:: The Mouseman Stool

 The Mouseman Furniture, designed by Robert Thompson all have the signature carved mouse, hence the Mouseman title!
This calf stool, given to my Father by his Mother on our impending move to the Australia in 1980.

So this stool is part of my childhood and became mine when I married. My Brother was not happy, that I had snaffled it under his more mature and married nose...but could you blame me?

 Made from English Oak and hand crafted....to quote them

"Robert Thompson’s craftsmen create oak furniture for the home designed to fit within both the traditional and contemporary styles of living that today’s modern world offers. We provide choices in the final look of your personal, hand crafted item to fit your living environment. Today’s investment will become tomorrow’s heirloom.
Keep an eye on that mouse tho’, he’s partial to cheese!"

Squeak squeak

Hello Lisa Larson

A few marks left by plant pots over the years, some mine :(

Remember the great find, I came across last week...the Olivetti Studio 44?
 I found this great Ad, had to share!

Happy Weekend to you all,
:Pippa

:: Midwinter Homage

Thrift finds-gasp!

 Now this is a going to be a long post, so go make yourself a cuppa and settle in!

Midwinter, popular for collectors due to the tireless designing of notable UK Designer Jessie Tait.

Spanish Garden and Country Garden 1960's

3rd edition of the Midwinter Pottery Book.

I have been hunting for this book for a while now, so when the 3rd edition became available, I swooped like a hungry falcon!

I have learnt from its glossy pages that the Midwinter Pottery was looking to boost sales after the post war gloom, they created the stylecraft shape (1953) inspired by a trip to the West Coast U.S where Roy Midwinter viewed the work of Eva Zeisel 

(psst linked to Mid2Mod, Dana did a great post here and this is where I first learnt of Eva)and Russell Wright.

These wares were rimless, organic in shape, no banding typical of traditional pre-war forms and the colour palette was brighter, cleaner!

The stylecraft shape was developed to have an "ease of cleaning and economic storage" for "smaller homes and tighter budgets" all to captured the younger generation.

This was the beginning of the "starter pack", 20 pieces- four tea cups & saucers, tea plates, dinner plates and cereal bowls.

Young couples could add to their collection and replace as necessary. 

Does this not sound familiar?

Do you remember buying your first set of crockery?

 Browsing through this lovely book I have selected the Midwinter ranges I will happily swoop on, if I found them in the wild!

Plant Life by Terence Conran.

The "Plant Life" design in the fashion shape 1956.

What a delightful design and still relevant to today's current market!

Vase-Caribbean

Caribbean.

 This design is in the fashion shape (1955)
again the colour combination and organic motif is timeless. I don't think I could handle the complete set, to use daily but a nice wee plate or vase or both would be nice!

Festival.

 "Festival" in the fashion shape was inspired by the Festival of Britain.

Savanna.

 "Savanna" in the fashion shape and the fancy shape (1940's-1960's).

Vase Collection-Tonga, Candlesticks, Bands & Dots.

  I fear another collection is going to start if I ever manage to get my hands on one of these beauties!

image via book.

These are the lovely showroom ladies  c:1960, look at those hairdo's, glasses and pins!
 If I was born in this era, I think this is where I would like to be, move over Jessie Tait!


 Thanks for reading!

:Pippa 

 In the book there are excellent images of the shape guides and pictures of the early design drawings for some of the popular designs, I haven't posted these because I strongly encourage you to buy the book...and I don't want to upset the copyright police either!

Images Via

:: Plate Love

 My life in plates! so sweet too!

These are by Donna Wilson, what is not to love?

Happy Thursday!

:P

:: Triplex Lamp LOVE

 

 

I love lamps, and this one a has a lovely story.......read the story here

I chanced upon this blog Mackapar in my early blog days and started to follow.
One of the projects that Ulrika is involved in, is the relaunch of the Triplex Lamp, firstly designed in  1919 Sweden by Johan Petter Johansson.

Her blog outlines their journey and is worth a perusal, especially if you love a good design story with a happy ending! 
The Lamp is ready for reissue, I would love to have one, mmmmmm.........lets see ?

 Images VIA







:P
 

:: Grete Jalk

Next in the series of Designers featured at the Pop Up Shop 

is Grete Jalk.

It's so nice to feature the work of a Woman Designer and the GT Chair is sublime! 

You want to mimic the curves of this chair with hand gestures, so feminine yet with the solidarity (solidness) of form that comes from Plywood.

 Grete Jalk was born in 1920. After completing her school leaving examination, she enrolled at Copenhagen University to study philosophy and law, but after completing the philosophy element she dropped out of university and instead took a year’s instruction in design at the Drawing and Applied Art School for Women.

In 1941, she served a three year apprenticeship with cabinetmaker Karen Margrethe Conradsen. In the final year of her apprenticeship she started at the College of Arts and Crafts Furniture School, graduating in 1946.

Subsequently, Grete Jalk studied at the Academy of Fine Art’s Furniture School under Kaare Klint and from 1950 until 1960 she taught at the College of Arts and Crafts Furniture School herself. In 1954 she got her own studio and in 1963 won a British furniture competition – the Daily Mail International Furniture competition with her moulded plywood chair – the GJ Chair.

That same year, the chair was bought by the Museum of Modern Art in New York where it has remained on permanent exhibition. Grete Jalk died in 2006, aged 86.

 :P

:: Borge Mogensen

Love the Artworks

 I thought it might be nice to look at the Danish Designers currently featured at the Pop up shop, it's all good to admire the singular chair, sideboard or table but a greater appreciation comes from learning more!
 

These images are of his home! Nice!

Light filled room, sets off the furniture!

My favourite room, love that light!

Light love!

Børge Mogensen (1914–1972) started his career as a cabinetmaker in 1934. In 1936 he went on to study at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts under Professor Kaare Klint before entering the Royal Academy of Fine Arts from where he graduated as an architect in 1942.

He became head of design at FDB (the Danish co-op) in 1942 before establishing his own design office in 1950.

Sigh!!

Everything!!

 Functional is the word which best describes Børge Mogensen’s design. The majority of his furniture was designed with industrial production in mind and is characterized by strong and simple lines. His true genius is to be found in his almost scientific analysis of the functionality of a piece of furniture.

Wood paneling love!

Perfect blue!

 If I had my choice I think this chair, the Shell Chair, 1949, made by Erhard Rasmussen from teak and beech would be a nice addition to Manor Ouch Flower!

Via

:P