Gayware [sold]

Gayware spice canisters
made by Gay Plastics, Sydney, Australia 1950-1965

This is a set of Gayware spice canisters: I have previously blogged about Gayware- the larger kitchen canisters and tea dispenser [see posts below– and ‘Sold’.] I just love Gayware – the name mostly.

In the 50s people cooked with Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Chives, Allspice, and Ginger. Hence CNCAG. I’m sure you could rearrange the initials to make a more interesting anagram.

In today’s society, you could use them for coffee [C], newguinea coffee [N], another coffee variety [C], andulsian coffee [A] and guam coffee [G]. It’s all about coffee. At least, that’s what I would do.

The spice canisters are all in good order- the lids fit well to provide a seal; they are ready for any spice/coffee that you care to store in them.

They are for sale: $AUD125

Green bakelite

Green bakelite pieces by Marquis and Duperite
made in Australia, c.1940-1950s

And so to the green bakelite. All the pieces in the image are made by Marquis, with the exception of the scoops which were made by Duperite. There were ten companies producing bakelite domestic ware in Australia in the post-war period, and I have examples of them all!

The ten companies [I know you want to know!] were: Nally [see picnic cups, in post below] Eon, Helix [see blue bakelite post below] Sellex, Iplex, Nylex [names ending with ‘ex’ particularly modern!] Tilly, Bristilite and Duperite [‘ite’ endings evoking bakelite.]

I particularly like the salt and pepper shakers – there are three sets in this collection, seen in the middle at the back of the image. The top and bottom of the shakers separate to reveal the two shakers; and you can see that the screw-on bases were often different coloured bakelite.

The green bakelite containers also have screw-on lids. They were originally used to contain spices or condiments, and have a somewhat ‘deco’-styling. These containers are particularly collectable – people like to collect them in every colour possible.      For sale: $AUD165

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Gayware kitchen canisters [sold]

Gayware kitchen canisters
made by Gay Plastics, Sydney, Australia 1950-1965

I am so fond of these red, nested canisters. Like the anodised set below, they too were used to store Flour, Sugar, Rice, Tea and Coffee. Gayware started out making bakelite canisters but by the early 50s manufacturers world-wide were switching to this lighter, more stable form of plastic and Gayware switched too.

These canisters have never been used for their intended purpose, so are now good for anything you might care to store in them. As long as it’s something gay! Unfortunately the Flour canister lid has a slight chip [not discernible from the outside] and the Sugar lid has had some fixing in the past- again, this is not discernible from the top side. These imperfections don’t impair the functioning of the canisters, but they do render the set less-than-perfect.

For sale: $AUD125

Rex Aluminium Company

Rex Aluminium Company
Raco Quality Kitchenware
Made in Australia c. 1960s

These aluminium canisters are also in my studio- they house more sewing paraphernalia. some of these containers have sections for removable labels, which is ideal for describing the new contents. the two larger containers have bakelite handles, while the small ‘sago’ labelled container to the front has an extruded aluminium handle.

Styling Retro

Pyrex glass & plastic kitchen ‘stack & see’ canisters
Made in the USA, c. 1968
1 quart canister [=0.95 litres]

I use these canisters- with their funky 60s colours – to store my button collection. Any sort of see-through canister is great for use in the kitchen- so is stackability – but I have repurposed these canisters in my design studio.