retro breakfast needs, these egg cups are for sale: $AUD45

50s coffee set

Swan Savoy Coffee Percolator, made in England 1950s
Glamaware sugar bowls, made in Australia 1950s

The Swan ‘Savoy’ coffee percolator was made for THAT famous restaurant in the 50s. With all its working parts intact it’s a functioning piece of 50s coffee memorabilia. The glass top tells you when the coffee is ready for pouring and the deco-shaped bakelite handle tells you this is a show piece! It’s good for 8 cups of coffee [2.5 pints.]

The three anodised sugar bowls are ‘Glamaware’- the name says it all! When I first started this blog, my lovely sister-in–law Pam gave me her Glamaware tea set and I used it as my blog icon, vowing never to sell it. These three sugar bowls show the range of colours the sets came in: baby blue, gold and pink gold. If you zoom into the image, you’ll see my photographer son taking the photo. I quite like that he is finally being acknowledged for all his great photography work, albeit somewhat subtly.

For coffee aficionados/collectors this aluminium collection is for sale: $AUD95

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50s golden kitsch

50s kitsch

Following on from my last post in which I extolled the virtues of Towerbrite anodised aluminium, here is another Towerbrite teapot, surrounded by a hand-laced kitten notebook and a timber letter holder featuring a cockatoo.

The three work well together as they are all about gold/yellow tones, are roughly the same size and all feature simple massing/shapes. And all three have a lovely 50s kitschiness.

Each element is in good working order, still fit for purpose- and when not being used make for a interesting display. One can never have too much kitsch.

The golden kitsch collection is for sale: $AUD65

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60s anodised aluminium

60s anodised aluminium

This shiny, shiny collection features anodised aluminium- three cake /jelly moulds made in Hong Kong and a teapot by Towerbrite made in Australia. Anoidised aluminium was developed in the 1920s and used for industrial products – but it really took off in domestic wares in the 60s thanks to the moon landing and all things spacey.

These kitchen moulds were made in kitschy shapes – ostensibly for terrines but invariably used for cakes, blancmanges and jellies. Who doesn’t remember a large pineapple shaped jelly [red, with real pineapple chunks floating in it] at their sixth birthday party? When not in use, the moulds have handy little handles so they can hang up and add glamour to any kitchen.

The two larger moulds [salmon and pineapple] are 4 cup capacity, and the smaller classic christmas cake-shaped mould is 2 cups. Note the copper and gold tones- that’s where that glamour comes in- the moulds have never been used and are in pristine condition. Similarly the teapot is unstained and unused.

These pieces will add bling to any situation- and are for sale: $AUD85

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50s anodised aluminium

Anodised beakers
made in Hong Kong, c.1950s

I found another set of anodised aluminium cups- they are unused and were still wrapped individually in 1950s tissue paper! This set from Hong Kong hasn’t a maker’s mark, just the place of origin…but they do come with a handy bottle-opener concealed in the vinyl case lid. Perfect for the retro picnic!

Aren’t those 50s colours adorable? This is a harlequin set- so called because there’s one of each colour. Anodised aluminium beakers are highly collectible- and I have sold a few sets. So many people have fond memories of the picnics of yesteryear. Perhaps it’s because picnics are such fun as children? No admonitions to get your elbows off the table, or not to speak with your mouth full.

All the beakers are in good condition, ~ still shiny and having no dings ~ I suspect they have never been near a picnic.     For sale: $AUD75

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Happy Mardi Gras! [sold]

Fiesta Ware wine goblets
made in Australia c.1960s

Happy Mardi Gras! It is if you are in Sydney at the moment. Hot on the heels of St Valentine’s Day -and quite appropriately too- it’s Mardi Gras.

For all your rainbow-coloured needs, this set of harlequin anodised wine goblets -made by Fiesta! Ware – has never been used. Kept under wraps since the 60s, these goblets are now out loud and proud.

The set of six goblets is for sale: $AUD90