Vintage ceramic lamps

I have a thing for vintage table lamps, particularly of the ceramic variety. Here is my collection (so far).

Søholm, Denmark.

Desirée stentøj, Denmark.

Design: Per and Annelise Linnemann Schmidt for Palshus, Denmark. This is all of 70 cm tall. Quite a bit is hidden under that big shade. (Which is from Ikea, btw.) If you want to see more art pottery from Palshus, click here.

Unknown make.

If you've been following my blog for some time you might have seen these before:

Lovely yellow Bitossi, Italy.

Green Bitossi.

Bay, Germany.

Fleamarket finale

Oh, what a thrill today has been! Two local fleamarkets in one trip and here is what I found...

I'll zoom in on some of it for you:

Gustavsberg melamine cups and Emsa melamine plates in mint condition.

Teak salt and pepper shakers shaped as vikings. Another bargain that I initally thought I'd put on Etsy but changed my mind as soon as I unpacked them at home. Sorry guys!

Small vase from Strehla Keramik, Germany.

Big, heavy candleholder for hanging on the wall. Possibly the work of Konrad Galaaen.

Isn't she sweet? I think it was her glasses that did it for me. I might not have brought her home if it wasn't for those specs :-) It's a litho titled 'Selvportret' (Self portrait) and signed K. Axels. Danish, I presume. The jam jar is from Arabia, Finland, and the vase is from Germany.

I found a whole lot of plates, cups, serving platters and sugerbowls in this pattern (Safran)... I just couldn't get it all (sigh) and was going to settle for one item. I contemplated a lidded sugerbowl. Then there was this (above) - a huge serving bowl in exactly the same design as the sugarbowl, only forty times bigger. (OK - slight exaggeration, but it is BIG.) I thought I'd be as bold as the dish and went for it. The price? NOK 75. That's a bargain in my book.

Finally, some 50's halos for Christmas tree lights. Perfect for a kitschy winter holiday. Not an obvious choice when it's summer at it's best with hot, sunny weather like today.

I was thrilled putting all these items in the car and drive home through the beautiful countryside, sun roof open and some favorite tunes on the stereo. The last fleamarket of the season was a great finale.

Little dog "Lost"

Every now and then when I'm thrift shopping for ceramics, porcelain and glass etc. I stumble across a picture that I just can't resist. This was one of those. Call it kitschy, I don't care. The expression on this little puppy triggered my rescue gene.

The picture looks like an etching, it's got an English title, "Lost", but I can't make out the signature (click on image for larger version). My guess is that it's from the first half of the 1900's, but I'm no art expert. If you are, or if you're able to interpret the signature, please leave a comment. If you're not an art expert you're welcome to leave a comment anyway :-)

I also found a painting on the same shopping trip. Stay tuned.

London calling

Image: Courtesy Peter Visontay, Earth Photography.

Belgravia, Bloomsbury, Marylebone, Fitzrovia... these are some of my favorite names of London areas. Bloomsbury being my favorite place to stay. I will be there again soon, and I have to say I'm pleased to be leaving the snow and winter boots behind and hopefully soak up some London spring.

When there, I am planning to see these exhibitions:

Bridget Riley at The National Gallery (click here for more info on the show).

Image: Courtesy Karsten Schubert, London.

Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A. (Click here for more info.)
Image: © Courtesy of Gael Amzalag

More on all of this later (amongst other things). Meanwhile, I feel it's time to get in the right London spirit by watching an episode or two of Jeeves and Wooster. Rather.

PS. I wish I could have been there for this as well:

It looks fantastic. Next year, perhaps?
See more here.