Where Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer, and Dog meet in Peace

April 14, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Charming children’s cutlery set with a rabbit on the knife, deer and dog on soup and serving spoons, and a squirrel on the fork. I assume it is stainless steel, at least stainless is imprinted on the knife . Stainless steel in private households was introduced in the 1920s. I guess this was made in the 70s.The animals remind me a bit of disney’s bambi.

Eickhorn Solingen was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn. The company still exists today but looking at their site its main business nowadays I think is outdoor and military knives…unfortunately!

Eickhorn Bestecke für Kinder / Eichhorn Cutlery For Kids

JURA-Chrome-Toaster 1930s – a beautifully designed kitchen necessity

April 14, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

This beautifully designed toaster was made by a Swiss company named Jura, founded in 1931. The company is still operating in Switzerland, you can even buy a retro version of this classical designed toaster.

This version was manufactured shortly after the company was founded in the 1930s. The chrome plated metal toaster with bakelite handles sits on a solid wooden base. There are two black on/off or „open“ switches (at least I assume this is what they are), I didn’t dare to plug it in and test it.

When doing my research I was amazed about the incredible huge community of people intrigued by vintage toasters.

If you’re interested to find out more about the history of this kitchen necessity you can visit sites on the internet such as the toaster’s collectors or toastercentral.com. There are a view virtual museums like the wonderful online toaster museum or The Toaster Museum Foundation, just to name a view.

I really do like my vintage toaster, it’s just a pleasure to look at. For me it’s a representative of a successful collaboration of product design and technical innovation.

Tiny Zebra

April 11, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Isn’t it handsome?

Colored Pencil Set

April 11, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Beautifully designed cardboard box with 12 colored pencils. Manufactured by an Austrian corporation founded in 1900, first named Mühlendorfer Kreide-, Kalk- und Steinindustrie AG. In 1934 it was renamed into Mühlendorfer Kreide- und Bleistiftfabrik AG. In 1939 the company was restructured into a sole proprietorship with Margit Hoffmann-Ostenhof as the sole proprietor.

Given the history of the company I assume that these pencils were produced between 1934 and 1939. Also the label refers to Mühlendorfer Kreide- und Bleistiftfabrik AG.

Spaghetti Fork

April 7, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

This is an automatic Spaghetti Fork, produced in 1952 by H. Fishlove & Co, Chicago. I found this one years ago at a flea market in Berlin, I would love to know how it got there. Maybe during occupation?

However, you can still find some on eBay or other selling sites. I found it just to be a really nice item. I do love the design of the packaging, the grinning guy at the front!

Actually, the fork meant to be a gag product. It was produced by H. Fishlove & Co, a manufacturer of novelties and gags which was founded in 1914 by Ukranian immigrant Chiam Fishelov. In 1985 the company was sold to Fun Inc., a magic trick and novelty manufacturer located in Chicago.

Bildschirmfoto 2015-04-09 um 13.26.46 — Still sold by Fun Inc. http://www.funinc.com

Obiously you can still buy it. But to be honest, the original version had just so much more charm!

Cat & Dog – A Story of Love?

April 7, 2015Juni 28, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

This is an item I instantly fell in love with when I discovered it. It’s wrought iron and very well worked. To be honest, I don’t really know what it is, I assume it’s some kind of ashtray?? I find it funny that the cat’s arched back and the dog’s obviously rejection shows total antipathy and at the same time they’re both standing on a heart! I find it very cute!

I haven’t found anything similar yet. I guess it was made in the 1920s. Does anyone know?

Venetia

April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 ~ MLOVES ~ Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Today I’m happy to show you one of the paintings I’m working on at the moment. It is not signed and I can’t tell you who the artist is. I found it in an antiques shop in Munich. When I first saw it I thought this might be a nice cleaning job, I didn’t really like the painting itself and it was affordable. It’s not really my style though. But now, working on it, I somehow started to like it. It’s painted very well I think and whilst discovering more and more details it just hooked me. And besides it’s fun to work on as I make quick progress. Even taking off only surface grime and dust it’s colors are becoming really vibrant. Have a look!