retroselect.com - Miscellaneous

Dansk (USA)

Staved teak ice bucket
Designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard (Danish) in the late 1950's, this design classic has a black plastic liner, the pre-1980's Denmark stamp, and the initials of the designer (IHQ). The earliest variants of this design have a backstamp with curved rows of lettering and the words 'STAVED TEAK'; some logos (possibly earlier?) show ducks. Versions from the 1980s onwards are marked 'Malaysia', and are less valuable. Also seen with an orange liner (possibly earlier), and rarely in a jumbo size (20 inches tall). This example is c. 15 ins tall. When buying, check for cracks in the wood or plastic liner. Heavily used pieces are said to have their appearance revived with teak oil, but I don't dare try. Used condition with a few small dents on the handle. These buckets are pretty common in the USA, less so in Europe. Value: £35-100. Unmarked "me-too" copies, with slightly different styling (e.g. a knop handle on the lid) are sometimes seen.

Robert Welch

Hobart Candlestick (designed 1962)
This beautiful design in cast iron has its original Welch label and remains of Design Centre sticker on the underside (shown here on the right). Embossed ROBERT WELCH ENGLAND inside the cup.

At the time of writing (01/2004), this piece is currently being re-issued in small numbers by Robert Welch's own company (in plain iron, and in red or white enameled versions), so check for old stickers if you want an original. There are a few flakes from the surface of the iron.

Other designers adopted this motif of stacked discs or flanged patterns in the 1960's - 80's (examples on this website under Carlton Ware and Gouda Flora). Ronald Stennett-Wilson also stacked disks in his Sheringham glass candlestick design (1967).

Value: £20-40 (add a premium for a pair; I was lucky: I got this one for 15 euros at a fleamarket in Holland in 2003).

Candlestick (date unknown)
Less common than the Hobart design (above) and in mint condition with original sale sticker underneath. Value: £40-70

Atomium

Souvenir model from the Brussels Expo '58
The giant model of an atom, designed by André Waterkeyn for the Exhibition of 1958, still stands in the Heysel Park in Brussels. This little model is presumably a contemporary souvenir; many different types have survived, and they are quite common. Value: £3-10. The Porceleyne Fles company of Delft produced a cloisonné tile showing the atomium; this tile is quite rare.

Sparklets, Ltd.

Hostmaster soda syphon
From an article in Design magazine, of June, 1958, which describes the Hostmaster as a 'recent' design. Click here to read the full article on Sparklets, Ltd., soda syphons.

Ashtray: Bather with Mexican Hat (c. 1950s - 60s)

A stylish and unusual piece, made of brass, and in the form of a female bather lying prone, her head covered with a sombrero. With a nice patina which is rubbed and shiny over the feet, bathing shorts and the apex of the hat (presumably where the cigarettes were stubbed out). Stamped on the back ENGLAND. Value: who knows; £5-10?

Sheet metal figures (The Netherlands)

A series, presumably produced in the late fifties or early sixties, of whimsical household items. The Dutch firm Tomado also made household metalware, particularly shelving units. However the figures below carry no manufacturer's name so I know nothing about them. A large black letter rack, with no figure, and the same pierced sheet metal, is also seen, as is a glass-topped table with perforated sheet-metal rack underneath for magazines. Another unusual item in this range is a two-tiered black, perforated metal square with central dimple; it was presumably a fruit bowl.

Letter rack with harp player
The rack is a sheet of perforated metal, the figure and harp are wire. The head of the figure is a wooden ball painted with eyes and mouth. Value: £5-10

Letter rack with figure reading a book

Desk tidy with figure wheeling a cart

London Transport Underground ('Tube') signs

Old Street
Original enamel station sign.

WAY OUT
Original enamel sign, presumably from King's Cross Underground station. Indicates direction to Piccadilly line, Northern Line, Metropolitan and Circle Lines, and King's Cross and St. Pancras Railway Stations. Labe for Burnham Signs and "6000/416"

Goodge Street
Enamel sign with black back, and stickers on back for Burnham Signs and a hand typed label "6000/179"

Leicester Square
Back is enamelled in white and carries the usual Burnham Signs sticker and a handwritten label "6000/9397" and 234

London Taxi Cab

Well, it is made of metal, and it is a design icon.

Article announcing launch of new London Cab
From design magazine, Dec. 1958. Click here for full article and photo.