ON TOUR

After a fantastic Dublin Flea, one of the busiest yet, we are hoping to repeat the experience by dragging our retro bones north to the brand spanking new Empire Vintage Fair in Belfast next Sunday 7th March. Check out the details at http://www.decadencevintageclothing.co.uk/empiresundays.html. Any more of this and we will have to get tour T Shirts printed!!

PHONE AHEAD

A 20th Century classic - the red 'Ericofon' designed by Ralph Lysell and Hugo Blomberg for Ericsson in 1955, and a later white ceramic table lamp that echoes the organic one piece shape. Both appearing at the Fantastic Dublin Flea tomorrow. Come along and say hello!

TIMING

Flip. Tick. Brrrring. You decide.

SMOKIN'

I don't smoke, but smokers get some of the best accessories. Driven by cinema, think James Dean, and linked to up to the minute style by huge advertising budgets, think MadMen, smokers in the 50s got some great shapes spurred on by the space race. This "Satellite' cigarette dispenser dates from 1957.

RED LIGHT

Modernist 'Fase' flying saucer desk light, Spanish,1960s. Very stylish.

FLEA WEEK

It's Dublin Flea time again this Sunday 28th Feb. Last month was one of the busiest yet, and things got very busy around lunchtime - so make sure you get there early to bag a bargain. I have lots of great new pieces so in the run up to Sunday I am going to post a new item every day on the blog. So here goes...Rock the joint with this eye popping orange and cream Murphy Transistor Radio B483 from 1960! What a blast.

STIG OF THE MONTH

A selection of 1950s hand painted vases from my Stig Lindberg collection. Stunning!

RETRO TEXTILE & PATTERN

A particularly 'hot' area of collecting at the moment is retro textile and fabric. Prices are climbing for key pieces that can be attributed to particular designers like Lucienne Day, but it is such a vast array of pieces out there it is good to become familiar with some other designers and styles. One of the most influential and one of my favourites is Jacqueline Groag and there is a great source book that will give you the history and design samples for most of her mid century designs. Pieces can still be found if you have a keen eye, we picked up two original 50s cushions in this fabric (above) made in 1953. A great way to get into mid century design if you are short on storage and display space.

JESSIE TAIT (6/3/1928-14/1/2010)

Sad to hear Jessie Tait died recently. One of the best British ceramic designers she had a long career with the Midwinter factory which she started designing for just after the Festival of Britain in 1951. She created some of the most iconic ceramic patterns of the Mid Century period such as Zambezi, Festival, Domino and Primavera which stood along side the contemporary textile designs of Lucienne Day and Jacqueline Groag. She also produced a series of hand finished tubelined pieces like the 'Bands & Dots' vase below which now achieve huge prices when they come up at auction. She left a great body of work behind and amazing for her to see her work become so collectable in her lifetime.

GROW YOUR OWN

I find myself drawn to these Marigold Storage Jars by Crown Devon they are so bright and psychedelic. It's the combination of the 60s illustration and the large lower case serif type that make them so hippy dippy. I now have quite a collection and they look fantastic when all displayed together - a real grower!!

ROOTIN"TOOTIN"

Yes boys and girls this is what really cool people had in the 1960s instead of an iPod!! This is TOOT-A-LOOP wrist radio by Panasonic, when closed the the radio could be worn around the wrist like a bangle. It was produced in red, white, blue and yellow but the orange is the rarest. Groovy.

SEE THE LIGHT

Just arrived is this marvelous Italian Quadrifoglio table lamp designed by Gae Aulenti for Guzzini, 1970.
This iconic lamp in chrome with caramel colour shade is big at nearly 50cms wide, but gives a beautiful soft, warm glow when lit. Stunning in a large modernist setting, and a rare find.

FROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

we will be appearing up north at the fabulous Frock Around The Clock vintage fashion and retro fair this Sunday 7th Feb in the Holiday Inn, Belfast (just across from the BBC). If you are in the area or fancy making the trip you won't be disappointed - it's always a great fair with lots to see and live jazz to complete the atmosphere. I will be taking some great new ceramics, glass, furniture, lights and anything else I can squeeze in!! Go to http://www.decadencevintageclothing.co.uk for more details.